{"id":244096,"date":"2025-10-16T09:53:51","date_gmt":"2025-10-16T16:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marijuana-anonymous.org\/?p=244096"},"modified":"2026-01-26T11:01:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-26T19:01:06","slug":"what-about-cbd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marijuana-anonymous.org\/pamphlet\/what-about-cbd\/","title":{"rendered":"What about CBD?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

MA Has No Official Opinion on the Use of CBD<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

CBD products have burst onto the market in many states and seem to be advertised and available everywhere these days. As a result, MA World Services, Districts, local MA meetings, and sponsors are regularly asked for advice and guidance on the question of whether it is consistent with recovery for an MA member to use CBD, and whether individual meetings should give sobriety chips to those members. At World Services, we have been asked if MA has an official position or policy about members using CBD.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s Hard To Know the Facts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An important consideration for any member giving thought to the use of CBD is that CBD is a constituent product of the marijuana plant and can be derived from both hemp and marijuana. If manufactured from marijuana, the likelihood of residual amounts of THC remaining in the finished product is a significant risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As of this writing [January 2020] the regulations and standardization of CBD products are in constant flux. This makes it hard to know what exactly one gets in a CBD product. There is no US government watchdog overseeing the claims which producers make about the source of or ingredients in their CBD products. This substantially increases the risk that a user can ingest THC inadvertently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Input from Two Career Experts in the Field of Addictions Treatment<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Marvin D. Seppala, MD<\/em><\/strong>
Chief Medical Officer<\/em><\/strong>
Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation<\/em><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There is not yet good science about CBD that adequately proves its efficacy for some of the many ailments it is being touted to cure. It\u2019s a big business and we need to be wary of their claims.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The following is specific to ingested CBD. It is also not well controlled, thus there are small amounts of THC in the CBD which could possibly trigger the brain, thus triggering relapse is a question, or even providing some level of intoxication, depending on the amount ingested. Additionally, we have no idea how much THC is in the available CBD, therefore cannot distinguish one type from another for safety. The CBD that is being sold can result in recognition of THC on urine drug screens, which is also a problem for those being monitored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The current regulatory situation [as of 2020] I\u2019ve seen described is as follows: The allowable amount of THC in CBD in states without legal THC is 0.3%. There are limits set in some states with medical THC at 3%, and in states with recreational THC, there may be no defined limit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The regulatory requirements are not necessarily being monitored, as a result I don\u2019t trust the manufacturers to actually follow the limits. I suspect it\u2019s cheaper for them not to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At our treatment facilities, we\u2019ve chosen not to allow its use. There\u2019s no way to know what people are getting at this time, nor what may happen as a result. Low amounts of CBD and THC could be safe for use in recovery, but may not be; as a result, it\u2019s best to completely avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Timmen L. Cermak, MD<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

First, there is no evidence of any addiction to CBD, nor are there any withdrawal symptoms when it is discontinued. It is, however, very mildly psychoactive, though evidence suggests that it reduces excess anxiety but does not lower anxiety below a person\u2019s baseline level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

CBD does have many legitimate medical uses. But I think people in recovery from marijuana abuse\/ addiction should treat CBD like any prescription medication, meaning that a person should be under the care of a physician for whatever symptoms s\/he wants relief from. If the physician recommends a particular use of CBD, it should be taken according to the instructions. Any deviation should be in consultation with the physician.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do I have this conservative view for people in recovery? Because \u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n