In
the United Kingdom, for example, CBD was recently declared as medicine by the
National Health Service (NHS). In the United States, however, the legality of
CBD may depend on where it was sourced. There are two types of CBD products
available: products derived from “hemp” and products derived from “marijuana”.
The CBD found in both of these plants is the same, it’s the legal definition
that is not. Under the United States Controlled Substances Act, all cannabis
products are considered a schedule 1 drug. That means that they have no
accepted medical value and possession of such a substance can result in
criminal penalties. Recently, the DEA published a new rule that lumps CBD
products into the category of “cannabis extracts”. According to the DEA’s new
statement, CBD is illegal. The agency clarifies, For practical purposes, all
extracts that contain CBD will also contain at least small amounts of other
cannabinoids. However, if it were possible to produce from the cannabis
plant an extract that contained only CBD and no other cannabinoids, such an
extract would fall within the new drug code 7350. However, prospective lawsuits
and hemp industry experts question whether or not the DEA has the legal right
to include CBD under the definition of “marijuana”. Back in 2004, the US Ninth
Circuit Court of Appeals voted in favor of hemp in a different case. This time,
it was in response to an “Interpretive Rule” posted by the DEA.
The rule
included language explaining that “any product that Element X contains any amount of THC”
would fall under the category of a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance. The DEA’s
new ruling also contradicts an amendment made to the Agricultural Act of 2014
(Farm Bill). Farm Bill federally legalized the production of industrial hemp in
state-managed pilot programs. These pilot programs allow a small number of
growers to cultivate, process, and market hemp products. Under Farm Bill, hemp
plants are cannabis plants that contain less than 0.3% THC. However, how the
DEA’s new definition interacts with Farm Bill of 2014 is not clear at this
time. Until this plant is either reclassified or legalized, the harsh federal
restrictions on cannabis prevent adequate research on the impacts and health
benefits of CBD and the cannabis plant. If there’s one point to bring home in
this article, it’s this: CBD has tremendous therapeutic potential. But,
scientists need more hard-hitting research. Already, the discovery of THC and
the endocannabinoid system has opened major doors in biochemical and
psychiatric medicine. Until we address the legal and political barriers that
prevent us from exploring cannabis as medicine, our opened doors will remain
unexplored. Cannabidiol is a chemical in the Cannabis sativa plant, also known
as marijuana. Over 80 chemicals, known as cannabinoids, have been identified in
the Cannabis sativa plant. While delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the
major active ingredient, cannabidiol makes up about 40% of cannabis extracts
and has been studied for many different uses.
According to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), because cannabidiol has been studied as a new drug,
products containing cannabidiol are not defined as dietary supplements. But
there are still products labeled as dietary supplements on the market that
contain cannabidiol. People take cannabidiol by mouth for anxiety, bipolar
disorder, a muscle disorder called dystonia, seizures, multiple sclerosis,
Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia. People inhale cannabidiol to help quit
smoking. How effective is it? Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database rates
effectiveness based on scientific evidence according to the following scale:
Effective, Likely Effective, Possibly Effective, Possibly Ineffective, Likely
Ineffective, Ineffective, and Insufficient Evidence to Rate. The effectiveness
ratings for CANNABIDIOL are as follows: Insufficient evidence to rate
effectiveness for... Bipolar disorder. Early reports suggest that taking
cannabidiol daily does not improve manic episodes in people with bipolar
disorders. A muscle disorder called dystonia. Early research suggests that
taking cannabidiol daily for 6 weeks might improve dystonia by 20% to 50% in
some people. Higher quality research is needed to confirm this. Epilepsy.
Some
early research suggests that taking cannabidiol daily for up to 18 weeks might
reduce seizures in some people. However, other research shows that taking
cannabidiol daily for 6 months does not reduce seizures in people with
epilepsy. Reasons for the conflicting data are unclear. Possibly the studies
were too small. Huntington’s disease. Early research shows that taking
cannabidiol daily does not improve symptoms of Huntington's disease. Insomnia.
