Cocaine affects nearly every organ system in the body, including the gastrointestinal system, drastically altering the gut microbiome. It also increases dopamine levels in the brain, creating a memory of the dopamine reward and strengthening the association between the drug and the pleasurable feelings it produces. A recent study in mice found that cannabidiol, a non-psychoactive compound in marijuana, restores the gut microbiome in cocaine users, reversing memory-associated cocaine addiction.

Researchers gave adult mice either cocaine + placebo or cocaine + cannabidiol. They collected fecal samples before and after the drug treatments to analyze changes in the gut microbiome.

They found that the mice that received cocaine + placebo developed a strong preference for environments where they received the drug that lasted even after its cessation, indicating they had a memory of the reward. These mice also experienced long-lasting reductions in their gut microbial diversity. However, the mice that received cocaine + cannabidiol showed a reduced preference for the cocaine-associated environment after drug cessation and exhibited greater gut microbial diversity, with more beneficial microbes and fewer harmful ones.

These findings suggest that cannabidiol reverses changes in the gut microbiome caused by cocaine and helps reduce the memory of cocaine’s rewarding effects. Beneficial activities like exercise and hard work also boost dopamine levels but without the massive peaks associated with cocaine use. Learn more in this clip featuring Dr. Andrew Huberman.

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