Research suggests that CBD can lower the impact of social stress and the risks of addiction and may play a beneficial role in future treatment of mental disorders.

A new study appearing in Neuropharmacology suggests that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound derived from cannabis, might do a lot to prevent long-term outcomes of social stress.

Spanish and German scientists administered CBD to male mice subjected to repeated social defeat, a bullying analogue of stress. They observed that CBD reversed social withdrawal and inhibited enhanced sensitivity to cocaine, which are the widespread consequences of stress.

The study also found that CBD reversed stress-induced alterations in brain genes associated with serotonin, the endocannabinoid system, and stress hormones. Though abundant testing of CBD took it to the resolution that it does not relieve anxiety-like behavior in all tests, it still proved to be promising in restoring social behavior and reducing the tendency towards addiction.

Maria A. Aguilar of the University of Valencia, who led the study, said the results can help point towards the uses of CBD in preventing stress-related mental disorders and substance abuse. However, she notes that additional research that includes human testing is required to prove its therapeutic effects.

The study is the latest evidence that CBD might indeed hold a potential in aiding to treat stress-related conditions as well, but the dosage and long-term consequences are only some of the undiscovered areas.