Quit cannabis with the help of CBD

What is cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant native to Central or South Asia. Plants rich in fiber and low in Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC*) are called “hemp” or “agricultural hemp” while varieties rich in THC are called “Indian hemp” or cannabis.

 

Cannabis comes in several forms : flowers, leaves, resin, or oil. Less commonly, cannabis can also be incorporated into food preparations such as cakes, space cakes, or cookie mixes, or consumed as an infusion. In flower or resin form, it is generally smoked in joints. However, this method of consumption is illegal in France, whether it involves hemp or cannabis. We remind you that the products available in our shop are intended for infusion.

 

Cannabis can be used for recreational purposes in search of a "high" sensation, or for therapeutic purposes ; experiments are currently underway in many Western and Asian countries.

 

Cannabis is a plant with psychoactive effects, meaning that its consumption alters perception, mood, and consciousness. Furthermore, it also leads to habituation and dependence. This is why, in France, cannabis is classified as a narcotic, among drugs.

 

The main psychoactive constituent of cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC for short. But it is not the only psychoactive compound; besides THC, there is also THC-V (tetrahydrocannabivarin) or THC-P (tetrahydrocannabiphorol, also called "Delta-P"). However, these are available at much lower levels (less than 1% of THCP and THCV compared to regularly more than 20% of THC).

 

 

The average THC concentration in cannabis flower was around 11% in 2018, while that of resin averaged 26.5%. The THC concentration in resin has tripled in fifteen years, and that in herb has increased by 40% over the same period.[2] However, this increase has come at the cost of increased concentrations of other cannabinoids.

 

While THC levels increased, CBD, CBG, and all other cannabinoids decreased. However, we now know that the psychoactive potency of cannabis is not solely caused by the THC level, but by the balance of all the compounds combined. This is known as the entourage effect. This explains why, despite the constant increase in THC levels in marijuana, its psychoactive effects have not increased accordingly.

The effects of cannabis:

 In the short term:

At high doses, THC produces cannabis intoxication, characterized by feelings of euphoria and physical well-being . This is accompanied by dissociation of thought, errors in the perception of time and space (decreased alertness). Sensory perceptions are heightened and generally pleasant.[3]

 

In cases of bad trip, sometimes due to overdoses or underdoses [4], intense anxiety, trembling, cold sweats, paranoia, etc. are observed [3].

In the long term:

Short-term symptoms are always present: memory disorganization, impaired judgment, difficulty concentrating…

 

But there are also long-term effects: mood discheckouts, addiction, as well as an increased risk of mental discheckouts.

 

Furthermore, when smoked, cannabis can also cause various respiratory and cardiac problems. 

Cannabis addiction

Addiction occurs when the consumption of a substance is intended to satisfy a craving. Addiction increases as the frequency of the craving also increases. Therefore, cannabis use becomes increasingly dominant and transforms into a need.

 

It is estimated that addiction affects more than half of consumers who usacannabis daily5]

Recognizing cannabis addiction

In general, the symptoms of cannabis addiction are:

 

• A loss of control over consumption and a gradual increase in doses.
• Growing mood instability
• A reduction in current activities and interest in favor of cannabis consumption
• Maintaining consumption despite acknowledging the negative aspects on one's own health

When the dependency is installed:

Cannabis withdrawal

Cannabis withdrawal symptoms occur in about half of those who stop using cannabis after a long period of regular use [6]. Attempts to quit cannabis often result in increased nervousness, irritability, restlessness, sleep disturbances, and anxiety, which can lead to depression. In rarer cases, gastrointestinal pain and decreased appetite or weight loss may also occur. [6][7]

 

Cannabis withdrawal can be long and difficult for some people, but it does not pose a health risk6]

Treatments for cannabis addiction

Currently, there is no specific drug treatment to help with cannabis withdrawal [8][9]. Anxiolytics can be used to counteract anxiety symptoms, however, they are not without side effects.

 

 

Fighting addiction with CBD

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a molecule derived from the hemp plant. It is a cannabinoid, just like THC, but CBD is completely devoid of psychoactive effects. Furthermore, French law recognizes that CBD is not addictive. 

Addiction and CBD: clinical studies

A first study in 2015

A preliminary study from May 2015 [10] by the University of Montreal discusses CBD in these terms: "Preclinical studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic properties for addiction to opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants, and some preliminary data suggest that it may be beneficial in cannabis and tobacco addiction in humans."

