In a nationwide first, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has authorized the use of 'Epidiolex', a marijuana derivative which will be used to treat rare forms of epilepsy. Epidiolex -- also known as cannabidiol or CBD -- is a highly-purified version of the many psychoactive compounds found in marijuana and does not result in a high.
GW Pharmaceuticals, the British company responsible for the drug, said currently approved AEDs (anti-epileptic drugs) are not always effective in the majority of patients with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome (LGS) and Dravet syndrome -- severe forms of childhood-onset epilepsy. However, access to a cannabinoid-medicine like Epidiolex could substantially reduce seizure frequency.
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies marijuana or cannabis as a Schedule 1 substance -- which means there is "no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse." Accordingly, before Epidiolex is ready for use amongst patients, it needs to be appropriately reclassified -- something GW Pharmaceuticals expects to see happen within the next three months.
The FDA was careful to mention its approval of cannabidiol -- one of over 100 compounds found within marijuana -- does not reflect an endorsement for all of marijuana's components. In fact, the FDA warns against 'impostor' CBD-containing products like oil drops, capsules and creams which are sometimes sold with false medical promises of curing life-threatening diseases such as cancer. Pending the required rescheduling, Epidiolex should be available to patients by the fall.