Cannabidiol or CBD, has quickly changed the debate on the sensibility of using medical marijuana.
Nearly everyone has heard of the chemical called THC, which is the main ingredient in cannabis that gets people high. Just recently, however, attention has shifted to the other major compound in cannabis called CBD — and for many a good reason.
While physicians only look at the side effects of THC and feel it is a harmful drug, CBD doesn’t cause the same concern. Actually, doctors, including the famed Dr. Sanjay Gupta, have made strong cases for CBD’s physiological advantages as a viable treatment for many conditions.
Here are five facts that you should understand about this unique cannabis compound:
1. CBD is a major ingredient in cannabis or industrial hemp
CBD is one of over 80 cannabinoids found in cannabis or hemp. Of these cannabinoids, CBD is the second most concentrated following THC in cannabis, and the most concentrated in industrial hemp. It is used primarily for the production of cloth, rope, and other commercially available items. CBD has been the most studied cannabinoid over the last few years as it has no psychotropic characteristics.
CBD and THC levels varied between different hybrids of hemp and cannabis. Charlotte’s Web contains much more CBD than any marijuana plant and is one of the key patented strains that are being used as medicine.
In the USA, the hemp farm bill allows for the growing of hemp for research and not profit.
2. CBD has no psychoactive properties
CBD doesn’t cause the high that many people are looking for, however, its safety and anti-inflammation properties are why some health professionals are joining the fray of people supporting its use.
Cannabidiol is non-psychoactive because it does not act on the same pathways as THC. These pathways, called CB1 receptors, are highly concentrated in the brain and are responsible for the mind-altering effects of THC.
A 2011 review published in Current Drug Safety concludes that CBD “does not interfere with several psychomotor and psychological functions.” The authors add that several studies suggest that CBD is “well tolerated and safe” even at high doses.
3. CBD has a wide range of medical benefits
Although CBD and THC act on different pathways of the body, they seem to have many of the same medical benefits. According to a 2013 review published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, studies have found CBD to possess the following medical properties:
| Medical Properties of CBD | Effects |
|---|---|
| Antiemetic | Reduces nausea and vomiting |
| Anticonvulsant | Suppresses seizure activity |
| Antipsychotic | Combats psychosis disorders |
| Anti-inflammatory | Combats inflammatory disorders |
| Anti-oxidant | Combats neurodegenerative disorders |
| Anti-tumoral/Anti-cancer | Combats tumor and cancer cells |
| Anxiolytic/Anti-depressant | Combats anxiety and depression disorders |
Unfortunately, most of this evidence comes from animals, since very few studies on CBD have been carried out in human patients.
However, a pharmaceutical version of CBD was recently developed by a drug company based in the UK. The company, GW Pharmaceuticals, is now funding clinical trials on CBD as a treatment for schizophrenia and certain types of epilepsy.
Likewise, a team of researchers at the California Pacific Medical Center, led by Dr. Sean McAllister, has stated that they hope to begin trials on CBD as a breast cancer therapy.
4. CBD reduces the negative effects of THC
CBD seems to offer natural protection against the marijuana high. Numerous studies suggest that CBD acts to reduce the intoxicating effects of THC, such as memory impairment and paranoia.
CBD also appears to counteract the sleep-inducing effects of THC, which may explain why some strains of cannabis are known to increase alertness.
Both CBD and THC have been found to present no risk of lethal overdose. However, to reduce potential side effects, medical users may be better off using cannabis with higher levels of CBD.
5. CBD is legal in all 50 States
Even though CBD shows much promise as a medicine, it remains illegal in many parts of the world. In the USA the 2018 Farm Bill legalized all parts of the hemp plant.
On the other hand, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently approved a request to trial a pharmaceutical version of CBD in children with rare forms of epilepsy. The drug is made by GW Pharmaceuticals and is called Epidiolex.
According to the company, the drug consists of “more than 98 percent CBD, trace quantities of some other cannabinoids, and zero THC.” GW Pharmaceuticals makes another cannabis-based drug called Sativex, which has been approved in over 24 countries for treating multiple sclerosis.
A patent awarded to the U.S. Health and Human Services in 2003 (US6630507) also covers the use of CBD as a treatment for various neurodegenerative and inflammatory disorders.