CBD might help people quit using cannabis – study

Prescription-grade CBD, which is much stronger than commercially available CBD, helped people quit cannabis, according to a new study published in the journal Lancet Psychiatry.

Researchers recruited 82 people who had been diagnosed with moderately severe or severe cannabis use disorder, which is described as continued use of cannabis despite impaired psychological, physical, or social functioning.

All of the participants expressed a desire to cut down their cannabis use, and had tried to quit in the past.

They were either given prescription-grade CBD capsules – either 200mg, 400mg or 800mg of CBD – or placebo pills, to take every day for four weeks. T

They all also had a series of counselling sessions aimed at helping them stop using cannabis.

The researchers found that daily CBD doses of 400 and 800 milligrams both reduced the participants’ cannabis intake.

The study, which was funded by the Medical Research Council, could help more people quit using cannabis in an ‘acceptable treatment format,’ Tom Freeman,  psychopharmacology researcher at the University of Bath and co-author of the study, told Inverse.

Research has found that almost half of those who quit cannabis experience some withdrawal symptoms, which can include irritability, depressed mood, nausea, vomiting, aggression and disrupted sleep.

There are currently no treatments available for prescription that are deemed safe and effective.