While you might mistake CBD for causing addiction in users, studies show otherwise. The cannabinoid is less likely to induce addiction and may help fight tobacco-, cocaine-, opioid-, and marijuana-related addictions.
CBD remained under the radar for a long time and was the edgier product. However, as time advanced and many movements kept rallying for the legalization of the cannabinoid, fruition became evident when the Farm Bill was passed in 2018, legally allowing industrial hemp and, by extension, CBD with less than 0.3% THC. Since then, CBD has become part of the mainstream products, and it’s no wonder that you can easily come across CBD products in various shops and stores in the core and outskirts of townships and states . This article plays the informant role, helping you understand CBD, whether addictive and how it may help with addiction-like behaviors linked to other substances.
What Is CBD?
This section looks at CBD before exploring whether it is addictive and other nitty-gritty. CBD is a chemical substance and one of the 113+ active compounds in cannabis plants, also called cannabinoids. Unlike THC, another abundant cannabinoid that is also quite studied, CBD does not make one high, and it is not linked to the ‘stoned’ effects of THC’s psychoactive properties. It is easily accessible in many states, especially those considering it legal after the 2018 Farm Bill was passed. You can come across CBD gummies, mints, oils, tinctures, topicals, capsules, and vapes in CBD shops and stores and points of sales for health foods.
Types of CBD
Knowing the types of CBD helps you choose when you decide on CBD products for one reason or the other. The following are the types of CBD, depending on the compounds present in the extract;
- Full-spectrum CBD; has CBD, the psychoactive THC, terpenes, flavonoids, and a whole gamut of cannabinoids, including CBG, CBT, CBN, and CBC. Because of the many compounds in the full-spectrum CBD, it is linked to a full entourage effect.
- Broad-spectrum CBD; has CBD, terpenes, flavonoids, and many other cannabinoids but does not have the psychoactive THC. It presents an alternative to enjoying the full entourage effects without worrying about getting ‘high’ from THC.
- Isolate-based CBD; has CBD as the only active compound from cannabis plants and does not contain additional cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids. Although it does not have the full entourage effect of many compounds, CBD novices and enthusiasts who want nothing to do with THC or the earthy nature of whole-plant hemp CBD opt for it.
What Is Addiction?
According to Koob & Volkow (2010), drug addiction is defined as the relapsing disorder as seen in one’s compulsion to keep taking a substance, the inability to control the intake, and the appearance of negative effects, including anxiety, dysphoria, and irritability as the withdrawal symptoms when the drug’s intake is limited. When a person takes a substance that he cannot control but finds it difficult to stop it. Instead, he might continue taking it, even when the side effects go up the scale.
Is CBD Addictive?
The cannabinoid is partially popular because it does not lead to dependence, and discontinuing it is not as hard as other substances. If anything, THC might be the cannabinoid to blame for addiction. For instance, in a study by Panlilio et al. (2013), rats pre-exposed to THC experienced addiction when other substances were administered to them, showing that THC may be the addictive cannabinoid. Instead of inducing addiction, studies have confirmed that CBD stands in a better position to help people handle addiction and dependence related to other substances, as explained below. We do not recommend CBD for fighting addiction, especially because of the many knowledge gaps surrounding CBD, and whoever chooses it for any reason should consult his doctor.
CBD for Fighting Marijuana-Related Addiction
The above section has shown that CBD is less addictive, and people find it less problematic to break from its chain and discontinue its use when need be. Besides, CBD might help people deal with addiction to other substances, marijuana included. For instance, Shannon & Opila-Lehman (2015) established that CBD helped a 27-year-old bipolar man break free from marijuana addiction. Before starting to b take CBD oil, the man would take marijuana daily, despite the negative side effects. However, he started CBD with 24 mg, reduced it to 18 mg, and was eventually free from marijuana addiction.
CBD for Fighting Opioid-Related Addiction
Apart from marijuana, CBD oil might help fight addiction to other substances. For instance, Galaj & Xi (2021) noted that CBD helped rats exposed to morphine improve their dependence on the substance. Some common medications used in the modern world for various conditions include opioids, which, sadly, might cause addiction in most cases. Based on this study, CBD might help fight opioid-related addiction, although there is a need for further studies to prove this.
CBD for Helping with Tobacco Addiction
CBD may not help with marijuana and opioid addictions only. Morgan et al. (2013) noted that the cannabinoid could also help tobacco smokers fight their dependence on the substance. In the study, 24 tobacco smokers were given CBD, and they showed significant improvements in addiction. The study used a small population that, despite being really, may not be statistically significant, considering the total world population.
Conclusion
CBD is less likely to cause addiction in the user. Contrarily, studies show that it might help people fight addiction related to other substances, including marijuana, tobacco, and opioids like morphine. These studies had their fair of limitations, and all for further research. Until there are enough studies to clear the doubts, we hold back from recommending CBD for fighting any addiction.
References
Galaj, E., & Xi, Z.-X. (2020). Possible Receptor Mechanisms Underlying Cannabidiol Effects On Addictive-Like Behaviors In Experimental Animals. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 22(1), 134.
Koob, G. F., & Volkow, N. D. (2010). Neurocircuitry Of Addition. Neuropsychopharmacology, 35(1), 217-238.
Morgan, C. J., Das, R. K., Joye, A., Curran, H. V., & Kamboj, S. K. (2013). Cannabidiol Reduces Cigarette Consumption In Tobacco Smokers: Preliminary Findings. Addictive Behaviors, 38(9), 2433-2436.
Panlilio, L. V., Zanettini, C., Barnes, C., Solinas, M., & Goldberg, S. R. (2013). Prior Exposure To THC Increases The Addictive Effects Of Nicotine In Rats. Neuropsychopharmacology, 38(7), 1198-1208.
Shannon, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2015). Cannabidiol Oil For Decreasing Addictive Use Of Marijuana: A Case Report. Integrative Medicine (Encinitas, Calif.), 14(6), 31–35.
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