Highlights
- •Cannabis is a schedule I drug with few evidence-backed indications.
- •Cannabidiol is currently FDA-indicated for only rare seizure disorders.
- •Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol carries a significant adverse effect profile.
Abstract
The role of cannabis in medicine is rapidly evolving. Medical cannabis is now legal
in a majority of states, and THC and CBD, the prominent cannabinoids found in cannabis,
have both been utilized in the development of FDA-approved drugs. Due to the complicated
legal status of cannabis and cannabinoids, as well as regulations that vary from state
to state, the appropriate use of these substances for both patients as well as clinicians
is often unclear. Advancements in the understanding of the pharmacology of cannabis
have led to numerous proposed uses of these drugs, including as antidepressant or
analgesic agents. However, clinical trial data for these substances suggests that
many purported indications of cannabis and cannabinoids are not supported by good
clinical data. Furthermore, cannabis and several cannabinoid-based medications have
potentially concerning side effect profiles that may limit their use in certain patient
populations. As the legal status and clinical database of these medications continue
to evolve, physicians will need to continue to balance the real potential of these
compounds with their limitations and adverse effects.
Keywords
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: January 30, 2020
Accepted:
January 29,
2020
Received in revised form:
January 26,
2020
Received:
August 15,
2019
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
