The start of a new year is a common time for people to try to quit smoking. What does the science say about using CBD?
Is there ever a good time to attempt to stop smoking?
We ask if CBD could help with stubbing out the habit for good.
Reducing nicotine withdrawal
A new study, published earlier this year, found that CBD may help to reduce withdrawal symptoms in those experiencing nicotine dependency. The research, conducted by the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) in collaboration with CV Sciences’ pharmaceutical diversion, focused on chewing tobacco rather than cigarettes as it’s an area where there are few treatments.
In the study, rats dependent on nicotine and experiencing withdrawal symptoms were given products containing CBD.
The three groups of rats received CBD injections with doses of 7.5, 15 and 30 mg per day for two weeks starting one week into chronic nicotine infusion.
The control groups included rats with nicotine mini pumps that received vehicle injections of sesame oil instead of CBD. They also included rats implanted with saline mini-pumps that received sesame oil injections (double vehicle) or high doses of 30 mg CBD. The results showed that CBD may prevent the animals from experiencing increased pain sensitivity and weight gain during long and short term restrictions.
What is the best way to take CBD when you want to quit smoking?
There is no perfect way of taking CBD to stop smoking. It is all down to personal preference.
Some smokers prefer to use vapes, CBD flower or CBD cigarettes because it can mimic the feel of a cigarette without tobacco. However, some smokers find this too close to what they are trying to quit so they prefer to use oils or edibles such as gummies. It’s a good idea to examine how CBD could fit into your lifestyle without too many changes. If you are worried about sugar intake or weight gain during the quitting process then edibles may not be the best idea alternatively, if you want something to take the place of a cigarette on a night out then vaping may be for you.
It’s worth trying a few different methods to find the one that suits you best. Keeping it simple to start with is the best idea while you adapt to life with smoking.
CBD vapes or inhalers
Vapes can be a really useful tool when you are attempting to quit.
For some smokers, the social habit of going outside to talk to friends or the peer pressure of a group smoking around you can be difficult. Also, many smokers report that vaping can help to break the habit of having something in your hand.
If you are careful about where you buy CBD vapes then it shouldn’t be dangerous. There are many CBD e-liquids on the market that are perfect for vaping. They can be added to the vape tank very easily where they are heated and turned into vapour. It is important to check the authenticity of the site that you purchase from and their lab reports to make sure you are buying a quality, legal product.
There are a lot of reports in the media about Evali and a series of deaths from vaping that occurred in the US. This has caused concern that vaping may not be as safe as it seems. However, this was found to be a result of THC cartridges bought on the illegal market and not CBD products.
Public Health England reports that vaping is 95 per cent less harmful than smoking.
A 2013 report explored the effects of replacing cigarettes with CBD in a week-long study. The results revealed that those participants given a CBD inhaler to use every time they felt the need to smoke, reduced their number of cigarettes by 40 per cent.
Reducing nicotine
It’s important to note that if you are starting to reduce the level of nicotine you consume then CBD e-liquids do not contain any at all. E-liquids containing CBD and those with nicotine are usually sold separately.
Some vaping enthusiasts may fix their own e-liquids or follow recipes online however there are no studies on the effects of mixing CBD and nicotine e-liquid together. It may be a good idea to keep separate vapes for each liquid to be used at different times.
Vape store workers will be able to help you calculate the amount of nicotine that you need based on how much you smoke and how often. They may also be able to suggest different CBD liquids for you to try or the right vape for your needs.
Anxiety
Quitting any addictive behaviour or substance can cause a great deal of anxiety. In the first 24 hours after you quit, the level of nicotine in the body starts to drop which causes anxiety or irritability. Over time, this anxiety fades as the body becomes less reliant on nicotine. Anxiety levels reduce once nicotine leaves the system as it is, along with caffeine, a stimulant drug.
Studies have suggested that CBD may be able to help with reducing anxiety.
A study examining the effect of CBD on people with Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) found that it may help to reduce anxiety.
SAD is a social disorder where people can feel panic at the thought of social settings or speaking to groups of people. Participants in this study were given 400 mg of CBD or a placebo. The researchers reported that those in the group given the CBD recorded lower levels of anxiety.
Can CBD gummies help me quit nicotine?
When it comes to quitting, a lot of smokers look for sweets, lollipops or chewing gum that can help with cravings. Smokers can experience oral fixation, the constant need to put something in their mouth after quitting. It is thought to be at its strongest in the first three days after quitting then reduce in strength over the next few weeks.
CBD gummies may be a good substitute with added health benefits.
Sometimes CBD edibles may contain high levels of sugar or sweeteners. CBD toothpicks are also a good option to help with this particular craving.
How long do CBD cigarettes stay in your system?
How long CBD stays in your system are down to different factors that are unique for each person. A person’s weight, height or dose amount may influence this. That said, inhaling CBD either through vapes, cigarettes or inhalers, is a faster way to get absorb a dose into the system. CBD is absorbed through the blood vessels in the lungs faster than oils or edibles.
It is worth taking a note of the time, amount, strength and brand of CBD in a journal when recording the effects.
Are CBD oils and tinctures different from e-liquids?
Although they sound very similar, oils, tinctures and e-liquids are very different.
Oils and tinctures are designed to be taken orally under the tongue. They are not designed to be used in vapes and may break the equipment. Not only that, but they may cause internal harm by being vaped. Always use a proper CBD e-liquid for vaping or flower for a dry herb vape.
In the same way, e-liquids are not designed to be ingested. They can be harmful if taken the same way as oil or tincture. Despite the descriptions on the bottles being compared to desserts or fruits, they are likely to not taste as nice.
The post CBD guides: Can CBD help with quitting smoking? appeared first on Cannabis Health News.
