CBD To Quit Smoking: How CBD May Help You Kick The Habit

Quitting smoking can be one of the more difficult things you've ever tried, and it's near impossible, trust me I know having been a smoker for many years.

And nearly 70 percent of current adult smokers in the United States said they wanted to quit. The great news is that using CBD to quit smoking may be a promising treatment, plus, chances of success increase with each quit attempt, so don't give up.

CBD May Reduce Nicotine Cravings

Cannabidiol (CBD), a non‐intoxicating cannabinoid found in cannabis, may be a promising novel smoking cessation treatment due to its anxiolytic properties, and minimal side effects, and research has shown it may modify drug cue salience.

The study looked at a group of smokers who were given either CBD or a placebo. The participants were then exposed to cigarette cues.

And the researchers found that the CBD group was less likely to smoke in response to the cues due to reduced pleasantness of cigarette-related stimuli, craving, and withdrawal and did not produce any side effects than those who had received the placebo.

This suggests that CBD may help reduce the urge to smoke in people trying to quit. The researchers say that further studies are needed to confirm these findings, but the results are promising.

More On How CBD May Help You Quit Smoking Cigarettes

This is where the benefits of CBD may help you get through those horrible nicotine withdrawal symptoms in a number of ways, including:

It helps reduce withdrawal symptoms

Some research indicates that Cannabidiol (CBD) reduces withdrawal symptoms in nicotine-dependent rats and the study suggests that using CBD as a strategy to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms upon nicotine-cessation may be beneficial.

It helps reduce anxiety

It is widely known that cigarette smokers are often triggered to smoke because they are feeling down, or of stressful, anxiety-provoking situations.

CBD oil helps reduce stress and anxiety and is a much more sustainable and healthier option for helping a person relax and destress, considering the non-existent long term effects of CBD in comparison to smoking.

As a matter of fact 62% of CBD users say that they use it to reduce stress and relax. And 51% use it to alleviate anxiety.

And part of the withdrawal process is anxiety and stress. So not only should it help prevent you from lighting up during stressful situations, it will also help with the anxiety associated with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

It helps with depression

Studies show that CBD may help alleviate depression by altering serotonin levels in the brain. But more research is needed to understand how it can be used as a treatment for depression. 

CBD products that contain a high level of CBD and a low level of THC have been found to be most effective for depression.

It promotes better sleep

Recent studies suggest CBD can also help with providing good, restorative sleep - and not being able to sleep is something that happens during withdrawal.

A good rest should never be underestimated for its vital importance to healthy brain function and overall well-being. And 58% of CBD users say they use it to improve sleep quality.

Although further, larger-scale research needs to be done to fully investigate the benefits CBD can have on tobacco addiction, these preliminary findings display immense potential for CBD as an effective way to curb those nicotine cravings and reduce withdrawal symptoms.

Side Effects and Interactions of CBD

CBD seems to be well tolerated, though it may cause some side effects. Common CBD side effects include reduced appetite, drowsiness or fatigue, dry mouth, or diarrhea.

Also, CBD may interact with some medications, so it’s always necessary to consult with your doctor prior to using any form of CBD.

Is CBD Addictive?

While smoking marijuana can be habit-forming and thus carries a risk of developing behavioral addiction, CBD isn’t addictive in any way.

Cannabidiol belongs to non-intoxicating ingredients, meaning it doesn’t change the way your brain functions and will not get you high.

In addition, case studies are indicating that CBD can help reduce cravings associated with a behavioral addiction.

How to Use CBD to Stop Smoking

As you can see, CBD can do a lot to help you quit smoking cigarettes. But how do you take CBD to get the best results for your nicotine addiction? Here are a few tips that can make it easier:

Buy High-Quality Products

The source of your CBD oil can make or break your experience with using CBD to quit smoking cigarettes. There’s an important rule for buying CBD oil in an unregulated market — purchase only from reputable brands that grow their hemp plants in the USA.

Start with a Low Dose

We recommend starting with a low dose, like 10-15 mg per day to see how your body responds to CBD. If this works for you, you can begin taking more to assess what amount reduces the withdrawal symptoms to a tolerable level.

Choose the right method

There are many different ways for you to use CBD to quit smoking. Like CBD oil, Gummies, Chocolates, Capsules, Drinks, and CBD cigarettes. Choose a method that best fits into your lifestyle.

Know the terminology

• Full-Spectrum CBD: A type of CBD oil that contains compounds from the whole hemp plant, including cannabinoids such as THC (up to 0.3% the legal limit), CBN, CBDa, or CBG, plus terpenes, fatty acids, and flavonoids.
• Broad-spectrum CBD: also contains all cannabinoids, just like full-spectrum, except their is no THC.
• CBD Isolate: is the purest form, isolated from all other plant compounds meaning no THC, plus no cannabinoids, terpenes, fatty acids, and flavonoids.
• Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis and hemp plants that elicit a variety of effects and benefits. There are hundreds of cannabinoids, such as THC, CBN, and CBG - just to name a few. Cannabinoids interact with cannabinoid receptors to regulate a variety of functions in the body, such as inflammation, pain perception, mood, and memory. They can also be used to treat a variety of medical conditions.
• Terpenes are plant compounds with added potential therapeutic benefits.
• Flavonoids are plant compounds that have antioxidant benefits.
• The entourage effect is a theory that the full spectrum of the cannabis plant works best together to enhance its uniquely beneficial effects rather than working separately.
• Certificates of Analysis (COA): A COA is produced when an independent third-party lab tests a product for a company. A COA is a detailed document that displays the test results, i.e., the cannabinoid profile, plus tests for the presence of pesticides, heavy metals, and other impurities.

What CBD Is Best To Quit Smoking?

