Can You Get Addicted To CBD With Long-Term Use?

New scientific research is increasingly backing CBD’s therapeutic potential. Studies have shown that CBD may have anti-inflammatory and seizure-preventing properties. The FDA approved the first CBD-based anti-seizure drug called Epidiolex in 2018. Still, some are curious whether you can get addicted to CBD, so let’s find out.

Beyond the United States, many countries have realized the immense medical benefits of CBD and greenlit it for recreational and medicinal use. The passing of the Cannabis Act in Canada was a landmark achievement. This piece of legislation legalized hemp and marijuana-based products for adult use. The European Union has also endorsed the manufacture and sale of CBD oil, as long as it doesn’t exceed the THC content of .3%. Some South American nations have also followed suit and allowed the import of several CBD products for the treatment of various conditions. These countries include Chile, Brazil, and Mexico. 

Despite CBD’s widespread acceptance and entry, the questions surrounding its addictive properties remain a big question mark. This is because CBD is often mixed up with another cannabis-based cannabinoid called THC. According to scientific evidence, THC may have substance abuse potential, whereas CBD doesn’t. In fact, CBD may counteract THC’s psychoactive effects and help in the fight to treat addiction. 

Is CBD Oil addictive?

Because commercial CBD doesn’t contain high THC concentrations, it is widely believed to have no potential for abuse. 

The World Health Organization published a critical review claiming CBD has an excellent safety profile and isn’t conducive to substance abuse disorders. One 2017 study compared CBD’s substance abuse potential to that of a placebo. The researchers concluded that CBD has as much possibility of abuse as the placebo.  

A 2011 study suggested that CBD has a much better safety profile than THC. When the study participants were given high doses of CBD (above 1500mg), they tolerated them pretty well. Compared to THC, CBD did not impair psychological function. No incidences of elevated heart rate or motor impairment have been reported.

Does CBD Have Side Effects?

However, the CBD industry is highly unregulated. Most CBD products contain inconsistent ingredients. Some might contain more than the legally permissible amount of CBD. So, whether CBD is legal or not depends on where you’re getting it from. 

CBD is extracted from both hemp and marijuana. Hemp-derived verities have little to no THC, whereas marijuana-sourced can have up to 30% of THC in their composition. You’re unlikely to experience any withdrawal symptoms as a consequence of using hemp-based CBD. 

Companies manufacture Marijuana-derived CBD specifically for their psychoactive qualities. In the case that your CBD oil contained high levels of THC content, you might experience cannabis withdrawal symptoms. These include:

• diminished appetite
• mood changes
• irritability
• sleep difficulties, including insomnia headaches
• loss of focus
• cravings for marijuana
• sweating, including cold sweats
• chills
• increased feelings of depression
• stomach problems

While investigative studies are clear that you cannot get addicted to CBD, however, someone who takes huge amounts of CBD per serving may experience some side effects, such as the dry mouth and appetite suppression. And if that person starts lowering the dose abruptly, they may experience anxiety, inflammation, and sleep decline.

You can choose CBD products completely devoid of THC. Two options in the market target this need: CBD isolates and Broad Spectrum CBD. Both contain no THC. In fact, CBD isolate has only one ingredient: 99.5% pure CBD. However, research suggests that CBD, combined with other cannabinoids, such as THC, may be more beneficial. This is because of the Entourage effect. The entourage effect is the synergistic relationship between different cannabinoid compounds, enhancing the therapeutic effects of cannabis. In a 2010 study, CBD and THC relieved pain in cancer patients better as a combo than individually. 

Can CBD Help Fight Addiction?

Instead of acting as a gateway for drug abuse, CBD could help individuals fight addiction. Evidence suggests that CBD could counteract the withdrawal symptoms of THC. In a 2013 study, a cannabis woman who had cannabis withdrawal symptoms was given CBD for ten days, which resulted in a significant reduction in withdrawal effects.

There’s also research that backs CBD’s potential to fight addiction if you are addicted to various other substances, such as opioids and tobacco.

A huge market for CBD markets has reared its head in the past decade. CBD cigarettes provide many advantages over their regular counterparts. They’re inexpensive and aren’t addictive in the slightest. A 2013 study surfaced in addictive behaviors, which described how CBD effectively curbed tobacco intake in 24 seasoned smokers. Researchers gave a placebo and CBD inhaler to the participants. Those who used the inhaler felt a diminished need to smoke. As a result, their weekly tobacco consumption dropped by 40%. Those with the placebo demonstrated no marked improvement in smoking habits. 

Aside from tobacco, CBD has also shown the potential to decrease the cravings of more dangerous addictive substances, such as cocaine and alcohol. In an animal-based study, rats who had a longstanding history of alcohol and cocaine abuse and exhibited addictive behavior symptoms took a topical application of CBD gel. The study results showed that CBD effectively reduced drug use in rats and helped with common withdrawal symptoms, such as impulsivity and anxiety.

However, the evidence backing CBD’s potent anti-addictive benefits isn’t limited to animal studies. We also have human clinical evidence. A study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry showed CBD to alleviate cravings resulting from heroin addiction. The forty participants who partook in the study had a heroin addiction for the past 13 years. They were broken down into three groups. Researchers gave one group 800mg of CBD, another 400mg, and the last one placebo. Those who took CBD had a reduction in cravings and anxiety.

Final Thoughts

Bottom line: You cannot get addicted to CBD. On the contrary, it may help fight the addiction to various substances, including cocaine, tobacco, and cannabis. There’s a common misconception that CBD has a similar physiological profile to THC, due to which it may have the same substance abuse potential THC is known to have. However, while both compounds act on the Endocannabinoid System, CBD doesn’t activate the CB1 receptors associated with THC’s psychoactive activity.