Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that comes from the cannabis plant. Unlike THC—the main psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis—CBD doesn't have intoxicating effects. CBD is quickly becoming a well-accepted, naturally derived compound used to support a wide range of wellness goals, from creating healthier sleep patterns, managing stress levels, easing discomfort, and much more.
CBD is not inherently addictive because it doesn't cause intoxicating effects or hijack the reward centers in the brain.
CBD is safe and well-tolerated in most people, even in high doses. There's virtually no risk for a lethal overdose with CBD.
While the World Health Organization has issued statements on the general safety of CBD, understandably, there's still a lot we don't know about the possible negative effects of CBD when it comes to drug interactions and possible cannabis addiction.
Can Cannabidiol Be Addictive?
CBD doesn't cause intoxication or a sense of euphoria like prescription pain killers or street drugs, leading many addiction experts to believe that frequent CBD use has a similar potential for abuse to a placebo pill.
Researchers found that cannabinoids, even THC, have a very low threshold for physical addiction, but they can be habit-forming because of their intoxicating effects.
Many people will use marijuana for relaxation to the point where it becomes a habit that interferes with their commitments, relationships, and overall health. This is why it's important to make sure that your CBD is hemp-derived and not from marijuana, as marijuana can have higher levels of THC.
CBD oil isn't an inherently addictive substance like cocaine or nicotine. However, regular use of CBD may increase tolerance—requiring a higher CBD dose to feel the same effects level. You can fix the increase in tolerance by taking a break from CBD for two weeks to allow your system to readjust.
The good news is that CBD is generally well tolerated even at high doses.
Stopping CBD use hasn't been associated with withdrawal symptoms either, so there doesn't seem to be a link between CBD and changes in the brain's reward centers.
Compared to other addictive compounds like prescription pain meds and street drugs, the potential and dangers of CBD addiction are very low and uncommon.
The Dangers And Side Effects Of Cannabidiol Oil
According to the World Health Organization, the research on CBD use in clinical trials is still quite limited, but CBD is shown to be well-tolerated and generally safe. CBD doesn't have effects indicative of abuse or dependence.
The most significant safety concern with CBD is that it is primarily marketed and sold with very minimal regulation.
Poorly manufactured CBD from contaminated hemp plants or cheaply made extracts could contain traces of pesticides, heavy metal, solvents, and mold that can negatively affect one's health when used long term.
Additionally, CBD derived from marijuana plants with higher levels of THC can cause intoxication or could be illegal in your state.
It's important to know where your CBD products come from. 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.
Is It Possible To Overdose on CBD?
It's possible to take dangerous amounts of any substance, even water. Hemp-derived CBD is known to be safe and well-tolerated in most people, even at high doses (50–100 MG).
There haven't been any reported cases of fatal CBD overdoses. CBD is non-toxic in monkeys when given an intravenous dose of up to 212 per kg of body weight before showing any signs of toxicity [5].
To put this into perspective, if you weigh 150 lbs, you'd need 14,424MG of pure CBD injected into your bloodstream to reach a life-threatening dose. This isn't possible with CBD products on the market (they're not intended for intravenous use), and it's expensive.
While CBD oil is considered safe, some people can experience adverse effects. Most of the side effects of CBD oil are improper dosing.
Cannabidiol side effects include:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Changes in appetite
- Stomach aches
- Diarrhea
Mixing CBD And Prescription Medications
Some people can experience negative drug interactions when combining CBD products with their prescription medications.
CBD is an inhibitor of the CYP45 enzyme, which is needed to metabolize drugs in the body, which means that taking CBD oil while on certain medications can interfere with your body to process the drug, and you could potentially have higher levels of medication in your body that can lead to adverse effects.
It's always recommended that you speak with your doctor for professional medical advice before taking CBD or any dietary supplements to ensure the safety of compound interactions.
What Is Addiction?
Addiction is a complex condition with a psychological and physiological need to seek out certain substances or behaviors despite harmful consequences.
Researchers have found that overcoming addiction is much more than developing willpower. Addictive behaviors results in changes in the brain, hijacking reward centers that were designed for our survival as a species such as eating food, having sex, and communing [1].
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.
Drug And Alcohol Dependence
Anyone can fall victim to alcohol or drug addiction or substance use disorder. Despite consequences on your health, relationships, or finances, becoming dependent on a substance means you seek it out to make you feel good or cope with everyday life.
The most common substance use disorders, according to the MSD Manual, involve the following substances:
- Alcohol
- Anti-anxiety and sedative drugs
- Cannabis (marijuana and synthetic cannabinoids)
- Hallucinogens
- Inhalants (adhesives, paint, and cleaning fluid)
- Opioids
- Stimulants (amphetamines)
- Tobacco
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.
