Cannabis Addiction and the Brain: a Review PMC

The drug causes a high that slows motor function and causes lack of coordination thus putting the user at risk for injury. Using Cannabis for medical issues has also been practiced for many years in the United States, up until 1937 when a federal law was passed banning the treatment. When you call our helpline, you’ll be connected with a representative who can assist you in finding mental health and addiction treatment resources at any of the Ark Behavioral Health addiction treatment facilities. However, if you’ve developed a problem with CBD oil or any other substance, allow us to assist you.

is cannabidiol addictive

In a 2018 clinical trial, 72 children and 60 adults with treatment-resistant epilepsy received 5–50 milligrams per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) of CBD daily. The authors of a 2015 review found evidence that CBD may is cannabidiol addictive also help treat nicotine and cannabis addiction. While current scientific evidence suggests that heavy cannabis use may increase the risk of dependence in some people, CBD by itself does not appear to be addictive.

Clarifying Misconceptions: Does CBD Get You High?

Research has shown that CBD is not considered physically addictive, unlike other substances like opioids or nicotine. Current evidence suggests that CBD use does not lead to addiction and that the substance may have a number of health benefits. However, it is also important to be aware that CBD does have some potential https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/13-actionable-tips-to-stay-sober-at-different-times/ side effects. While CBD does not appear to be addictive and may have some benefits, one large-scale review concluded that there was not enough evidence to support the use of CBD as a treatment for mental health conditions. While CBD does not have psychoactive properties, it does have a variety of effects.

  • As reviewed below, published reports focused mainly on evaluating the effects of CBD on the reinforcing and motivational actions of amphetamine, methamphetamine, and cocaine in different animal models (Table 4).
  • AMPH (10 mg/kg) disrupted the PPI test, while CBD (15–60 mg/kg) administration alone had no such effect.
  • The effects of CBD were examined during the maintenance and extinction phases of SA and during cue-induced reinstatement.
  • After a careful review of articles, seven of those were excluded because their outcomes did not fit the purpose of this review or because they were duplicated (Supplementary Table 2 provides description of the excluded studies).
  • Although molecular studies conducted by Seeman (Seeman, 2016) have shown that CBD binds D2R, the significance of such interaction in the modulation of reward mechanisms has not been demonstrated (Volkow et al., 2017).

Overall, CBD treatment can be a novel tool with some potential applications in treating substance use disorders and their comorbidity; however, more trials are needed to establish real clinical utility. Future studies could take these restrictions into account and focus on evaluating CBD’s effects in the various stages of psychotic disorders, considering the high prevalence of comorbidity with substance abuse disorder. Thus, available evidence suggests that CBD may functionally regulate the activity of the mesolimbic DA system and counteract the effects of dysregulated dopaminergic transmission induced by drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine, alcohol, or cannabis. These findings could be related, at least in part, to the reduction of the reinforcing and motivational effects of these drugs, as well as to the regulation of the withdrawal syndrome. Nevertheless, more studies are needed to precisely explore CBD-mediated regulation of dopaminergic mechanisms involved in drug addiction. Emerging evidence indicates that TRPV1 inhibition may be effective in treating opioid addiction.

Research and Evidence on CBD and Addiction

CBD employed for its effects on opioid craving has also been tested in human translational studies. In one study, three groups of patients received fentanyl (0.5 or 1 μg/kg) on two different occasions, with each group receiving either 400 or 800 mg of CBD or a placebo. CBD was well tolerated at all dosages, and co-administration with fentanyl did not induce respiratory depression symptoms or any cardiovascular complications (Manini et al., 2015) (Table 2). Moreover, CBD’s influence on the rewarding characteristic of morphine in the CPP paradigm has also been evaluated. CBD (10 mg/kg) pretreatment effectively prevented opioid reward in mice (Markos et al., 2018) (Table 1).

Previous neuroimaging studies reveal the long-term effects of chronic cannabis use on several different brain systems including the reward, endocannabinoid, and stress systems as well as brain areas involved in emotion processing and decision making. In addition to its role in HPA axis dysfunction and reward processing, the hyperactivation of the eCS may also play a role in the executive dysfunction sometimes observed in cannabis use. The eCS is highly active in adolescent brain development, particularly in the PFC, a region that exercises executive function (Dow-Edwards and Silva 2017). Exogenous cannabinoids hyperactivate CB1 receptors which are expressed in pyramidal neurons and GABAergic interneurons, indicative of the regulatory role of the eCS in GABA and glutamate neurotransmission (Caballero and Tseng 2012; Volkow et al. 2017a).

Are there any bad effects from stopping CBD suddenly?

Researchers need to carry out large-scale, high-quality clinical trials to thoroughly investigate the potential medical applications of CBD. Preliminary evidence suggests that CBD may help treat substance use disorder. A 2020 study found that full-spectrum hemp-extracted CBD reduced neuropathic pain in mice. Those who took a 300 mg dose of CBD saw significantly reduced social anxiety scores before, during, and after public speaking. Anxiety levels remained high in those who took the 100 and 900 mg CBD dose. Clonazepam reduced blood pressure or heart rate, but CBD had no physical effects.

is cannabidiol addictive

However, it can often be difficult to determine how much CBD you are actually taking. In 2018, the FDA approved Epidiolex, a CBD solution, for the treatment of rare, severe forms of epilepsy.

Addiction to cannabis

Certain substances are more inherently physically addictive than others. If you use a substance frequently enough, your body will adjust to the active compounds, making them less likely to respond to the stimulus and requiring more to feel the same effects level. Shop with reputable brands that can ensure that the CBD extract is hemp-derived (not marijuana-derived CBD) and have a third-party certificate of analysis to prove its safety. The FHE Health team is committed to providing accurate information that adheres to the highest standards of writing. If one of our articles is marked with a ‘reviewed for accuracy and expertise’ badge, it indicates that one or more members of our team of doctors and clinicians have reviewed the article further to ensure accuracy. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure FHE Health is trusted as a leader in mental health and addiction care.

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