Can I become addicted to CBD products?

In the past few years, the popularity of CBD has quickly been on the rise. The substance has gained attention due to benefits such as its ability to reduce inflammation and aid in minimizing anxiety in a natural way. Formerly, CBD products were seen as a niche alternative to more common methods of treatment. However, anecdotal accounts from proponents of the substance along with recent studies that illustrate its positive impacts have transformed it into something much more widespread. 

With all of the news and talk surrounding this topic, many unfamiliar with the specific nature of CBD have become confused in terms of the effects of use. Much of this can be attributed to the association that many establish between CBD and Marijuana. This relationship — in spite of the increasing acceptance of the substance worldwide — has caused concerns to linger regarding whether or not these products are addictive. 

 

What is CBD

Within a cannabis plant there are two main different compounds: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The primary difference between THC and CBD is that the latter does not have properties that make it psychoactive. In other words, CBD does not provide that feeling of a “high” that affects your normal state of being. Both have an identical makeup of chemicals, but they are arranged in different ways, altering the way that the body accepts and uses the compounds. CBD works in combination with the neurotransmitters in the body to target problems that revolve around things like mood, stress, sleep, and physical ailments.

Advances in the consumption and processing of CBD have continued to be made as the general public has become more familiar and intrigued with the substance. The products can now be concentrated into forms such as oil which have opened the door to cleaner methods of application like CBD creams and lotions. Because of this, use for patients or for those who proactively prescribe to the products can be more consistent in terms of dosage. 

 

Can I become addicted to CBD

Even with the expansion of CBD availability on the market and the increased understanding that we have of its benefits, there continues to be an ongoing debate among some regarding the potential addictive nature of CBD. A lot of these concerns center around fears of the development of a drug dependency or psychotic illness due to the use of cannabinoids. 

With both THC and CBD, the cannabinoids attach to the receptors in your body that compose a connection of neurotransmitters called the endocannabinoid system. Because THC is psychoactive and provides that high, it is possible to become addicted to it. However, even though THC and CBD share some of the same processes in relation to the body, CBD is in no way addictive for the user. In fact, a 2011 study that compared the safety profile of CBD to THC and other cannabinoids found that CBD was much safer than the others examined. Even users who took high doses of the substance (around 1,500 milligrams per day) had high levels of tolerance and experienced no addictive side effects. 

As mentioned earlier, the primary reason that CBD is safe and effective without being addictive is because it does not produce the euphoric high that has been so closely connected with cannabis substances. To further the effects of CBD products without ever having to worry about developing a dependency, it is always best to seek out CBD products that contain no levels of THC. 0% THC CBD products contain none of the strains of cannabis that create these negative side effects, and thus are best for overall use.