Early research suggests that taking 160 mg of cannabidiol before bed improves
sleep time in people with insomnia. However, lower doses do not have this
effect. Cannabidiol also does not seem to help people fall asleep and might
reduce the ability to recall dreams. Multiple sclerosis (MS). There is
inconsistent evidence on the effectiveness of cannabidiol for symptoms of
multiple sclerosis. Some early research suggests that using a cannabidiol spray
under the tongue might improve pain and muscle tightness in people with MS.
However, it does not appear to improve muscle spasms, tiredness, bladder
control, the ability to move around, or well-being and quality of life.
Parkinson’s disease. Some early research shows that taking cannabidiol daily
for 4 weeks improves psychotic symptoms in people with Parkinson's disease and
psychosis. Schizophrenia. Research on the use of cannabidiol for psychotic
symptoms in people with schizophrenia is conflicting. Some early research
suggests that taking cannabidiol four times daily for 4 weeks improves
psychotic symptoms and might be as effective as the antipsychotic medication
amisulpride. However, other early research suggests that taking cannabidiol for
14 days is not beneficial.
The conflicting results might be related to the
cannabidiol dose used and duration of treatment. Quitting smoking. Early
research suggests that inhaling cannabidiol with an inhaler for one week might
reduce the number of cigarettes smoked by about 40% compared to baseline.
Social anxiety disorder. Some early research shows that taking cannabidiol 300
mg daily does not improve anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder.
However, other early research suggests that taking a higher dose (400-600 mg)
may improve anxiety associated with public speaking or medical imaging test in
people with SAD. Other conditions. More evidence is needed to rate the
effectiveness of cannabidiol for these uses. How does it work? Cannabidiol has
antipsychotic effects. The exact cause for these effects is not clear. However,
cannabidiol seems to prevent the breakdown of a chemical in the brain that
affects pain, mood, and mental function. Preventing the breakdown of this
chemical and increasing its levels in the blood seems to reduce psychotic
symptoms associated with conditions such as schizophrenia. Cannabidiol might
also block some of the psychoactive effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC). Also, cannabidiol seems to reduce pain and anxiety. Are there safety
concerns? Cannabidiol is POSSIBLY SAFE when taken by mouth or sprayed under the
tongue appropriately in adults. Cannabidiol doses of up to 300 mg daily have
been taken by mouth safely for up to 6 months. Higher doses of 1200-1500 mg
daily have been taken by mouth safely for up to 4 weeks. Cannabidiol sprays
that are applied under the tongue have been used in doses of 2.5 mg for up to 2
weeks.
Some reported side effects of cannabidiol include dry mouth, low blood
pressure, light headedness, and drowsiness. Special precautions & warnings:
Pregnancy and breast-feeding: There is not enough reliable information about
the safety of taking cannabidiol if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Stay on
the safe side and avoid use. Parkinson’s disease: Some early research suggests
that taking high doses of cannabidiol might make muscle movement and tremors
worse in people with Parkinson’s disease. Are there interactions with
medications? Moderate Be cautious with this combination. Medications changed by
the liver (Cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) substrates) Some medications are
changed and broken down by the liver. Cannabidiol might decrease how quickly
the liver breaks down some medications. In theory, using cannabidiol along with
some medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects
and side effects of some medications. Before using cannabidiol, talk to your
healthcare provider if you take any medications that are changed by the liver.
Some medications changed by the liver include chlorzoxazone (Lorzone) and
theophylline (Theo-Dur, others). Medications changed by the liver (Cytochrome
P450 1A2 (CYP1A2) substrates) Some medications are changed and broken down by
the liver. Cannabidiol might decrease how quickly the liver breaks down some
medications.
In theory, using cannabidiol along with some medications that are
broken down by the liver might increase the effects and side effects of some
medications. Before using cannabidiol, talk to your healthcare provider if you
take any medications that are changed by the liver. Some medications changed by
the liver include amitriptyline (Elavil), haloperidol (Haldol), ondansetron
(Zofran), propranolol (Inderal), theophylline (Theo-Dur, others), verapamil
(Calan, Isoptin, others), and others. Medications changed by the liver
(Cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) substrates) Some medications are changed and
broken down by the liver. Cannabidiol might decrease how quickly the liver
breaks down some medications. In theory, using cannabidiol along with some
medications that are broken down by the liver might increase the effects and
side effects of some medications.