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Abstract
Increased access to medicinal and recreational cannabis will be accompanied by greater exposure to its chemical constituents, including Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), the primary nonpsychoactive compound. Increasing attention has focused on CBD, in part, due to its potential therapeutic properties. Relatively little is known about how CBD might interact with other commonly used drugs. While a number of studies have explored the influence of cannabis or Δ9-THC on alcohol consumption and treatment outcomes, few have examined the effects of CBD on alcohol-related outcomes. This article reviews preclinical and human studies examining the effects of CBD administration on alcohol responses. Preliminary preclinical results suggest that CBD can attenuate alcohol consumption and potentially protect against certain harmful effects of alcohol, such as liver and brain damage. Also reviewed herein are the few existing studies involving CBD and alcohol coadministration in humans. The paucity of such studies precludes any definitive conclusions relating to CBD-alcohol interactions. Effects of CBD on alcohol use and potential therapeutic implications for alcohol use disorder are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
