A new study out of Australia has found that a microdose of CBD and THC in the form of Nabiximols (brand name Sativex) – a cannabis-derived medicine comprising of a 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC – helps people with cannabis dependance to smoke significantly less weed.
Sativex is a mouth spray intended to alleviate neuropathic pain, spasticity, overactive bladder, and other symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It was developed by the UK company GW Pharmaceuticals was approved in 2010 as a botanical drug in the United Kingdom.
Although medical cannabis is legal in the UK since November 2018, Sativex is not prescribed by the NHS as it is too expensive. This is despite the fact that the cannabis used for the medicine is grown under government licence in the UK.
The study
The new study set out to discover if treatment with Sativex, in combination with psychosocial services, could safely reduce cannabis use in patients with cannabis dependence who are seeking treatment.
128 participants with cannabis dependence were put on a 12-week course of Nabiximols. Subjects were given weekly clinical reviews, structured counseling, and flexible doses of Sativex (up to 32 sprays daily) or a placebo.
Each spray of Sativex delivers a dose of 2.7mg THC and 2.5mg CBD, meaning the total daily consumption of cannabinoids was limited to 86.4mg of THC and 80mg of THC.
Read: 10 Best CBD Oils in the UK
The intervention resulted in significantly fewer days of cannabis use compared with the placebo group, and the medication was well tolerated.
In fact, participants given the cannabinoid-containing spray used cannabis 18.6 fewer days than those who received the placebo. This is a significant difference that suggests low doses of THC and CBD combined could offer a novel treatment for cannabis dependence.
Previous research
A CBD-only spray has previously been found to reduce the number of cigarettes smoked over a week by committed smokers, while it has also been shown to reduce cravings in recovering heroin addicts.
It seems that, while cannabis has long been tarnished as a gateway to more serious drugs, it is actually one of the most effective and safest gateways away from drug addiction.
If you suffer from a problematic cannabis habit, try mixing CBD-rich cannabis with THC-rich cannabis in a dry herb vaporiser. Take one 5-10 second pull and leave it at that. You will get a microdose of each cannabinoid that may help you change your habits for the better.
I have personally used CBD-rich cannabis (or hemp flower) to stop smoking tobacco and to reduce my weed intake considerably.
I go into further detail on microdosing in my new book, Overcoming Weed Addiction, as well as a number of other cutting edge techniques that have helped me cultivate a healthy relationship with cannabis. The book is short, concise, and highly practical. It’s available on Amazon at this link.
Hey Jack, further irony which you are most likely aware of: The British prime minister’s husband, Philip May, works as a relationship manager for Capital Group. A subsidiary of Capital Group called Capital Research Management Company holds a majority of the shares in GW Pharmaceuticals. Yet, the prime minister refuses to legalise cannabis.
I can confirm, from personal experience, that cannabinoids ease withdrawal symptoms from both street drugs and prescription drugs.
cheers!
Please stop using the word addiction, it is not addictive as science has confirmed as as millions who use it and stop when they wish know. If anyone has a problem then the problem is within them not the plant, none of the 113ccannabinoids of which are addictive. This is disinformation spread by opponents of cannabis, who are widespread and range from vested interests such as psychiatrists, pharmacuticals, alcohol industry and others as well as the bigots who have always hated ‘long-hairs’, ‘hippies’ and other counter cultural types. As your other commeter says, cannabis is used to treat addiction to prescribed and street opiates and others doing harm.
Thanks for your comment Peter. I understand what you’re saying. Perhaps ‘addiction’ is not the most helpful way to describe it. I have edited the article accordingly.
did you rename your book on the back of this comment Jack?
Also, I believe that you can be addicted to anything that alters your chemistry, and since literally every experience in the world alters your chemistry, you can be addicted to anything. Granted, some substances have the addition of a strong physical dependence, but that’s not to say that a strong mental dependence on a substance can’t be classed as an addiction. Video games are very addictive, but not in a physical sense.