 

In this study, a clinical trial was conducted on a 19-year-old woman with cannabis dependence who experienced withdrawal symptoms when she attempted to stop using cannabis. She was given cannabidiol for 11 days

 

• 300 mg on the first day,
• 600 mg from day 2 to day 10
• 300 mg on the 11th day

 

Daily assessments using the Cannabis Withdrawal Symptom Checklist, the Beck Anxiety Inventory, and the Beck Depression Inventory showed a rapid decrease in withdrawal symptoms. A 6-month follow-up showed a relapse in cannabis use, but at a lower frequency (once or twice a week versus seven days a week).

 

The study concludes that "CBD possesses several therapeutic properties that could indirectly be useful in the treatment of addiction discheckouts, such as its protective effect on vulnerability to stress and neurotoxicity. "

A second study in 2015

A second study, published in December 2015[11], also focused on a single patient: a 27-year-old man. He had a long-standing bipolar diagnosis and a daily cannabis addiction. The subject presented with unstable behavior, anxiety, changing sleep patterns, and irritability.

 

CBD oil was added to his usual medication, starting with a dosage of 24 mg/day and then decreasing to 18 mg/day. Thanks to CBD, the patient reported feeling less anxious and having regular sleep schedules. He also became more sociable with his family and friends.

 

With a dosage of 18 mg of CBD per day, the patient was able to fight his addiction and not relapse into cannabis use.

 

The study also notes that "clinical studies have shown that CBD reduces anxiety, improves sleep, and has other neuroprotective effects."

 

Anxiety and sleep discheckouts are important symptoms of cannabis addiction and the neuroprotective effect is thought to act in a multifactorial way (memory, motivation, etc.).

A second study in 2020

In October 2020, the renowned scientific journal The Lancet published a study [12], conducted over more than a year, double-blind, on 48 participants with cannabis addiction.

 

The main objective of the study was to identify the most effective dose of cannabidiol to reduce cannabis consumption. It should be noted that the subjects had no desire to stop or reduce their consumption.

 

For four weeks, 12 participants received a placebo, 12 received 200 mg of CBD, and 12 received 400 mg and 12 received 800 mg of CBD. During the interim results phase, the 200 mg CBD dose was dropped from the study as it was deemed ineffective in reducing cannabis use. The 400 mg and 800 mg CBD doses were found to be effective compared to the placebo in reducing the effects of THC and decreasing cannabis use by approximately half a day per week.

CBD seems effective, but it's not the only one!

Indeed, we have just seen that studies seem to conclude with encouraging results regarding the use of CBD to combat addiction. But it is not the only cannabinoid that appears to have this power.

 

As you know if you follow CBD news, new cannabinoids are constantly being discovered, such as THC-h. And among this list of new molecules, some seem to have the same inhibitory effect on addiction. We're talking about THC-V (tetrahydrocannabivarin). A 2021 study on rats demonstrated that consuming THC-V helped them break their compulsive urge to smoke tobacco.

 

Besides cannabinoids that could help with cannabis withdrawal, some, like CBT, could have an inhibitory effect on THC.

 

However, little is yet known about THCV, CBT, and their effects; we will have to wait a while longer before we can be certain of their impact on addiction. To learn more about this topic, feel free to browse our blog items.

A promising drug… with CBD

A 2017 French study by INSERM [13] on “cannabis and cannabinoids” indicates that “numerous studies have found that CBD can have a significant beneficial impact in several areas. CBD may have a protective effect against some of the negative psychological effects of THC. It is capable of blocking at least some of the undesirable effects associated with THC.”

 

A recent 2019 study [14] confirms that "CBD blocks THC's ability to overstimulate the hippocampus (which plays a central role in memory) and thus prevents its negative side effects."

 

An Australian study from July 2019[15], entitled "Sativex for the treatment of cannabis addiction", carried out with a drug called Sativex composed of CBD and THC with a ratio close to 1:1.

 

For 12 weeks, participants had weekly clinical examinations, psychological support and had flexible doses of medication (Sativex) – up to 32 sprays per day (tetrahydrocannabinol, 86.4 mg and cannabidiol, 80 mg), delivered weekly.

 

It was observed that the placebo group had a higher rate of cannabis use over the 12 weeks than the group taking SATIVEX. The estimated difference was 18.6 days on average.

 

This study demonstrates that treatment with SATIVEX, in combination with psychosocial interventions, is a safe approach to reducing cannabis use in cannabis-dependent individuals seeking treatment.

Conclusion

In conclusion, CBD does indeed appear to be a potential tool to help consumers combat their cannabis addiction. All preliminary results support this; however, further research is needed to develop a solution that works for a large number of people and to prove its effectiveness.

 

If you found this article interesting and are struggling to quit cannabis, we highly recommend trying CBD. After all, you have nothing to lose by trying, and it's always better to use a legal and regulated product!

 
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