Many clinical practitioners are hesitant to prescribe cannabis as an aid in addiction rehabilitation. This is understandable since activation of the CB1 cannabinoid receptor by the cannabinoid delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) produces intoxicating effects. However, research suggests that activation of the CB2 cannabinoid receptor could reduce anxiety and cravings for addictive substances. If you’re thinking, “This is where CBD comes in,” you would be incorrect.
Cannabidiol (CBD) actually does not bind strongly to the CB2 receptor like many would expect. Instead, the compound that strongly activates CB2 is a terpene called beta-caryophyllene. This terpene is known for its peppery flavor profile and is also found in the essential oils of plants like rosemary, black pepper, and copaiba. Terpenes like beta-caryophyllene have GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status and are approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for food use. This makes terpenes less contraversial and easier to access than cannabis and hemp products.
The 2023 study “β‐caryophyllene, a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, decreases the motivational salience and conditioning place preference for palatable food in female mice” evaluated the effects of beta-caryophyllene on “wanting” performance and motivation by studying the rection of mice deprived of sweetened foods. First researchers got the mice hooked on hazelnut cream with chocolate, and then injected them with beta-caryophyllene to see if they would still show signs of sugar addiction.
The study found that beta-caryophyllene did significantly decreased the incentive performance for a sweet reward compared with the control group in a CB2 receptor-dependent manner. Of course, human data is needed to see if this cannabinoid-like terpene could provide relief for food addiction and other addictive behaviors. Still, it is a valuable take-away to consider that the therapeutic benefits of cannabis aren’t solely due to cannabinoids.
References
dos Santos Barbosa, L. A., Dutra, R. C., Moreira, E. L. G., & de Carvalho, C. R. (2023). β‐caryophyllene, a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, decreases the motivational salience and conditioning place preference for palatable food in female mice. Addiction Biology, 28(1), e13249.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/adb.13249
Sabine Downer is a scientist and cannabis writer with a passion for education. She has been writing for various clients in the cannabis space since 2015 and has worked in biotechnology since 2010. Along with content creation, she is also a knowledgeable resource on quality assurance, regulatory, and legal topics.
