The use of CBD products, and even marijuana in some states where it has been legalized, has increased dramatically over the last few years in the United States. There is undoubtedly, however, still a stigma attached to the use of THC and, by extension CBD because of the many years these products were illegal and considered schedule 1 substances by both state and federal law enforcement. Many of the arguments against THC and marijuana stem from the debate over whether or not it is addictive. While that is certainly up for discussion, oftentimes, CBD products can also be mislabeled as addictive. The truth is that cannabinoid shows absolutely no addictive properties and even full-spectrum CBD products contain such a small amount of THC that even if the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana is addictive, those properties will not extend to CBD.
Is CBD oil addictive?
One of the main differences between CBD and THC, even though they can both be derived from the cannabis plant, is that THC provides a high that is not associated with CBD. The lack of a psychoactive response is one of the main reasons why researchers have determined that CBD is not an addictive substance. A March 2017 study published in the Journal of Drug and Alcohol Dependence looked at the results of a previous study where subjects who frequently smoked marijuana were given various oral doses of either a CBD product or a placebo in conjunction with THC usage. The study found that the likelihood of addiction with the placebo was the same as that of participants who were supplied with CBD.
It has long been known that CBD, which can be produced from either the cannabis plant or the hemp plant, is much safer to use for therapeutic purposes than other cannabinoids. Certain factors such as motor function, psychological function as well as heart rate, blood pressure and body temperature were measured, and CBD was not found to alter any of these significant physiological processes.
The one main concern for many users is that while there are CBD oils on the market which are entirely free from any THC, some broad-spectrum products do contain up to 0.3% THC and therefore may have some degree of addictive properties. Though this hasn’t been the case in scientific studies, if consumers fear becoming addicted to CBD, they could undoubtedly opt only to consume the THC free varieties. CBD derived from hemp plants contains little to no THC. It, therefore, should not contribute to any addiction or cause any adverse effects if use is discontinued like other substances that are viewed as addictive.
CBD shows potential as a treatment for addiction
Though many people who are in recovery or are nervous about becoming dependent on a substance may choose to avoid full spectrum CBD, recent studies show that in contrast to causing addiction CBD may be a treatment against dependence on other substances.
Many scientific research studies have shown that the use of CBD by frequent marijuana, tobacco, or opioid users can limit or eliminate the use of these much more harmful and addictive substances. Evidence suggests that CBD could also help combat the adverse effects of THC, such as cannabis withdrawal symptoms, because CBD molecules can bind to the same receptors that THC molecules bind to thereby eliminating any withdrawal symptoms. A 2013 study published in Addictive Behaviors looked at the effectiveness of CBD as a way to reduce tobacco cigarette consumption. Observing a total of 24 tobacco smokers, researchers gave half of the subjects an inhaler of CBD and the other half a placebo, instructing them to use the inhaler when they felt the need to smoke. Over a week-long period, those treated with CBD reduced the number of cigarettes smoked by 40%, while those with the placebo showed no notable difference. New scientific studies are ongoing looking into how CBD oil could combat the adverse effects of opioid addiction.
CBD oil has been shown to have many positive effects on health and wellness, but many people are cautious about trying it because of the stigma attached to any product coming from the Cannabis plant. Numerous scientific studies have shown that CBD is not an addictive substance, and in fact, may be helpful in breaking an addiction to other harmful chemicals.