CBD and giving up smoking: what does the research really say?

The trial by Morgan and colleagues, published in 2013, followed smokers split into two groups receiving either a CBD inhaler or a placebo, over one week (source: Addictive Behaviors). The CBD group cut its cigarette consumption by around 40 %, a gap the authors judged notable at that small scale.

This is a pilot study, conducted on a small sample and over a short period. It opens up a line of research; it does not amount to proof of effectiveness that can be generalised. No larger trial has come along to confirm these results with the same methodology to date.

No: CBD is not recognised as a nicotine substitute in France, and it has received no marketing authorisation for that indication (source: ANSM). Nicotine patches, gums and inhalers, by contrast, are products evaluated specifically for smoking cessation.

Confusing the two categories opens the way to disappointment, and even to abandoning a proven cessation treatment too early. CBD acts on mechanisms different from those targeted by classic nicotine substitutes, which explains why the two approaches are not interchangeable.

The reviews published between 2023 and 2024 agree on one point: the data remain preliminary (source: 2023-2024 reviews). The number of randomised clinical trials devoted specifically to CBD and tobacco remains small, and the protocols vary appreciably from one study to another.

This scarcity of solid data calls for caution in the promises made. A message presenting CBD as a proven solution against smoking goes beyond what the scientific literature allows anyone to assert today.

CBD does not replace medical advice or a validated cessation protocol. Anyone wishing to stop smoking has everything to gain from consulting a healthcare professional or a smoking-cessation specialist, who can offer options whose effectiveness is documented.

If you nonetheless decide to try CBD, it is better to know the dosage benchmarks before starting (see our article on how much CBD to take per day according to EFSA). What is felt may also vary a great deal with the amount consumed, a phenomenon set out in our article on the biphasic effect of CBD. Some users report a soothing effect that helps them get through the tense moments linked to withdrawal, but this individual perception does not amount to clinical proof.

Does CBD really reduce the urge to smoke?

A UCL pilot study observed a drop of around 40 % in cigarettes smoked with a CBD inhaler (source: Addictive Behaviors, 2013). The data nonetheless remain preliminary and support no definitive conclusion.

Does CBD have an authorisation for smoking cessation?

No, CBD holds no marketing authorisation for that indication in France (source: ANSM). It must not be presented as a cessation medicine.

Can CBD be combined with nicotine patches?

It is better to discuss this with a healthcare professional before combining them. Nicotine substitutes remain the validated reference for smoking cessation.

Can CBD replace medical support?

No, CBD does not replace medical advice or a supervised cessation protocol. A consultation with a smoking-cessation specialist remains the recommended route to stopping smoking for good.