It’s much simpler to talk about quitting smoking rather than doing it, but Washington State University researchers believe CBD could serve as a good remedy for those trying to do so. Their research shows that CBD may prevent nicotine from being metabolized, which should aid smokers in reducing their desire for cigarettes.

CBD could help people quit smoking cigarettes 

CBD (Cannabidiol), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, is among the primary elements of marijuana. This one, however, doesn’t give off the recognizable “high” that cannabis is known for. CBD has gained enormous popularity in the past few years as a stand-alone product. Many people now say that it has a variety of therapeutic benefits, from reduced stress to better sleep.

A crucial nicotine metabolism enzyme was suppressed when CBD and its main metabolite were evaluated on human liver cells and tissue samples. Smokers may be able to go longer between cigarettes if the drug’s metabolism is slowed. Although these results are encouraging, more study is required to establish these impacts on individuals and define the right dosage levels.

WSU professor of sciences and senior study author Philip Lazarus said the mission is to reduce the smoking harm, which is not nicotine per se but also the carcinogens and chemicals found in tobacco. He added that minimizing the harm would be great for human health. 

Cigarettes are a health risk among Americans, with one in five affected 

Cigarettes continue to pose a significant health risk in the US, with one in every five Americans dying yearly for smoking-related reasons. In addition, other nicotine delivery mechanisms, including vaping, snuffing, and chewing, also contain compounds that can lead to cancer and a number of other diseases, even though many people believe they are less dangerous.

For this investigation, the researchers used microsomes extracted from tissue to assess CBD and its main metabolite, which is what it transforms inside the body (7-hyroxycannabidiol). Moreover, microsomes from specific cell lines were used to assess CBD. This method enabled the study’s authors to concentrate on the specific enzymes involved in nicotine metabolism.