Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances in the world. Over 50 million Americans are addicted to tobacco products, cigarettes reigning them all.
Even though many try to quit their cigarette addiction, many also fail. This is why quitting a cigarette addiction is difficult to achieve: quitting cigarettes is even harder than quitting many drugs.
It’s almost impossible to quit cold turkey. Former cigarette smokers turn to a myriad of products to help them rid of their nicotine addiction. One of the most effective products is CBD, a cannabinoid from the cannabis plant.
Can vaping and smoking CBD help you with your nicotine addiction? Continue reading and find out why.
Why Is Nicotine so Addictive?
Nicotine is the most addictive substance in the world, even though cigarettes and other tobacco products are sold legally. When a user consumes nicotine, they experience a brief euphoric sensation.
This euphoria comes from the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine controls the reward circuit of the brain. Users continue craving this reward sensation, which is how they get hooked.
As the user smokes cigarettes, their dopamine levels become irregular. They experience stress and lack of self-control when they don’t experience a nicotine rush.
This is when addiction forms-the user doesn’t feel that same sensation unless they smoke cigarettes.
Quitting cigarettes becomes even more of a struggle. The user craves cigarettes and often gets irritable and stressed out. They may even suffer from withdrawal symptoms.
What Is CBD?
The cannabis plant has over 100 cannabinoids. Some cannabinoids are more potent than others and not all of them are as bioactive. But there are two major cannabinoids anyone can recognize: THC and CBD.
THC is the most famous cannabinoid. This is the cannabinoid that causes the famous marijuana “high.”
CBD is different. CBD does not cause any high. Rather, CBD boasts many health benefits.
All living beings have an endocannabinoid system.
When you consume cannabinoids, they react with your cells using cell receptors. This process causes cannabinoids to control your cells, communicating with different areas of the body.
CBD controls the CB2 cell receptors. CB2 cell receptors are found in just about every major organ in the body. For nicotine addiction, we’ll focus on CBD’s benefits on the brain.
CB2 cell receptors are found in the brain, but they don’t cause the high the way THC does. Instead, CBD benefits the brain.
Why CBD Reduces Cigarette Consumption
There’s been talk of CBD reducing nicotine addiction, but no research proved this until 2013.
Researchers from the University of London conducted an experiment where 24 cigarette addicts were given vaporizers.
Half of the participants vaped CBD and the other half vaped a placebo. The participants were instructed to vape when they felt the urge to smoke a cigarette.
After the week was up, the ones vaping the placebo showed no difference in their cigarette cravings. But those vaping CBD reduced their cigarette cravings by 40%!
More Studies on Controlling Cigarette Cues
After their first study, the University of London conducted another study on the effects of CBD and cigarette use. This study was devoted to cigarette cues or reminders of cigarette use. These cues include other seeing people smoking.
In this study, 30 smokers were given two pills-some were given a CBD pill and others were given a placebo. The smokers were instructed to not smoke during the evening and took the pill first thing in the morning.
The participants were shown cigarette cues and their reactions were monitored.
Their heart rate and blood pressure were measured, and they were monitored for any withdrawal symptoms, craving signals, and other side effects of no cigarette use.
Those who took the CBD weren’t as affected by the cigarette cues compared to the placebo takers, who were affected.
Unfortunately, CBD doesn’t help withdrawal and other side effects. But it does decrease cigarette cravings and cues.
A Theory as to Why CBD Helps Nicotine Addiction
While it’s not fully understood if CBD can treat nicotine addiction, there are a few theories. One theory is the release of dopamine.
As stated previously, consuming nicotine causes the release of the reward-inducing neurotransmitter dopamine. Your brain starts relying on nicotine to release the dopamine in the brain, causing nicotine addiction.
Marijuana also impacts your dopamine production, but the process is a little complex.
Let’s refer back to THC and CBD and their differences in the brain.
THC and the marijuana “high” boost your dopamine levels in the short-term. But continued THC consumption decreases your dopamine levels, causing the stress and irritability when you’re not high.
CBD is different. CBD doesn’t affect dopamine levels. Rather, it affects a different neurotransmitter: serotonin. CBD interacts with serotonin’s 1A receptor, resulting in many therapeutic properties.
Serotonin regulates many hormones, including cortisol and oxytocin. This helps regulate feelings of stress, social behavior, mood, cognition, and even your appetite.
In short, CBD use results in a healthy brain.
It does this without causing dependence and withdrawals. Your brain activity is regulated, and you won’t need to restore your dopamine, meaning you don’t get cravings for addictive substances such as cigarettes.
How to Use CBD to Quit Smoking Cigarettes
While more research needs to be done, there are signs that CBD can help you quit smoking cigarettes. In order to receive the most benefits, you need to take CBD a certain way to get the most benefits.
You can take CBD how you wish, however, former cigarette smokers tend to benefit the most from using CBD, and even smoking hemp CBD first thing in the morning. When you feel the urge to smoke a cigarette, start using CBD.
As you smoke more CBD, you understand different serving sizes and how to replace nicotine with hemp in your situation.
Vaping and Smoking CBD Can Help You Quit Smoking!
With hemp, you just might be able to finally quit smoking cigarettes and live a healthier life.
Are you ready to start vaping or smoking CBD to curb your nicotine cravings? Shop now for CBD hemp flower!
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