Cannabis component can help with alcoholism
A recent review of scientific publications found that the non-psychoactive component of cannabis, cannabidiol (CBD), reduces cravings for alcohol and reduces its harm to the body. The review was published in the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology. It spanned 26 animal studies investigating the interaction of ethanol and CBD.
Interesting results were obtained a little earlier by scientists from the University of Georgia and Syracuse University. They analyzed data from online searches and contextual advertising in states with legal marijuana between January 2014 and April 2017, noting a drop in interest in alcoholic products. In addition, the number of inquiries about marijuana among young people has also dropped markedly. The latter is consistent with other data for the States between 1997 and 2017: after legalization, marijuana use decreased by 8%. The results of both studies show that more and more people are choosing relatively safe cannabis over toxic alcohol. And some young people completely lose interest in marijuana after it ceases to be a “forbidden fruit”. All this speaks in favor of legalization and contradicts the main argument of opponents of legalization: free access to cannabis will cause a surge in drug addiction.
More about the interaction of CBD and ethanol
In the published review, Belgian and French scientists covered research data from 1974 to 2018. In all experiments, it was concluded that CBD reduces cravings for alcohol in animals, reduces relapses after weaning from alcohol, reduces anxiety and impulsivity.
Also, the marijuana component, while taking alcohol, improved the condition of the liver. The reason is the ability of cannabidiol to reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, as well as to kill the cells responsible for tissue scarring. The positive effect of CBD also extends to the brain: after the combined use of cannabidiol and alcohol, fewer cells of the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex die in the brain, which is good for the neurological and cognitive functions of the body.
It is assumed that the results of these studies will be the impetus for the creation of a drug based on cannabidiol, which would facilitate the treatment of alcoholism and protect the body from its harmful effects.