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Is CBD a Remedy for Anxiety and Epilepsy or Dangerous and Unregulated?
Both anxiety and epilepsy patients may seek non-medical treatments for their issues, but questions remain about CBD.
The drumbeats began years ago regarding the effectiveness of marijuana and one of its derivatives, CBD (the non-psychogenic component of the plant), in either oil or edible form, for treating medical conditions. Many cultures used the plant or its seeds for physical disorders or discomfort.
Viewed as a dietary supplement, CBD is unregulated by the FDA. Companies are not required to inform the FDA when they begin marketing these products to consumers. As of December 2015, regulatory requirements related to research with CBD trials were eased, and in 2018 the Farm Bill made CBD legal in the United States.
The World Health Organization has stated that “In humans, CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential…. To date, there is no evidence of public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD.” Further, they indicate, “Current evidence also shows that cannabidiol is not likely to be abused or create dependence….”
When I was writing a book on MS, several patients told me they were now using marijuana or CBD for pain. Even though they couldn’t obtain a medical marijuana prescription, they needed…
