CBD doesn’t appear to be addictive, but that doesn’t mean that it is right for everyone. Talking to your doctor first and starting with a low dose can reduce the risk of unwanted side effects. CBD products may also contain higher levels of THC than stated on the label. The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health cautions that CBD may be harmful to some people. Research indicates that CBD is generally well-tolerated up to doses of around 600 mg and as high as 1500 mg. For example, one study found that CBD influences how the brain responds to serotonin, which may have an antidepressant-like effect.
- Its potential impact on mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression has been a specific point of interest for many.
- CBD is the most abundant cannabis plant substance, accounting for around 40% of what is extracted from the plant.
- There is little evidence that cannabidiol has a strong impact on pain control for conditions like multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, Crohn’s disease and nerve pain.
- We are a team of experts committed to promoting health & wellness through education, support, and awareness.
- So far, we know that CBD is a proven treatment when it comes to certain types of epilepsy, and early research is showing promise in the treatment of various anxiety disorders.
- People taking high doses of CBD may show abnormalities in liver-related blood tests.
Learned Behaviors
Sign up to get exclusive CBD deals, fresh product drops, and the latest cannabis news before anyone else. While still preliminary, this research paves the way for future clinical applications of CBD in addiction recovery protocols. Specifically, CBD influences the acetylation of H3K9 histones, reducing the activity of the CNR1 gene, which encodes for the CB1 receptor involved in dopamine regulation and substance craving. Studies show that it modulates the expression of genes involved in addictive behavior through epigenetic mechanisms.
How to gradually reduce CBD to avoid withdrawal symptoms?
CBD is also common in beauty products or marketed as a pain or mood management remedy. Some people may take CBD recreationally to help relax or to improve feelings of anxiety. The green, leafy cannabis plant from which CBD is derived will be familiar to many people. Additionally, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies CBD as a drug ingredient, and it is still tightly regulated in products. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way.
The bottom line on cannabidiol
- Some users wonder whether certain CBD formats — such as oils — might carry a higher risk of dependence due to their faster onset of effects.
- Cannabidiol (CBD), the primary non-psychoactive compound derived from hemp (Cannabis sativa L.), is not considered addictive according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2018 critical review on cannabidiol.
- The products sold by the company are not medicines and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent diseases.
CBD has been effective at improving anxiety symptoms in these studies, with doses ranging from 6 mg to 400 mg per dose. CBD oil has gained recent popularity, with claims that its uses include pain relief, improvement of anxiety symptoms and even improved cognition. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a substance that naturally occurs in the cannabis plant, but it does not produce the same ‘high’ side effects as marijuana. The effects of CBD can range significantly from one individual to the next due to genetics, lifestyle, potential drug interactions, and health conditions. An earlier study conducted in 2010 tested 94 cannabis users to evaluate the role of THC/CBD ratios in modulating the effects of psychoactive compounds and attentional bias to drug stimuli . People use CBD to manage their daily stresses by reducing anxiety, but reports from CBD users and preclinical studies suggest that CBD oil has remarkable medicinal potential.
You can also ask staff questions about products, how they work, and which ones might work best for you. Their products are tested in labs for contamination and clearly labeled with CBD dosage. Many products that claim to be CBD also contain other cannabinoids, such as THC. The main risk of using CBD is that most CBD products are unregulated. According to the WHO’s Expert Committee on Drug Dependence (ECDD), people are unlikely to abuse pure CBD or be harmed by using it. More trials are underway to find out how CBD can help improve tremor and motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease
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The 2018 Farm Bill made it legal to buy CBD products containing less than 0.3% THC under federal law. This plan should also take into account your symptoms and any other medications or supplements that you may be taking. Because the FDA currently does not regulate CBD, there are no specific recommended doses. But they also caution that more research in people is needed to understand how CBD may affect fertility. There is limited research on how CBD interacts with prescription drugs and with standard over-the-counter supplements.
THC content and cannabinoid profile
Cannabidiol has been studied as a treatment for anxiety, both on its own and in combination with other medications. Although experts are not completely sure how CBD works to prevent seizures, it may be related to the drug’s impact on calcium channels in the brain However, it is used for a range of reasons that are not necessarily out of medical necessity.
Although both cannabinoids originate from the Cannabis sativa plant, their effects on the brain’s reward system diverge significantly. Among these formats, sublingual CBD oils are widely used for their efficiency and rapid absorption. However, clinical data shows that all delivery methods have comparable addiction profiles when the THC content is tightly regulated. This is particularly relevant when CBD is used to manage chronic anxiety or sleep disorders, as it may become a psychological crutch that users struggle to abandon.
A form of CBD is used as a drug to treat seizures. Cannabidiol, also called CBD, is a chemical in the cannabis plant. Many CBD products are unregulated, so it’s best to buy products from a licensed dispensary or talk to your doctor about how to use them.
Signs Your CBD Product Might Not Be What You Think
Researchers found that even doses as high as 1,500 mg daily didn’t cause any side effects over time. All these interactions seem promising when it comes to easing withdrawal symptoms and reducing the risk of addiction. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is one of the two major constituents of cannabis plants. The users start seeking out the addictive substance more frequently, resulting in a less potent release of dopamine. Many experts claim that the picture is much bigger, and in fact, it may result from learned behaviors that make users regularly seek out addictive substances. Psychiatrists and researchers studying addiction report that pleasure-seeking is just one of the many factors contributing to addiction.
Those experiencing drug addiction must seek professional help for guidance on how to quit addictive behaviors. Anyone can fall victim to alcohol or drug addiction or substance use disorder. Addiction can form around substances such as drugs and alcohol, which are defined performance-enhancing drug use in recreational athletes as substance use disorders or can arise from behaviors such as gambling, sex addiction, and self-injury. Some people can experience negative drug interactions when combining CBD products with their prescription medications.
Like marijuana and THC, cannabidiol (CBD) comes from the cannabis plant. Since the substance is an extract from the cannabis plant, people are often unsure if they can get addicted to CBD. If you’ve searched this topic online, you’ve probably seen every possible take — from “CBD is totally harmless” to “all cannabis products are addictive.” Not all of these sources are equally reliable. Some people — especially at higher doses — do report side effects.
Hemp-derived CBD vs. Marijuana-derived CBD
To prevent this risk, it’s essential to choose CBD products that are lab-tested and certified by third-party institutions. Residual solvents, heavy metals, or pesticide traces can provoke unwanted side effects — such as fatigue, irritability, or headaches, which may push users to increase their dose unnecessarily. Many users report significant variations between different products — or even between batches from the same brand — which can lead to unintentional dosage adjustments over time. This allows users to benefit from the entourage effect while avoiding the psychoactive impact linked to addiction mechanisms. To reduce the risk of tolerance or habituation, it’s important to select products with a cannabinoid spectrum that supports stable endocannabinoid activity — without overstimulating CB1 receptors. In a landmark study, Gobbi et al. (2022) at McGill University demonstrated that CBD reduces cue-induced cravings in individuals with heroin use disorder (Neuropsychopharmacology).
Some studies also mention its potential as a supportive agent in overcoming the withdrawal symptoms after cessation. If your state has a medical marijuana program, you’ll need a prescription for CBD oil. Because of the negligible concentration of THC, hemp-derived CBD oils aren’t addictive.
Additionally, CBD derived from marijuana plants with higher levels of THC can cause intoxication or could be illegal in your state. The good news is that CBD is generally well tolerated even at high doses. However, regular use of CBD may increase tolerance—requiring a higher CBD dose to feel the same effects level.