Cannabidiol as a treatment for cocaine use disorder: a scoping review

Abstract Cocaine use disorder (CUD) remains a major public health challenge with limited effective therapeutic options. Cannabidiol (CBD) has been proposed as a potential treatment due to its neuroprotective and anti-craving properties. This scoping review aims to synthesize and map the existing evidence from clinical trials evaluating CBD’s effects on craving reduction, relapse prevention, cognitive function, and emotional regulation in individuals with CUD. Although CBD was well tolerated and associated with fewer adverse events than conventional pharmacological treatments, clinical studies included in this review did not demonstrate significant efficacy over placebo in reducing cocaine craving, preventing relapse, or improving cognitive performance, despite promising preclinical outcomes. The review also highlights methodological limitations across studies, including variability in dosage, treatment duration, and study design. Although current evidence does not support CBD as a standalone treatment for CUD, its favorable safety profile suggests potential utility within a broader, multimodal therapeutic framework. Future research should prioritize standardized protocols and explore synergistic combinations with behavioral or pharmacological interventions to enhance treatment efficacy.