Why Trust Recovery Guide Typically, CBD is used to treat symptoms of anxiety, pain, seizures, or insomnia, and many people can purchase CBD oil in stores without a prescription.
The question is, since CBD oil comes from the same plants that people use to get high, is CBD oil addictive? To answer this question, it’s necessary to understand what CBD is and how it works.
What Is CBD Oil?
CBD is derived from hemp plants, and it typically contains little to no THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), or the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana, and substances derived from this plant.
According to federal law, the THC content in CBD oil must be less than .3 percent. To put this in perspective, the marijuana that people smoke to get high can contain anywhere from about 5 percent to 30 percent THC.
This ratio level is similar to that of non-alcoholic beer. Even non-alcoholic beer contains a trace amount of alcohol.
When looking into the addictive potential of CBD oil, it’s important to understand both how the body and the mind react to the substance.
Can CBD Oil Be Addictive?
Many people wonder if this substance is addictive because there is a wide range of medical uses for CBD oil, as well as the benefits of CBD oil. Some people turn to CBD oil to treat their anxiety, depression, chronic pain, muscle spasms, seizures, and much more.
One of the concerns people have is that the opioid epidemic in the country is a clear example that not everything that’s used for medicinal purposes is safe. So, is CBD oil addictive?
The short answer is no, CBD oil is not technically addictive, but there are still some risks of using CBD oil.
When talking about addictive substances, the substances are often tested to see how they affect a person on a molecular level.
Multiple studies, including research cited by the World Health Organization, have found no signals of abuse liability for CBD. The WHO concluded that CBD “exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential” in humans.
They tested this by giving various dosages of CBD to people who frequently smoked marijuana compared to a placebo.
When looking at substances like alcohol or drugs like opioids, there are chemical hooks that can make you physically dependent on the substance.
As you continue drinking or using drugs like opioids, your body will go into a state of withdrawal when you try to quit or when you run out of the substance.
With CBD oil, there’s no evidence of physical withdrawal symptoms unless a person uses an excessive amount of CBD on a regular basis. Although the physical addictive potential of CBD oil is extremely low, it’s important to discuss the risks of psychological dependence.
The Benefits Of CBD Oil Use
CBD use has grown significantly in recent years. According to a 2025 White House report citing survey data, one in five U.S. adults reported using CBD in the past year.”
Aside from helping with chronic pain and different mental illnesses, some people have turned to CBD as a way to come off other substances, like alcohol.
One of the reasons CBD oil can help people who have addictions to more serious substances is that it helps to treat the underlying issues that lead people drink or use harder drugs in the first place.
Many people drink or use drugs to get a feeling, to get rid of a feeling, or to have an escape. For example, if someone is self-medicating an anxiety disorder with alcohol, CBD oil may help.
By taking CBD oil, the person may stave off cravings for alcohol as their anxiety begins to get under control.
Risks Of CBD Oil Use
Although there’s an extremely low potential for addiction to CBD oil, it’s important to discuss the possibility of psychological dependence.
The human brain is designed to help you survive and become more efficient. Based on what we know about context-dependent learning, you can develop a psychological dependence on anything.
This is why there are people who develop addictions to activities such as gambling, shopping, and eating. Although these are not technically addictive substances, they can cause a person’s life to become unmanageable.
The brain can develop a psychological dependence on CBD oil based on something known as the habit loop. The habit loop consists of a trigger, a behavior, and a reward.
So, if you turn to CBD oil every time your anxiety is triggered, and it gives you relief, your brain is laying down a memory that this is the solution to anxiety.
If you were using CBD oil for a long time and ran out, you may notice some psychological symptoms of withdrawal because your brain would want you to turn to the behavior of using CBD oil.
While there wouldn’t be physical symptoms of withdrawal, you may experience more anxiety, symptoms of depression, and irritability.
It’s also worth noting that the FDA does not regulate most CBD products sold as supplements, meaning the potency and purity listed on a label may not reflect what’s actually in the product. Studies have found that a significant portion of commercially available CBD products contain different doses than advertised.
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Addiction Resource aims to provide only the most current, accurate information in regards to addiction and addiction treatment, which means we only reference the most credible sources available.
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- Harvard Medical School: Harvard Health Publishing — Cannabidiol (CBD) — what we know and what we don’t
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cannabidiol-cbd-what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-201808242496 - U.S. National Library of Medicine: National Institutes of Health — Oral cannabidiol does not produce a signal for abuse liability in frequent marijuana smokers
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28088032/