Cannabidiol and addiction: does CBD cause dependence or addiction?

CBD: the other active ingredient in cannabis

Well-known these days among the general public, cannabidiol or CBD is the second most abundant active ingredient in cannabis. However, unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta-9-THC, commonly known as THC), CBD has no psychotropic effects.

At its November 2017 conference, the WHO Expert Committee on Drug Dependence thus concluded that “in its pure state, cannabidiol (CBD) does not appear to present any risk of abuse nor is it harmful to health”(1).

Quite the reverse in fact. Following, in particular, the 2013 US report of a young girl whose rare, serious form of epilepsy appeared to have been cured by CBD, this substance has enjoyed unprecedented popularity across the globe for its many applications.

Known uses of CBD

For example, in the wake of the successful treatment of this young girl (2), a CBD-based pharmacological treatment is, under certain conditions, now authorised in the US and France for helping to combat some forms of epilepsy.

The range of CBD’s applications is actually extremely broad. To assess the diversity of disorders for which consumers use CBD, a study published in the JAMA Open Network in 2020 examined the most common reasons given by those self-medicating with the substance (3).

Of the 300+ accounts collected for this study, over 63% of respondents said they used CBD for anxiety, depression or Autistic Spectrum Disorder. More than 25% used it for orthopaedic pain and almost 15% for sleep problems.

However, there are no studies of large sample groups comparing the effects of CBD versus placebo on various symptoms and diseases. As a result, there’s a certain reluctance on the part of public authorities in many countries to officially recognise the benefits of CBD, even if recognition is widespread among consumers.

How do CBD and THC work?

THC and CBD are both cannabinoids and as such, act primarily on two receptors of the endocannabinoid system: CB1 and CB2.

This endocannabinoid system regulates various physiological functions (memory, motivation, energy, movement, pain, emotion …) (4-6).

THC, CBD and addiction

In purely physical terms, cannabis does not cause major dependence, unlike ‘hard’ drugs such as heroin, cocaine, crack, etc. The effects of withdrawal are therefore mild.

Having said that, as cannabis contains THC, it can cause a degree of dependence related to its action on the brain’s reward circuit. THC binds primarily to CB1 receptors in the brain, in particular those present in parts of the brain involved in this reward circuitry.

As a result, use of THC (just like candy, social media, porn, etc) causes insensitivity to dopamine, leading users to repeatedly up their dose in order to get their ‘shot’ of dopamine, though it’s an ever-weaker ‘hit’. It’s a vicious circle.

CBD, on the other hand, binds mainly to the endocannabinoid system’s CB2 receptors, which are present throughout the body, especially on immune cells.

In fact, CBD is thought to act as an antagonist of the main CB1 receptor agonists, while displaying CB2 receptor inverse agonism (7).

As a consequence, since CBD has no psychotropic effect and does not act on the brain’s reward circuit, it does not lead to dependence: you cannot become addicted to CBD.

Different forms of CBD

CBD is available in various forms, all of which have particular characteristics and benefits.

CBD in capsules

First of all, there are CBD capsules, a classic and highly effective form of delivery. SuperSmart, for example, offers a hemp leaf extract standardised to 17% CBD (CBD 25 mg).

In addition, as CBD binds easily to fats, it’s often found in the form of CBD oil. While it’s certainly possible to place drops of CBD oil on the tongue using a pipette, one of the easiest ways to control how much you take is to swallow a capsule (such as the product CBD Oil 6%, which provides 5mg of CBD per capsule). The CBD will be slowly absorbed by the body during digestion.

CBD in spray form

For faster absorption, an oral CBD spray is a good option: the CBD is absorbed through mucous membranes in the mouth to reach the bloodstream directly (products include CBD Spray, with each spray providing 10mg of CBD).

CBD balm

Also popular in cosmetics, CBD can be combined with coconut oil and other soothing essential oils to form a pleasant and refreshing massage balm, mixed, for example, with eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, etc. (see CBD Balm 7%). This method also enables the dose of CBD to be controlled.

CBD in synergy with melatonin

Finally, what could be more natural than combining CBD with melatonin, which many people take to help them fall asleep, in a synergistic formulation which fully exploits the potential of both molecules (see the supplement CBD+Melatonin).