Is CBD Addictive? CBD Addiction & Withdrawal Symptoms

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 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.

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The Dangers And Side Effects Of Cannabidiol Oil

Today, you can find CBD oil in capsules, oil bases for vaporizers, tinctures, food items, and beauty products such as bath bombs or lotions. While current evidence indicates that you won’t develop a CBD addiction, it is possible to have an adverse reaction to cannabidiol. In some studies, the use of Epidiolex was linked to liver problems and drug interactions. However, it is also important to be aware that CBD does have some potential side effects. It means that more studies are needed to determine what CBD might treat, when it is best used, and what dosage people should take. Research also suggests that CBD may be helpful for alleviating symptoms of anxiety.

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.

• However, since these products are unregulated, there is often no guarantee of the THC percentage.
• CBD has several therapeutic properties on its own that could indirectly be useful in the treatment of addiction disorders, such as its protective effect on stress vulnerability and neurotoxicity.
• The research is still emerging on CBD and its ability to support homeostasis, but clinical evidence shows that CBD has a wide range of potential health benefits.

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.

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However, the National Conference of State Legislatures provides up-to-date information on state-level CBD/hemp regulations. Despite these federal regulations, many people are still unsure whether CBD is legal in all 50 states. However, some manufacturers may not tightly adhere to these psilocybin mushroom description, species, uses, hallucinogen, and facts regulations, causing some CBD products to contain illegal amounts of THC. However, this law includes strict regulations about how cannabis plants can be grown.

Is Cannabidiol (CBD) Addictive?

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.

Is CBD Addictive?

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.

• So, at a high level, it’s fair to say that pure CBD itself is not considered addictive.
• 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 can experience negative drug interactions when combining CBD products with their prescription medications.
• In one study from 2018, healthy people who took a single dose of CBD did not have any effects on their sleep.
• CBD is considered safe for most users and is used by many for its potential health benefits.

CBD Benefits

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.

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.

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.

25 Gut Health Hacks is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive health information from Harvard Medical School. And, while there is a lot of positive talk about cannabis, there are risks—especially if you’re over 55. Medical cannabis is available in more delivery methods than ever before, such as gummy bears, dried flowers, pills, lotions, drops and a variety of edibles, but what exactly does it do? No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. CBD comes in many forms, including oils, tinctures, capsules, patches, vapes, and topical preparations for use on skin. Many nonprescription drugs, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), have this same effect.

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.

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.

CBD vs. THC: Why the Difference Matters for Addiction Risk

In other words, non-addictive does not mean “risk-free”. Even though CBD is not considered addictive, it’s still a biologically active compound. That feeling of “I miss this” is not the same as clinical addiction, but it’s still worth noticing.

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).

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.

Side Effects and Other Concerns

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.