With the demand for CBD constantly growing in the US, it’s no surprise that our lawmakers have taken a particular interest in it. With some Senators changing their stance on Cannabis based on its healing properties, in addition to Mitch McConnell’s Hemp Farming Act, it has become a constant talking point and the easiest way to segway Cannabis into federal legality.
CBD, Cannabidiol, is the non-psychoactive medicinal property of the cannabis plant. CBD can also be produced with Hemp instead of Cannabis. The only difference here would be the amount of THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, in each derived version of CBD.
In either form, CBD is used for a variety of different ailments with Epilepsy being a long debated one.
Following clinical trials this past week, the U.S. Food Drug Administration received unanimous recommendations from an outside panel of health advisors to approve a form of Epidiolex for epilepsy treatment. Epidiolex is the first cannabis derived medicine meant for severe childhood epilepsy. This would also make it the first Cannabis derived medicine on the market.
Last year, GW Pharmaceuticals was authorized by FDA to do the trials. The FDA doesn’t combat that Cannabis and CBD helps children dealing with life-threatening seizures; they want safe testing to be presented with the claims.
The decision opens a door for many parents with epileptic children. Some have been forced to move to states allowing legal Cannabis to find treatment. This however, would make the process of getting treatments much easier.
Since 2014, 17 states have legalized the use of marijuana-derived cannabidiol (CBD) for children: Utah, Wyoming, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.
Despite the triumphs for CBD, the FDA is not forced to approve the medicine from the recommendation but, they do take the it seriously.
A final decision is expected on June 27.
Written by: Joycelin A.
Source: https://mjbizdaily.com/fda-advisory-panel-gives-thumbs-up-to-cbd-epilepsy-treatment/
