CBD to quit smoking: what 3 studies actually show
Three studies, and no more, have tested CBD in smokers: 74 people in all, followed for a few days at most. The most cited found about 40% fewer cigarettes smoked over one week with a CBD inhaler, a result nobody has confirmed since. None measured lasting abstinence from tobacco. Nicotine replacement therapy remains the reference for that, and France reimburses it.
Key takeaways
- Morgan et al. (2013) followed 24 smokers for one week: about 40% fewer cigarettes with inhaled CBD, no change on placebo.
- In Hindocha et al. (2018), one 800 mg dose of CBD made cigarette images less appealing and left craving and withdrawal unchanged.
- Six months of abstinence is the standard endpoint of cessation trials, and no CBD study has followed smokers that long.
- Across 133 trials and 64,640 participants, nicotine replacement raised the chances of quitting by 55%; France reimburses it at 65%.
- Lab tests show CBD slowing the enzymes that clear nicotine, so tell a professional if you use patches.
The three studies in smokers
Tobacco researchers look at CBD (cannabidiol) because the endocannabinoid system is involved in nicotine dependence. The human data fit in one table:
| Study | Participants | Protocol | Main result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morgan et al., 2013 | 24 smokers who wanted to quit | CBD or placebo inhaler, as needed, 1 week | About 40% fewer cigarettes on CBD, no difference on placebo |
| Hindocha et al., 2018 | 30 dependent smokers, after a night without tobacco | 800 mg oral CBD or placebo, once | Cigarette images less salient and rated less pleasant. Craving and withdrawal unchanged |
| 2024 study | 20 e-cigarette users | 320 mg CBD, no placebo, 4 h of abstinence | Lower reported withdrawal and anxiety |
The Morgan et al. trial, published in Addictive Behaviors, is quoted most often. Participants used the inhaler each time they felt the urge to smoke. According to the authors, the effect partly held at follow-up, and they describe their own results as preliminary.
The Hindocha et al. study, published in Addiction, measured attentional bias instead: the tendency of the eyes to settle on anything that brings cigarettes to mind. After a night without tobacco, the bias grew on placebo and reversed on CBD. Craving and withdrawal symptoms stayed where they were.
The third, an open-label study in Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, had no placebo group, so participants knew they were taking CBD. The authors adjusted their results for positive expectations, yet with this design an expectation effect cannot be ruled out.
What these results do not tell us
A smoking treatment is judged by how many people have stopped smoking six months later. None of the three studies measured that. They lasted a week at most and enrolled 20 to 30 participants each, and two of them tested a single dose.
A 2021 review of CBD trials in addiction, in Frontiers in Psychiatry, excluded the Morgan study from its analysis. The reviewers found that its indirect comparison design failed their criteria. They also noted that published data come only from very short protocols or single doses.
No CBD product has a marketing authorisation for smoking cessation. Epidyolex, the only authorised medicine whose sole active ingredient is CBD, is indicated for rare epilepsies, as our article on CBD and epilepsy explains.
Nicotine replacement: tested and reimbursed
Nicotine patches, gum, lozenges and inhalers have been tested on another scale entirely. The 2018 Cochrane review pools 133 trials with 64,640 participants followed for at least six months. All forms combined, nicotine replacement raises the probability of quitting by 55% compared with placebo or no treatment. For patches alone, the figure reaches 64%.
In France, most nicotine replacement products are reimbursed at 65% on prescription, and have been since 1 January 2019. Doctors, midwives, nurses, dentists and physiotherapists can all prescribe them. The Tabac Info Service line, on 39 89, provides free follow-up with a tobacco specialist.
| Criterion | Nicotine replacement | CBD |
|---|---|---|
| Published trials | 133 randomised trials | 3 studies, 2 of them placebo-controlled |
| Follow-up | At least 6 months | 4 hours to 1 week |
| Outcome measured | Quitting smoking | Cigarettes smoked, attention, reported withdrawal |
| Reimbursement | 65% on prescription | None |
CBD and nicotine: an interaction to know about
For people who already use nicotine, CBD has an effect to take into account. Working on human enzymes in the lab, a 2023 study in Chemical Research in Toxicology found that CBD and its metabolite inhibit CYP2A6 and CYP2B6. These liver enzymes convert nicotine into cotinine so the body can clear it. The authors conclude that CBD could slow nicotine clearance in humans, which has yet to be measured.
If you use patches or gum and are considering CBD, discuss it with the professional who supports you. Our article on CBD and medicine interactions explains the enzyme mechanism. The one on the EFSA reference dose puts the amounts in context.
Smoking CBD flower is not quitting smoking
Replacing a cigarette with a joint of CBD flower keeps the combustion. Any burning plant gives off smoke containing tar and carbon monoxide. Mix CBD flower with tobacco and the nicotine comes along too. Our comparison of tobacco and cannabis for health details the differences. Our article on tobacco-free alternatives in a joint describes the options for adults who already consume.
Frequently asked questions
The data do not show it. In the 2018 study, 800 mg of CBD made cigarette images less appealing and left craving and withdrawal unchanged. The 2013 study counted fewer cigarettes smoked; it did not record a weaker urge.
No. Patches have been tested on tens of thousands of smokers followed for six months, and they are reimbursed. CBD has been tested on a few dozen people over a few days, without any measure of quitting.
Check with your doctor or pharmacist first. In lab tests, CBD slows the enzymes that clear nicotine, which could alter how a nicotine replacement product works.
Your GP, a midwife, a nurse or a pharmacist can help, as can the Tabac Info Service line on 39 89. French health insurance reimburses prescribed nicotine replacement at 65%.
Written by the Phytogrammes team
Each journal article draws on cited primary sources: ANSM, EFSA, EUR-Lex and peer-reviewed publications. Product profiles are distinguished from documented laboratory results. Our approach.
Article published on . CBD is not a medicine.