Cannabidiol Use Among Adolescents in Omaha, Nebraska: Pilot Study on Risk Factors, Protective Influences, and Public Health Implications

This cross-sectional study examined risk and protective factors associated with cannabidiol (CBD) use among adolescents in Omaha, Nebraska (n = 205). Conducted between 2023 and 2024, the study assessed demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial correlates of past-year CBD use using logistic regression. Hispanic ethnicity (Adjusted OR = 4.00, 95% CI [2.00, 5.67]), non-heterosexual orientation (Adjusted OR = 9.09, 95% CI [2.16, 11.43]), and tobacco/nicotine use (Adjusted OR = 17.48, 95% CI [2.72, 27.21]) were associated with increased odds of CBD use. Conversely, engaging in more than five hours of weekly physical activity (Adjusted OR = 0.13, 95% CI [0.01, 0.16]), family influence (Adjusted OR = 0.09, 95% CI [0.02, 0.46]), and healthcare professional guidance (Adjusted OR = 0.03, 95% CI [0.00, 0.24]) were protective. These exploratory findings, based on a small community sample, suggest potential directions for future prevention research addressing social influence, tobacco use, and cultural and structural factors that may contribute to CBD use among youth; replication in larger, more diverse samples is needed before findings can inform policy or practice.