CBD continues to be trendy. And so the range of products with the valuable compound is constantly growing. In addition to long-established classics such as CBD oil , CBD flowers and CBD hash , there are now also cosmetics , foods and much more related to hemp extract.
And although the good tolerance and positive properties of cannabidiol have now been proven by numerous studies, one question keeps coming up: Is CBD really not addictive?
The idea is obvious because CBD is often referred to as the “legal sister” of THC. And as we all know, this is the illegal and intoxicating component in cannabis, which can certainly be addictive. That's why some find it hard to believe that this shouldn't be the case for cannabidiol. So we'll take a closer look at the topic and answer some of the most frequently asked questions about the addictive potential of CBD.
What are addictions?
An addiction is characterized by dependence on a specific substance or behavior pattern . These can be, for example, cigarettes, alcohol or hard drugs, but also luxury foods such as sugary and fatty products. And the addiction to certain behaviors such as excessive shopping or sex should not be underestimated.
All of these addictions cause the brain to release the hormone dopamine . Dopamine is also known as the happiness hormone because it gives us the well-known feeling of happiness and contentment. It is located in a part of our brain called the “nucleus accumbens,” which in common parlance is called the “reward system.” Addiction occurs when this system is misdirected. This is when the body gets used to a certain substance and as a result releases less and less dopamine. In order to continue to achieve the usual hormone level, a drug is needed more and more or at ever shorter intervals. This creates dependency, which often reaches dangerous and destructive proportions.
When do substances have the potential for addiction?
In order to answer whether CBD can be addictive, you first have to ask yourself when certain substances actually have such potential. There are various criteria for this.
The most important of these is interaction with the reward system mentioned above. If this is strongly simulated and a lot of dopamine is released, the chance that the trigger will become addictive increases.
Furthermore, how substances are taken plays a role. Because that in turn has an influence on how long it takes for the desired effect to occur. The faster an effect on the reward system is felt, the higher the addictive potential of the drug consumed. But the intensity of the effect and the amount of dopamine released also have an influence on the addictive potential.
Why CBD is not addictive
If you follow the explanation above, it becomes clear why the valuable cannabinoid CBD has no addictive potential . Because unlike THC and other drugs, it does not affect the reward system . It does not bind to the necessary receptors involved in the release of dopamine. This means that it does not trigger a feeling of happiness or a “high” in the consumer. Instead, CBD works on our body in a different way and is characterized by a calming and soothing effect .
This goes even further: Not only does CBD not trigger a release of dopamine; it even has the property of blocking these receptors as an antagonist. This means that it can prevent THC from binding to the described receptors. Because of this effect, hemp extract is increasingly recommended for the treatment of addictions - and especially THC addiction. If you would like to find out more about this, please also read the following blog post: Using CBD to combat addiction
By the way, the fact that CBD is not addictive is no longer unofficial knowledge. In 2018, the World Health Organization (WHO) also took a position on the issue in a comprehensive report and confirmed that cannabidiol cannot cause addiction. The cannabinoid was therefore classified as harmless. Other official bodies have also stated that CBD has no addictive potential.
Is the THC content in CBD products enough to develop an addiction?
You may be wondering: If the CBD in CBD oil isn't addictive, what about THC? This has been proven to have the potential for addiction (depending on the source, between 5 and 10% of consumers are addicted) and can be contained in tiny amounts in many CBD products (you can find out more in the article: Quality products from Bonorum ).
However, the answer lies here. According to EU law, the intoxicating cannabinoid may not exceed a content of 0.2% in all over-the-counter CBD products. And this small amount is far from enough to feel an effect, let alone become addicted to it.
Furthermore, as mentioned above, CBD has a positive effect on THC. In principle, it prevents its negative effects by inhibiting the release of happiness hormones. Even if the traces of THC in some products were only partially sufficient to have a corresponding effect, CBD would partially counteract this.
Can you develop a CBD tolerance?
A question that many people ask themselves in connection with CBD and addictive behavior is that of CBD tolerance. If you consume CBD products regularly, do you need an ever-increasing amount? Not only would this be extremely expensive, but it would also be very close to the hallmarks of addiction.
But this question can also be clearly answered in the negative. Even with long-term use, the body does not get used to cannabidiol and reacts in such a way that more of it has to be taken. This has also been clearly confirmed by the WHO and has already been proven in studies.
Is it possible to overdose with CBD?
Cannabidiol is generally considered very safe and is associated with few to no side effects. So far, there are no known cases of overdose and even the WHO clearly excludes this risk. She has already emphasized several times that CBD can be classified as safe.
Nevertheless, consumption is not recommended. If someone does do it - start with a smaller amount and then slowly increase the dose. Especially if the hemp extract is used for medical purposes, you should always consult a doctor first. This is the only way to rule out interactions with other medications, for example.
However, if there are any side effects when taking CBD, they are generally harmless. The following undesirable side effects occur most frequently:
- fatigue
- Dry mouth
- Low blood pressure
- Headache
Overall, CBD remains a very safe compound that can clearly be said to have no addictive potential.
