Is CBD addictive?
We as humans suffer from many health issues and we constantly search for solutions. As we know for years people found cures using various plants, with cannabis being one of them. Cannabis does have negative marketing, but lately, people seem to have a completely different approach. People now see cannabis derivatives as medical options for several health issues. When it comes to the therapeutic derivatives of cannabis, CBD is the most famous. We all heard a thing or two about THC before, but CBD is just the cannabis ingredient of the moment.
The question that a lot of us make before buying any CBD product is: “Does CBD cause addiction?”. In fact, this is the most important question and in this article, we will focus on giving an answer. Below we will explain why CBD is not addictive and other important things about this cannabinoid.
What is CBD?
CBD or Cannabidiol is a cannabinoid and one of the most active ingredients of cannabis alongside THC which is also a cannabinoid very different from CBD. This cannabinoid has the ability to interact with the receptors of the endocannabinoid system. The system we are talking about is responsible for most of the functions of our body and mind. In response to the interaction between receptors of the brain and CBD, the system releases all the therapeutic properties. Understanding that we can clearly see the potential and the importance of CBD and other cannabinoids for our life.
You may already be familiar with THC, as you most probably heard of it before. THC is the one cannabinoid present in the cannabis plant that gives the plant the addictive property. So, THC is in fact addictive, thus causes addiction to users and also the “high” effect. But, THC is not all negative because it contains many therapeutic properties that may help humans. However, the addictive property weighs a lot and that is why CBD is much more appreciated.
Below we will give light to the differences between CBD and THC so you understand it better.
What is the difference between CBD and THC?
So, as we mentioned above, both CBD and THC are cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Both have therapeutic benefits, but THC is addictive and CBD is not. This is also the reason why CBD is legal and THC isn’t. We will not dive into the specific characteristics of each cannabinoid. Instead, we will explain how these two cannabinoids were obtained.
Cannabis Sativa, as one of the cannabis families, is the best example of legal and illegal cannabis. Sativa has two main strains:
- marijuana and
- hemp
These two are different from each other in terms of CBD and THC concentration. Under federal law cannabis derivatives that contain no more than 0.3% THC are legal. That is why marijuana is illegal because it contains around 30% THC and no more than 10% CBD. On the other hand, hemp or as many call it industrial hemp may contain less than 0.3% THC and more than 20% CBD. So, hemp can be perfectly legal, and like so is the best way to obtain CBD. Those who want to produce CBD, cultivate hemp without any legality issues.
As a definitive answer on the question, the most important difference between THC and CBD is the addictive property.
How can we use CBD?
CBD is a very rich market with tons of products including CBD oil, CBD cream, etc. There are numerous manufacturers and companies that sell CBD products at fair prices. The CBD market is very present online and in-store, so finding CBD products is easy in countries that allow it. So, not all countries allow CBD, but things will most probably change in the future. Before using CBD though, we recommend you make a visit to your personal doctor for further information. In case you are using other medications, a visit like that is a must, in order to avoid side effects.
In conclusion, it is important to state that the research on CBD is continuing and further evidence will reach our hands. Until then, we can surely say that CBD is not dangerous, it is safe to use and does not cause side effects. We recommend you start with a small dosage and increase the dosage after a week in case you do not feel the positive changes. CBD has a lot of therapeutic potential and its future is bright.