CBD in cannabis could reduce psychosis risk from high strength skunk, study shows
Buffer effect could point to a protective mechanism that may help 'treat disorders like psychosis and addiction'
Wednesday, April 24, 2019
Cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical derived from the cannabis plant, can counteract the effects of high strength "skunk" strains and may help to reduce the risk of serious mental health conditions like psychosis, according to a new study. After using scans to study the effects of different strains of cannabis on the brain for the first time, the team from the University College London said boosting levels of CBD could act as a “buffer” to ill effects. They found that strains with the same level of THC, which causes users to get “stoned”, but higher CBD caused less disruption to parts of the brain linked to addiction and psychosis. (See also: "Skunk" cannabis disrupts brain networks – but effects are blocked in other strains | High-strength cannabis increases risk of mental health problems)
