Over the last decade or so, the market for natural and holistic healthcare products has exploded, both in the US and around the World. CBD, or cannabidiol, is one wellness discovery that has taken over the spotlight for its varied health benefits, organic origins and minimal side effects. Thanks to the fact that CBD is a non-psychoactive remedy, it has become preferable to many over-the-counter mainstream medications and potentially harmful prescription pharmaceuticals. As with many effective health trends, celebrities have become early adopters of CBD-mania and have begun to endorse, support and even invest in a huge range of CBD products. Here are a few of the many American celebrities who use and advocate for the use of CBD and other cannabis-derived remedies.
Michael J. Fox
Beloved actor Michael J. Fox was first diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s disease in 1991 at he age of 29. He kept this diagnosis from the public until seven years later and used that time to study the disease and treatment options. In 2000 Fox announced the formation of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research which has since become the largest non-profit dedicated to Parkinson’s drug and research development in the country. As of 2020, his organization has invested over $650 million into clinical studies in attempt to understand and treat the disease. This research includes studies into 
the use of cannabis and CBD oil as a tool for management of symptoms. Michael himself reportedly uses cannabis oil and other CBD related products to treat the debilitating side effects from Parkinson’s.
Busy Phillips
The popular “Dawson’s Creek” actress (filmed in our hometown, FYI!) has been open about her lifelong struggle with acute anxiety. Although given a diagnosis only during her first pregnancy, she remembers suffering from childhood. uses similarly holistic methods for dealing with her anxiety, which she’s suffered from her entire life—although she was only diagnosed after the birth of her first child, Birdie. “I had postpartum anxiety”, she said. “It was very, very crazy-making, and I did go on Lexapro for like a year and a half.” Busy is one of many women who has suffered following giving birth and has found relief by using CBD. She didn’t have anxiety after the birth of her second child, Cricket, but suffered from extreme anxiety during that pregnancy. “I had horrible anxiety about giving birth to a dead baby, and I was holding it in because I thought if I said it out loud, it would become true,” she said. “So no one could help me, because no one knew what I was thinking. Finally, I had a crazy panic attack and told my husband—and it was only then that I was really able to get the help I needed. “She still finds talking to people (whether it’s her therapist or her husband) to be incredibly important, but working out is the primary antidote for her. “If I do a hard cardio workout first thing in the morning, I’m less likely to have a panic attack or get anxiety throughout the day.” She still does experience panic attacks but she treats them in the moment with CBD, which she buys in a 5:1 ratio to THC (the blend is legal in her home state of California, while THC-free broad-spectrum products are legal in all other states). Busy also is a proponent of CBD cream and advocates for the use of it to soothe tired feet in high heels on the red carpet!
Seth Rogan
In particular, Rogen’s passion circulates around the legalization of CBD for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, causes the brain’s functions to decline over long 
periods of time. Patients suffer from increasingly debilitating memory issues, lose acuity in speech, language and expression, have difficulty learning new skills, and, in some cases, suffer from drastic personality changes. After Rogen’s mother-in-law, Adele Miller was given an early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease, he witnessed first-hand the tragic manner in which the illness changed her and left her unable to care for herself. Today, Rogen remains a vocal proponent of CBD law being updated for medicinal purposes and also lobbies for full adult-use Marijuana legalization in the US. He is an active member of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws and also founded the non-profit Hilarity for Charity which funds research into treatments and care for Alzheimer’s disease sufferers including the use of CBD products as a treatment management tool. Rogan has recently spoken candidly about his involvement with Marijuana-derived wellness brands and continues to be a leading advocate for all cannabis-derived products.
Rob Gronkowski
Rob “Gronk” Gronkowski, the former football champ and engaging sports personality, was forced to leave behind football after sustaining numerous job-related injuries. The resulting pain was so great that he stopped enjoying football and retired much earlier than he had planned or wanted to. “Football was bringing me down. And I didn’t like it. I was losing that joy in life.”, he said. Soon afterward, he began hearing about CBD and the 
benefits it afforded to athletes like him. He tried a topical form of CBD and his “first true experience with it — when I was like, ‘Whoa, whoa, this stuff works!’” He later shared that, “I got to go through the rest of my day, put the shoes back on”, and “I knew right then and there, I was like, ‘Dang, this stuff works.’ [And] I was looking for something like that to help me relieve the pain that I’m in from doing activities and sports. Gronk said he wished he had been able to use CBD while in the NFL, saying, “It would have made a huge difference in my pain management during my career.”
Whoopi Goldberg
Oscar-winning actress and talk show host Whoopi Goldberg has often described her extreme depression as a “mind storm” and became an avid CBD user when finding relief from the use of cannabis products. She began her own medical marijuana company and has focused on sharing information about marijuana and CBD specifically with women. “Many women still believe that legalized cannabis products are all about getting stoned or high,” Goldberg said. “Nothing can be further from the truth. In this age of feminist awareness, it’s important for women to realize that our needs are as unique as a budding flower.” She has honed in on female-centric medical woes and has helped develop CBD and marijuana products that reduce period cramps and other menstrual cycle pain.
Megan Rapinoe
Olympic champion Megan Rapinoe has never been shy about using her fame to further a cause she believes in. An often goal supporter of numerous social justice causes, Rapinoe is also a huge advocate for CBD. Her twin sister, Rachael recently co-founded a CBD company and Megan was quick to raise her hand as brand ambassador. In her unique position as an athlete social-influencer, she speaks with experience about using CBD as a natural pain reliever. She has stated that she has used CBD for “a number of years so far, and I’ve seen really good benefits for me. It’s something that’s part of my daily routine now and something that’s certainly part of my recovery routine.” In particular Rapinoe strives to educate the public about the fact that CBD is non-psychoactive and, in the case of broad spectrum products , THC-free altogether. She firmly believes that CBD presents countless benefits for athletes and “believe(s) the power in the athlete in this particular field is incredibly strong because what we’re asking for is a better, safer alternative to pain management.” As an alternative to prescription medications she states, “I think if I wanted to find somebody to give me an opioid prescription or a sleeping pill prescription or some other prescription drugs, I think that that would in many ways be easier and technically legal to give. Which, I think we’re seeing right now, has been horribly damaging to our country and to athletes as well.”
John Legend
John Legend, the iconic American singer, songwriter, actor, producer, and philanthropist has recently entered into the wellness business world by joining forces with a failing CBD company as both an investor and celebrity spokesperson. After examining the benefits of CBD for sleep, anxiety and mood, Legend vowed to bring the science and anecdotal evidence to the attention of the American public by using his star power for good. “I have been a believer in the benefits of CBD for some time,” Legend said in a recent statement.
Morgan Freeman
Like many CBD users, Morgan didn’t consider a hemp-related product as a part of his daily routine until he had few other options. During an interview on a popular late-night TV show, Freeman explained how a near-fatal car crash in 2008 resulted in permanent and extensive nerve damage in his hand and shoulder and also shared that he suffers from crippling fibromyalgia which can cause widespread pain, fatigue, mood and memory issues. The Oscar winning actor has been soothing his chronic issues for years with CBD and can’t imagine ever giving it up. “Without this stuff, I’d be in trouble…” said Freeman.
And You???
Although you shouldn’t try CBD only because a celebrity tells you to, I encourage you to listen to the numerous examples of anecdotal evidence promoting CBD as an extremely effective and safe alternative to prescription medication. As time goes on more people, famous and non-celebrities alike, will find relief from CBD and begin to share the news. Are you ready to join the chorus?
