Cannabidiol (CBD)- Pharmacist
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The popularity of medical marijuana (also known as medical
cannabis) continues to grow in the US. In 2018, over 3.5 million
patients were registered to use medical cannabis; an increase
from 2.6 million in March, 2016. As of January 2019, 33 states
and Washington D.C., have laws legalizing medical marijuana.
Ten states, Washington D.C., and Canada have legalized recreational
marijuana. In addition, a growing number of states
have laws specifically addressing the use of cannabidiol (CBD)
for medical, as well as nonmedical, purposes.
The use of Cannabis sativa by the Chinese – for its strength as
a fiber (in paper, bowstrings, rope, or clothing) and its medicinal
properties – has been documented as far back as 4000 years ago.
Hemp and marijuana are both plants in the Cannabis sativa family;
however, they differ in structure and active ingredients. The
most prevalent active ingredient in marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol
(THC), known for its psychoactive effects. Cannabidiol
(CBD) is the second most prevalent active ingredient in marijuana
(among many other pharmacologically active cannabinoids)
and is the most prevalent active ingredient in hemp. Both THC
and CBD have pharmacological effects. However, unlike THC,
CBD does not have euphoric or intoxicating effects. A growing
body of research suggests that CBD may be beneficial for a range
of medical conditions including, but not limited to, anxiety,
movement disorders, pain, sleep disorders, and seizure disorders.
The FDA has approved CBD (Epidiolex®) for the treatment
of 2 rare childhood-onset epilepsy syndromes. The evidence for
CBD use in other conditions is sparse; it is derived mainly from
animal, in vitro, and small human trials. However, because of its
apparent lack of side effects in low to moderate doses, there is a
great interest in CBD as a natural supplement...
