It seems like the U.S. is rocketing toward marijuana legalization lately. As of this writing, 24 states along with Washington D.C. and Guam have legalized recreational marijuana use. Along with marijuana’s newfound acceptance has come a plethora of marijuana-adjacent products like CBD, Delta-8 THC, and products containing hemp derivatives.
Are CBD and other marijuana-related products safe for people in recovery? Innovo Detox will answer this question along with some others in this article.
What Is CBD Anyway?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is another active ingredient in marijuana. Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the psychoactive substance in marijuana that gets most of the attention, because it’s the one that’s largely responsible for the high people get when they use the drug. The potency of marijuana, hashish, or extracts is determined by the relative percentage of THC it contains.
CBD, in isolation, does not cause a “high” per se, and it may have some beneficial health effects. The issue is that it’s still an ingredient in marijuana and pure CBD is rarely found in isolation. Nearly every CBD product on the market contains at least trace amounts of THC, which does create a high. In fact, CBD and other hemp products can legally contain as much as 0.3% THC by volume.
What About Delta-8 Though?
Delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol or just delta-8, is another active ingredient found in marijuana. It’s less psychoactive than delta-9, but it still has mind and mood-altering effects. Even less is known about delta-8 than delta-9, which makes it even more concerning that a raft of ostensibly “legal” products containing it have flooded the market.
Since little is known about delta-8 and without FDA oversight, there is no way of knowing what you are actually getting in these products, it’s best to steer clear of them. They are absolutely out of the question for anyone in recovery or with a history of substance use disorders. But even people who don’t have an issue with substance abuse should reconsider their use.
Is CBD in Recovery a Safe Product to Use?
As a rule, no, it is not a good idea for someone in recovery to eat, smoke, drink, or otherwise consume CBD products. The fact that nearly all CBD products contain at least trace amounts of the psychoactive compound THC makes consuming CBD a mistake for anyone in recovery or with a history of addiction in our opinion. Any mind or mood-altering substance like this, even if mild, is a potential vector for relapse.
Even if marijuana was not your “drug of choice”, by using CBD you take a tremendous risk in reawakening your addiction. We recommend checking your motives for using CBD if you’re considering it. Ask yourself why you want to use it and answer honestly. If it’s to “relax” or “destress” or “sleep better” or anything along those lines, then we submit that what you’re really after is a head change.
That’s normal. We point this out not to shame you, but to bring your attention to what’s happening here. Any person who is in recovery from a substance use disorder should avoid seeking a buzz from any substance. If you want to relax, relieve stress, or sleep better, there are literally dozens of other things you can do to effectively achieve it, without jeopardizing your recovery by introducing a psychoactive substance into your body.
CBD in Recovery Should be Avoided. This goes for any other hemp-derived product that may contain even trace amounts of THC as well.
What About CBD As A Treatment For Addiction?
There has been much speculation about CBD as a treatment or harm reduction measure for people with substance use disorders. Research into this is ongoing and no one knows for certain what the future holds for CBD and any role it may play in addiction medicine.
What we know, for now, is that CBD products aren’t regulated by the FDA the way prescription drugs are. That means you have no reliable way of knowing how much THC is present in a CBD product. That alone is enough reason for us to discourage their use for people in recovery at this time.
Innovo Detox Offers Evidence-Based Addiction Treatment
You or the person you love doesn’t need to be held hostage by drugs and alcohol any longer. There is a way out. Substance use disorders have a way of upending your entire life. They can cause tremendous pain for the sufferer and the people around them.
We won’t tell you that recovery is easy. It’s not. But it is well worth doing. We’ve never met a single person who regretted recovering from the seemingly hopeless state of mind and body that addiction inflicted upon them.
Finding the courage to admit yourself for detox and addiction treatment will be one of the best decisions you ever make. Intuitively you already know this. So what’s stopping you?
If you have any questions about inpatient detox in PA or anywhere else in the country, Innovo Detox can help. One call to our confidential detox hotline is all it takes to get answers.
You can reach Innovo Detox anytime by calling (717) 971-4566 or connect with us through our contact page here.