This is how tolerance builds. With certain substances, developing a high tolerance is extremely dangerous as it increases the likelihood of a lethal overdose.
Alcohol abuse, opioid use, and stimulants are fast to develop a dependence—where the body needs the substance to function. Those who try to kick the habit can experience serious withdrawal symptoms, which can be life-threatening.
Those experiencing drug addiction must seek professional help for guidance on how to quit addictive behaviors.
What Is Cannabidiol (CBD)?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a component of the cannabis sativa plant that has generated significant interest among scientists and health professionals in recent years. This is because CBD displays a range of potential therapeutic properties, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and antipsychotic effects.
Cannabis plants include both hemp and marijuana—their distinction lies in their THC levels, which is the cannabinoid primary responsible for the psychoactive effects. Many people are turning to hemp over medical marijuana due to its legal accessibility and its ability to support a wide range of health benefits without leading to intoxication.
You can find CBD products from CBD oil, gummies, capsules, lotions, and smokable products online and in some specialized shops.
How Does CBD Work In The Body?
CBD belongs to a class of phytochemicals called cannabinoids, which closely resemble neurotransmitters in the body in the endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis.
Homeostasis is the idea that all biological systems are constantly regulating to stay within optimal levels (i.e., equilibrium). The old fable Goldilocks and the three bears is a story about just what happens when you're too hot or cold. In this analogy, we learn that it's important not to have anything in your body be outside of an acceptable range because everything will suffer.
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.
While most major cannabinoids like THC and CBG bind to cannabinoid receptors (CB1 and CB2), which are found throughout the body and deliver signals for the brain to interpret. CBD doesn't have an affinity to bind to these receptors to exert its effects. Instead, it helps to increase the sensitivity of cannabinoid receptors to bind with cannabinoids and inhibits the breakdown of cannabinoids for better cell signaling within the ECS.
The Effects Of CBD
The effects of CBD can range significantly from one individual to the next due to genetics, lifestyle, potential drug interactions, and health conditions. Generally, most people experience a sense of relaxation, increased comfort levels, an uplifted mood, better cognitive attention, and a healthier sleep cycle when taking CBD oil.
The type of experience you can expect from your CBD oil will also depend on the dose, extract type, method of administration, and overall quality of the CBD product.
While some convincing studies highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids, more research is needed to show that CBD can be used safely to support health conditions. Currently, there's only one prescription made from pure CBD that's FDA-approved (Food and Drug Administration) for rare and severe forms of epilepsy.
Before turning to CBD use, you should steer clear of CBD products that claim to cure, treat, or mitigate any health condition and speak to your doctor for professional medical advice.
Can You Get Addicted To CBD Oil?
Addiction is a complex illness that involves genetics, psychological, and environmental factors. It's possible to become addicted to substances (drugs and alcohol) and activities (gambling, shopping, sex).
To date, CBD doesn't appear to have a high potential for abuse or addiction.
This is likely because it doesn't have intoxicating effects, and the brain may not associate CBD with pleasure or reward. CBD also doesn't cause withdrawal symptoms or dangerous overdoses, which makes the compound so interesting in health and wellness.
If you believe you're suffering from addiction, you must seek professional help as coming off certain substances like alcohol, antidepressants, or opioids can be extremely dangerous.
FAQ about CBD & Addiction
Can CBD 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. Take a two-week hiatus from CBD to allow your system to recover. 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.
What Are The Dangers And Side Effects of CBD Oil?
It is possible to consume harmful amounts of any material, including water. Hemp-derived CBD is proven to be safe and well-tolerated in most people, even at large dosages (50-100 MG), and no fatal CBD overdoses have been observed. While CBD oil is considered harmless, some people may have negative effects, the majority of which are caused by incorrect doses.
Resources:
- MacNicol, B. (2017). The biology of addiction. Canadian Journal of Anesthesia/Journal canadien d'anesthésie, 64(2), 141-148.
- Bevilacqua, L., & Goldman, D. (2009). Genes and addictions. Clinical pharmacology and therapeutics, 85(4), 359.
- Wise, R. A., & Robble, M. A. (2020). Dopamine and addiction. Annual review of psychology, 71, 79-106.
- Goeders, N. E. (2003). The impact of stress on addiction. European Neuropsychopharmacology, 13(6), 435-441.
- Huestis, M. A., Solimini, R., Pichini, S., Pacifici, R., Carlier, J., & Busardò, F. P. (2019). Cannabidiol adverse effects and toxicity. Current neuropharmacology, 17(10), 974-989.
