Is CBD Approved as a Drug?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a compound found in marijuana that does not cause a “high”. Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Scientists are still learning how CBD affects the body, but the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Epidiolex, a drug containing CBD purified from hemp, to help treat rare seizure disorders. The FDA has concluded that this medication is safe and effective for this intended use.

However, other marketed products and uses of CBD may not be approved by the FDA. CBD is not recommended for use during pregnancy, as the potential health effects of using CBD products during pregnancy are currently unknown. In animals, high doses of CBD have caused negative effects on developing fetuses. We don't know if CBD is transmitted to a baby through breast milk, so people who are breastfeeding are advised to avoid CBD.

We also don't know the effects of CBD on children's developing brains.If you use products that contain CBD or THC, store them in child-proof containers and out of reach of children. If you have more questions, contact your health care provider, health department, or local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or 911 if it's an emergency. Currently, we don't know how CBD consumption affects a person over time or how the different modes of CBD are used (smoking, vaping, eating, applying it to the skin, etc.). Many companies that sell hemp and CBD products also sell products that contain THC.

People should be careful not to confuse THC products with hemp or CBD products. Products containing THC can cause psychoactive effects and adverse events.In addition, most CBD products are not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, consumers should know that products labeled as hemp or CBD may contain other ingredients, such as THC, pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria or fungi. If consumers experience adverse effects from products containing THC or CBD that pose an immediate danger to their health, they should call their local or regional poison control center at 1-800-222-1222 or 911, or seek medical attention at the local emergency room and report the ingredients of the products they have consumed.Currently, the only CBD product approved by the Food and Drug Administration is a prescription oil called Epidiolex.

It is approved to treat two types of epilepsy. In addition to Epidiolex, state laws regarding the use of CBD vary. While CBD is being studied as a treatment for a wide range of conditions such as Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, diabetes, multiple sclerosis and anxiety, research supporting the drug's benefits remains limited.For the past few years, CBD has been used in products as varied as chocolate, mascara and lotions. This growth in current and potential profits creates strong financial pressures to legalize the use of CBD.

A recent study of 84 CBD products purchased online showed that more than a quarter of the products contained less CBD than the labeling.Those who produce and sell CBD products and those seeking access to them will likely strive to ensure favorable changes in the law. Even though selling CBD products without FDA approval is technically illegal, companies are still selling them in what has become a burgeoning U. S. market.Some of these products further violated the FD%26C Act because they were marketed as dietary supplements or because they involved the addition of CBD to foods.

These products are still available for purchase but now contain disclaimers stating that their CBD products “are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”.The FDA has several resources available that address cannabis and cannabis-derived products such as CBD and wants to ensure that consumers and other interested parties have access to these resources in a centralized place. The FDA has sent warning letters in the past to companies that illegally sell CBD products that claim to prevent, diagnose, treat or cure serious illnesses such as cancer.CBD does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that causes a high. Some studies have concluded that CBD mitigates ailments such as anxiety, insomnia, chronic pain and addiction to substances such as nicotine and heroin.

Tonia Kilcullen
Tonia Kilcullen

Freelance social media practitioner. Lifelong writer. Typical social media specialist. Award-winning internet advocate. Devoted beer scholar.