When it comes to using CBD to quit smoking cigarettes, we want to be crystal clear, you will still go through nicotine withdrawal, and nicotine withdrawal is still going to unfortunately suck.

However, we believe that if you use CBD as directed, nicotine withdrawal will suck a whole lot less, and hopefully, CBD will provide you with enough relief to help kick the habit once and for all.

While CBD comes in many forms, you may find that inhalable CBD may be more suitable for quitting cigarette smoking than other products such as gummies and oils.

This is mainly due to a smoker's habit of inhaling tobacco or nicotine.

By replacing your tobacco cigarette with a similar and familiar alternative, you're able to transition your smoking habit with a less drastic change in lifestyle.

You probably already noticed this, but the act of smoking itself is one part of many addictive behaviors that you've acquired as a long-time smoker.

By smoking CBD instead of regular cigarettes, you can maintain your habit of smoking a cigarette without physically addictive content. 

We encourage you to try different products to see which works best for you. Everyone is different, and must take their own path to breaking free from nicotine addiction.

Tips For Quitting Smoking

We all know that quitting smoking improves your health and reduces your risk of heart disease, cancer, lung disease, and other smoking-related illnesses.

Plus, it saves you a lot of money to do things you can't afford due to buying cigarettes.

Pick A Quit Date

Many smokers choose a date within two weeks to quit smoking. This will give you enough time to prepare.

Circle your quit day on your calendar. Write it out somewhere where you will see it every day. This will remind you of your decision to become smoke-free.

If you have a rough day and give in to your cravings, don’t let it discourage you. it’s perfectly normal. Just keep trying, and don’t ever give up.

Develop Coping Strategies

Nicotine is the chemical in cigarettes that makes you addicted to smoking. When you stop smoking, your body has to adjust to no longer having nicotine in its system. This is called withdrawal. 

No matter how unpleasant your withdrawal symptoms are, know you can get through it. Developing strategies to cope with withdrawal ahead of your quit date can help ensure you stay smoke-free for good!

Medications and behavior changes can help you manage the symptoms of withdrawal. Many quit-smoking medications like CBD are available online.

Make sure you have them on hand prior to your quitting. While CBD will help, it can’t do all the work for you.

Develop other quit-smoking strategies to use with CBD. Remember those withdrawal symptoms, including cravings‚ will fade with every day that you stay smoke-free.

Find safe substitutes for cigarettes

Find some substitutes for cigarettes for your mouth and hands. Keep them close by when you quit. Some helpful ideas include:

• Use toothpicks, straws, or cinnamon sticks. These can be helpful when it is hard to leave a situation, like when you are driving, out with friends, or at a restaurant. You can hold them in your fingers and bring them to your mouth like you would a cigarette.
• Use pencils or a squeeze ball or whatever works for you. These can help you with nervous energy, like when you are on the phone or watching TV.
• Gum, mints, and hard candy (butterscotch or cinnamon drops) can help when you feel a craving coming on. Many ex-smokers also claim that flavored toothpicks keep their mouth busy and combat the psychological effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Distract yourself

Why give in to an urge to smoke when you can do other things instead?

• Listen to your favorite music and maybe dance around for a while.
• This is my favorite distraction. Go for a walk or do something else physical or enjoyable.
• Do a puzzle or something to occupy your mind.
• Watch a funny movie.

Set Up Rewards for Quit Milestones

Quitting smoking happens one minute, one hour, and one day at a time. Reward yourself throughout your quit journey.

Celebrate individual milestones, including being 24 hours smoke-free, one week smoke-free, and one month smoke-free. Quitting smoking is really hard, be proud of your accomplishments.

You should be proud every time you hit a quit smoking milestone. Treat yourself to a nice dinner, a day at the movies, or any other smoke-free activity you enjoy doing.

Plan out your milestones ahead of time and set up a smoke-free reward for each one.

Ask for Help

Getting support from the important people in your life can make a big difference when you quit smoking. Friends, family, co-workers, and others can be there for you. Know that you are not alone.

You can also connect with others and grow your support network through Smokefree’s social media resources:

• Facebook: SmokefreeUS and Smokefree Women
• Twitter: SmokefreeUS

Final Thoughts On Using CBD To Quit Smoking

Past research has shown that CBD products may help users quit smoking by neutralizing smoking cues, reducing nicotine cravings, and helping to reduce the withdrawal symptoms of nicotine addiction.

Hemp products such as CBD cigarettes can be especially effective as a tobacco substitute when combined with other healthy lifestyle choices like good sleep and exercise, and with a solid plan to quit smoking, like the tips outlined above.

And user feedback suggests that CBD cigarettes can be a safe, effective, and enjoyable tobacco substitute, helping users succeed in their fight to quit smoking once and for all.

So, what is the best way to take CBD when you want to quit smoking? There is no perfect way of taking CBD to stop smoking. It all comes down to personal preference and lifestyle.

While some smokers prefer CBD cigarettes because they can mimic the feel of a cigarette without tobacco.

Others find this too close to what they are trying to quit so they prefer to use oils or edibles such as gummies.

It’s a good idea to know how CBD could fit into your lifestyle without too many changes. If you lead a busy lifestyle, then CBD gummies or CBD oil might be best for you.

But, if you want something to take the place of a cigarette on a night out then CBD cigarettes may be for you.

It's exciting to see that actual CBD users have already found success in quitting smoking. And remember that the chances of success increase with each quit attempt, so don't give up.

We wish you the best of luck on your quit-smoking journey!

We recommend not using any CBD product during pregnancy or lactation. If you have a medical condition or take pharmaceutical drugs, please consult your physician before use.

And just as importantly keep it out of reach from children and pets.

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