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The recovery process from cannabis use disorders has received little empirical attention. Understanding how and the ways in which individuals with cannabis use disorders recover may help to improve formal treatments and facilitate recovery for those who wish to not seek treatment. The present study was undertaken with two primary objectives in mind. The first primary objective was to provide an exploratory portrait of the recovery process from cannabis use disorders from the perspective of individuals who have recovered. The second primary objective was to explore and systematically describe the similarities and differences between abstinence-and moderation-oriented recoveries, as well as the similarities and differences between treatment-assisted and natural recoveries. The methodology was largely borrowed from the natural recovery literature insofar as recovery was first inferred via the remission of diagnostic symptoms, and then explored predominantly via several interview domains (e.g., reasons for resolution, actions taken to recover, maintenance factors, barriers to treatment seeking).Several interesting and important findings emerged at the level of the total sample (N = 119), as well as at the level of group comparisons between the different recovery pathways. Notably, the findings lend further support to the effectiveness of cognitive, motivational, and behavioural strategies as helpful actions and maintenance factors

Rationale Cannabidiol (CBD) has been reported to attenuate stress and anxiety, but little is known about the extent to which such effects result from pharmacological versus expectancy factors. Objectives We evaluated whether CBD expectancy alone could influence stress, anxiety, and mood, and the extent to which beliefs regarding CBD effects predicted these responses. Methods In this randomized crossover study, 43 health adults (23 women) attended two experimental laboratory sessions, where they self-administered CBD-free hempseed oil sublingually. During one session, they were (incorrectly) informed that the oil contained CBD and in the other session, that the oil was CBD-free. Following administration, participants engaged in the Maastricht Acute Stress Test (MAST). Heart rate variability (HRV) was assessed continuously, and subjective state was assessed at baseline, 90-min following oil administration, immediately following the MAST, and after a 10-min recovery period. Results The CBD expectancy condition was associated with increased sedation as well as with changes in HRV that were consistent with heightened anticipatory stress regulation. Overall, there were no systematic changes in subjective stress, or anxiety, according to expectancy condition. However, participants who endorsed strong a priori beliefs that CBD has anxiolytic properties reported significantly diminished anxiety in the CBD expectancy condition. Conclusions CBD expectancy alone impacted several subjective and physiological responses. Additionally, expectancy-related factors were implicated in anxiolytic effects of CBD for those who believed it was helpful for such purposes, emphasizing the need to measure and control for CBD-related expectancies in clinical research that involves the administration of CBD.