CBD did not produce any signs of abuse potential in regular marijuana smokers

Within-subject, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, multi-site study. Participants received one dose combination per session across 8 once-weekly outpatient sessions (7.5 hours each). This was a secondary analysis specifically examining CBD's abuse liability profile, separate from the previously reported drug interaction findings.

At the time of this study, CBD remained a Schedule I controlled substance in the US. This controlled human data demonstrating no abuse liability provided important evidence for regulatory decisions about CBD scheduling. The study addressed a significant gap, as no well-controlled abuse liability data had been available for CBD.

The absence of abuse liability is foundational for CBD's therapeutic development. If CBD produced a "high" or other abuse signals, its clinical use would face much greater regulatory barriers. This study helped establish that CBD is pharmacologically distinct from THC in its effects on reward and reinforcement, supporting the scientific basis for eventually removing CBD from Schedule I.

The study tested only oral CBD, not other routes like inhalation or sublingual. Participants were experienced marijuana users, who might respond differently than cannabis-naive individuals. The study measured acute effects in a clinical setting, not real-world use patterns. The dose ceiling of 800mg may not capture effects at higher doses.