CBD to Help Manage Marijuana Dependency

Views on chronic marijuana consumption have shifted in recent years as the use of the plant becomes destigmatized and decriminalized. It is also now accepted that marijuana may have medicinal benefits for a whole host of conditions from depression and PTSD to hyperactivity, seizures and pain.

However, there are side-effects to all medications and similarly with long-term marijuana use. So it’s great to know that patients can get many of the same benefits from CBD without the impact of a psychoactive like THC which is one of the core ingredients in marijuana. In fact CBD is successfully being used to wean marijuana (and other substances) addicts from dependency.

In broader recreational use, one of the key motivators for people to use marijuana is the dopamine hit it gives. That feeling of contentment, bliss and ease that comes from ingesting cannabis is also the reason why people keep coming back for more. In chronic users, the natural regulation of dopamine becomes compromised over time., Until recently, low dopamine release was a phenomenon known to exist as a result of addiction to drugs such as cocaine and heroin. The region of the brain that is affected is called the striatum; involved in the functioning of working memory, impulsive behavior and attention.

Low dopamine levels contribute to mood changes, a lack of motivation and depression. It’s also consistent with Parkinson’s Disease and ADHD (attention deficit disorder). In many instances however, chronic marijuana users may have presented with low dopamine to begin with and that this would explain the addiction to a dopamine boosting substance like marijuana.

By 2016, nearly two in five young adults were found be smoking marijuana. As legalization for personal use has increased, marijuana is now even more accessible and readily available. Although there is controversy about whether marijuana is in fact addictive, the fact is that for some people dependency can have a serious impact on their ability to function. Marijuana dependency affects about 30% of users and many users who do form an addiction are using marijuana for behavior modification for issues such as PTSD or schizophrenia. There is also a strong genetic link with dependency and addictive behavior.

Ryan McLaughlin, PhD, of Washington State University is a researcher studying the effects of CBD on marijuana dependent users. Pullman says that CBD “likely works through a completely different mechanism than THC and its effects are likely indirect and more complex than we know at the moment.” Pullman also noted that it appears that CBD may have a mitigating factor on the THC receptors in the body, making them less receptive; a useful modification when weaning patients off of marijuana.

Because CBD has no psychoactive ingredients and is much more widely and legally available, it is easy to integrate frequent dosage into a user’s daily life. There is no period of ‘feeling stoned’ and users can continue to work and function normally.

CBD has already proven effective in helping patients manage addictions to opioids such as prescription medicine and heroin by reducing cravings and anxiety. It is also likely that managing side-effects of withdrawal is one of the key factors in CBD’s success with managing addiction. CBD also has a host of other benefits for concentration or focus and quality of that marijuana does not. 

While we focus on a potentially problematic relationship with marijuana in this article, there are many cases where marijuana is the hero medicine for pain, cancer and other serious disorders, but when it’s impacting on lifestyle and getting in the way of everyday performance, you may want to consider whether it’s time to switch cannabinoids and give CBD a go.