CBD Addiction: Is Cannabidiol CBD Addictive?

Due to the antipsychotic actions of CBD, along with the absence of extrapyramidal effects, numerous studies have been conducted to investigate the interaction between CBD and the mesolimbic dopaminergic system employing animal models of schizophrenia. It has been proposed that CBD could act as a partial agonist of D2 receptors (Seeman, 2016) and normalize D3 receptor gene expression in several brain regions (PFC, HIPP, and NAcc) (Stark et al., 2020). In addition to these previous findings, it was also explored whether CBD could is cannabidiol addictive be effective to prevent relapse. Gonzalez-Cuevas et al. revealed that the transdermal administration of CBD attenuated context-induced and stress-induced drug-seeking in an intravenous cocaine SA paradigm. Interestingly, CBD-mediated anti-relapsing effects were maintained up to 5 months after the end of the treatment although plasma and brain CBD levels were undetectable at this time (Gonzalez-Cuevas et al., 2018). Furthermore, the effects of CBD on cocaine plus caffeine-induced locomotor sensitization were investigated.

Strangely enough, while practically no impacts of CBD on objective or subjective observations of intoxication were detected, the combination of alcohol and CBD yielded significantly lower levels of blood alcohol compared to alcohol given alone (Consroe et al., 1979) (Table 2). In sum, the favorable effects of CBD on alcohol-related harms and addiction phenotypes in preclinical propose that CBD can be an effective alternative to treat alcohol use disorder; however, more studies are needed. Cue-induced craving and anxiety in heroin-abstinent individuals were decreased by acute CBD administration (400 or 800 mg), further demonstrating efficacy for CBD in ameliorating clinical signs and symptoms critical to the continued cycle of addiction. Additionally, there was a prolonged impact on these measures one week after short-term repeated CBD treatment. CBD also reduced physiological measures of stress reactivity, such as increased heart rate and cortisol levels, induced by salient drug cues without impacting cognition (Hurd et al., 2019) (Table 2). Following these discoveries, CBD’s effects in animal models of opioids addiction were more thoroughly considered.

What are the benefits of CBD — and is it safe to use?

Its potential impact on mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression has been a specific point of interest for many. Evidence suggests that people can develop a tolerance to THC and may experience withdrawal symptoms. Physical dependence on THC is more likely among people who use high-THC cannabis strains. CBD’s burgeoning popularity has been fueled in part by the compound’s purported mental health-boosting properties.

Nevertheless, more studies are needed to precisely explore CBD-mediated regulation of dopaminergic mechanisms involved in drug addiction. Also, another publication showed that CBD (5 and 10 mg/kg, i.p.) did not attenuate the motivation to self-administer cocaine (breaking point) nor the cue-induced cocaine seeking in rats after a withdrawal period (Mahmud et al., 2017). These apparently contradictory results could be related, at least in part, with differences in the experimental design or in the administered doses of cocaine and CBD.

Can CBD Oil Be Addictive?

CBD oil is not a naturally addictive chemical like cocaine or nicotine. Regular CBD use, on the other hand, may create tolerance, needing a greater CBD dose to achieve the same degree of effects. Stopping CBD use hasn’t been linked to withdrawal symptoms, therefore there doesn’t appear to be a link between CBD and alterations in the brain’s reward regions. CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t have any psychoactive properties, nor does it bind to CB1R receptors in the same way. This difference alone means that CBD has no risk of addiction potential.