The FDA continues to categorize cannabis as a Schedule I drug with no accepted medical use at this time despite the increasing number of states that have allowed the medical use of cannabis and its derivatives. The FDA emphasizes its high potential for abuse and has attempted to introduce federal regulation drinking because of boredom to help curb the misuse. A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled test of the effects of cannabidiol on experiences of test anxiety among college students. The length of treatment is another important factor because data on AEs is much more limited following chronic CBD administration.

Health Benefits of CBD

What is currently known about marijuana is derived from studies of a single active constituent, tetrahydrocannabinol, and less so from the plant itself. This problem is primarily due to the federal status as a Schedule I substance and the prohibition of federal research funds for the study. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, CBD was efficacious in reducing atonic seizures in patients with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, also taking clobazam, valproate, lamotrigine, levetiracetam, or rufinamide [65]. Treatment-related AEs, including somnolence, were mostly mild and occurred in 62% of 86 patients treated with 20 mg/kg/day CBD for 14 weeks. Severe AEs included sedation occurring in 23% of 86 patients receiving CBD; 14% patients treated with CBD and one (1%) treated with placebo withdrew from the study.

CANNABIDIOL (CBD) – Uses, Side Effects, and More

CBD has been shown to be a safe compound in both animals and humans, which is of critical importance from a therapeutic point of view. While CBD seems to have direct effects on addictive behaviors, its therapeutic potential could also be enhanced by several properties that contribute indirectly to addictive disorders. For example, its antianxiety properties are well known at doses of 300–600 mg12,37 and CBD seems to have antidepressant11 and anticonvulsant38,39 effects. Its impact on pain has been investigated, especially in combination with THC in Sativex treatment for chronic pain40,41 and is relevant since chronic pain can induce or perpetuate drug abuse.

Unique treatment potential of cannabidiol for the prevention of relapse to drug use: preclinical proof of principle

For example, CBD affects on hormones (Bergamaschi et al., 2011; Iffland and Grotenhermen, 2017). Several studies in animals and humans demonstrated the absence of rewarding properties (Parker et al., 2004; Katsidoni et al., 2013; Babalonis et al., 2017; Schoedel et al., 2018). Indeed, recent studies carried out in mice in our laboratory further demonstrate that CBD is not an addictive substance. A range of CBD doses were evaluated in different animal models of addiction commonly used to assess the reinforcing and motivational properties of drugs (conditioned place preference (CPP) and oral self-administration (SA)). Also, withdrawal-related signs were analyzed after the abrupt cessation of CBD chronic administration.

Given its profile, they suggest that CBG could potentially help with tic disorders, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and metabolic diseases (obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes, hyperglycemia, etc.). CBG may also serve as a neuroprotective agent that could reduce the severity of neurological illnesses, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Huntington’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s disease. Anti-anxiety effects of CBD were evaluated on the EPM test as previously described [47].

Similarly, Ren et al. showed a reduction of CB1R gene and protein levels in the NAcc core and shell subregions of rats exposed to a cue-induced heroin seeking procedure. Interestingly, these authors suggested that the effects of CBD on CB1R expression would present a mesolimbic specificity (Ren et al., 2009). Furthermore, CBD increased CB1R protein expression in the HIPP of mice exposed to a cocaine SA paradigm (Luján et al., 2018). On the other powerlessness aa hand, the antagonism of CB2R by the administration of AM630 completely blocked the reduction of cocaine SA by CBD, suggesting its critical involvement in CBD-mediated effects (Galaj et al., 2020). 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.

Additionally, withdrawal symptoms can occur when the substance is not used, leading to further difficulties in quitting. Addiction is a complex condition that involves compulsive drug seeking and use, despite harmful consequences. It causes changes in the brain’s structure and function, leading to problems with decision-making, impulse control, and emotional regulation. While current evidence indicates that you won’t develop a CBD addiction, it is possible to have an adverse reaction to cannabidiol. Talking to your doctor first and starting with a low dose can reduce the risk of unwanted side effects. Current evidence suggests that CBD use does not lead to addiction and that the substance may have a number of health benefits.

1. There are a high number of serotonergic receptors subtypes with different functional profiles, suggesting the complexity of serotonin-mediated regulation of drug reward.
2. Only the impact of CBD on the intoxication phase of alcohol addiction was extracted from the review of literature.
3. Lennox-Gastaut syndromes and is likely to be recommended off label by physicians for other conditions.
4. Furthermore, the number of BrdU/NeuN stained cells in the HIPP was significantly higher in CBD-treated animals (Luján et al., 2018).

A limited number of preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic properties on opioid, cocaine, and psychostimulant addiction, and some preliminary data suggest that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans. Further studies are clearly necessary to fully evaluate the potential of CBD as an intervention for addictive disorders. Our laboratory was the first to publish relevant data regarding the effects of CBD on ethanol reinforcement, motivation, and relapse in C57BL/6J male mice. Voluntary ethanol consumption (VEC) and oral ethanol SA procedures were employed. First, VEC was evaluated in a two-bottle choice paradigm in which mice were repeatedly administered with different doses of CBD (30, 60 and 120 mg/kg, i.p.). Ethanol consumption and preference were significantly reduced by CBD in a dose-dependent manner.

In vitro and in vivo data suggest that CBD interacts with pharmaceuticals, specifically drugs metabolized by the liver. Following oral 30, 100, and 300 mg/kg CBD for 90 days in rhesus monkeys, significant 57% decreases in testicular weights were observed after 200 mg/kg CBD that continued after the end of treatment [61]. Similarly, acute and subchronic 0.6, 0.8, and 1.2 mg/kg smoked CBD exposure in rats showed a severe dose-related seminiferous tubule degeneration with interference in sperm maturation [100].

In 2017, it was estimated that over 30 million individuals present an SUD leading to more than 31 thousand years lived with disability (YLDs) with a worrying increase (16.7%) over the previous decade (GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, 2018). Furthermore, substance yellow eyes after drinking use was indirectly and directly responsible for 11.8 million deaths which implies one in five deaths worldwide (GBD 2017 Disease and Injury Incidence and Prevalence Collaborators, 2018). However, the effects did not translate to a notable reduction in state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI) scores.

While chronic cannabis use may increase the risk of dependence, CBD alone does not appear to have the potential for addiction or abuse. Another recent study based in New Zealand examined CBD use among 400 people with chronic pain and mental health conditions. In a 2019 study, researchers examined CBD’s effects on 72 adults with anxiety and sleep problems. Within the first month of treatment, 79.2% of participants reported reduced anxiety symptoms, and 66.7% reported improved sleep quality.