Answer Addiction

Tag: cbd benefits

  • US To Spend $3 Million Researching Chemicals in Marijuana

    US To Spend $3 Million Researching Chemicals in Marijuana

    Current marijuana research lags behind the public’s marijuana usage.

    The United States government plans to spend $3 million studying whether marijuana has pain-relieving effects. 

    However, it will only be studying the parts of the plant that do not get users high. 

    Study Will Focus on Chronic Pain Relief

    According to NBC News, the money is coming from nine research grants that were announced on Thursday (Sept. 19). The grants will allow researchers to delve deeper into the pain-treating properties of CBD and other lesser-known chemicals in marijuana. The chemical THC, which is what users get high from, is not included in the research plans. 

    When it comes to pain management using the chemicals from marijuana, “The science is strongest for chronic pain, the most common reason people give when they enroll in state-approved medical marijuana programs,” NBC notes.

    Dr. David Shurtleff is the deputy director of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, which is funding the projects. He says THC has been studied “extensively” already and that the dangers of the chemical don’t make it a good option for treating pain. He adds that the hope is to catch up to the current use of other chemicals in marijuana. 

    “The science is lagging behind the public use and interest. We’re doing our best to catch up here,” he said. 

    According to Shurtleff, the grants come as a response to the 2017 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine report which stated that there was a lack of research surrounding marijuana, making it a “public health risk.” 

    Responding To The Opioid Crisis

    Another motivator for the research on the pain-easing properties of marijuana is the opioid epidemic, which is rooted in the use of prescription painkillers. 

    Dr. Judith Hellman, a grant recipient from University of California San Francisco, is researching the ability of the body to create signaling molecules that are similar to the ingredients in marijuana. 

    Hellman says it’s vital for scientists to more deeply explore pain and its treatment. “It’s very exciting to have the opportunity to do that,” she said.

    According to NBC, only one of the grant projects involves human test subjects. University of Utah researcher Deborah Yurgelun-Todd plans to run brain scans of volunteers suffering from lower back pain. Her plan is to determine how CBD mixed with chocolate pudding can affect the pain-signaling pathways in the brain. 

    Many of the new projects will use lab-made versions of the chemicals, instead of extracting them from the plant itself, according to NBC.

    View the original article at thefix.com

  • FDA Issues Consumer Warning On CBD Products

    FDA Issues Consumer Warning On CBD Products

    The FDA is working to research the safety of CBD and other cannabis products to better understand how to regulate them.

    The Food and Drug Administration has issued a consumer warning urging people to proceed with caution when using CBD products for themselves or their animals. 

    “The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recognizes the significant public interest in cannabis and cannabis-derived compounds, particularly CBD,” the warning reads. “However, there are many unanswered questions about the science, safety, and quality of products containing CBD.”

    The FDA has only approved one CBD product, the anti-seizure medication Epidiolex. Despite that, many other products make health claims as they relate to people and animals, but the FDA cautions consumers that these claims are unsubstantiated. 

    More Research Is Needed

    “The FDA has not approved any other CBD products, and there is very limited available information about CBD, including about its effects on the body,” the warning said. 

    The FDA is working to research the safety of CBD and other cannabis products to better understand how to regulate them. This includes looking at the way that CBD affects the liver. Research has indicated that CBD can be linked with liver damage, which is cause for concern as people use the product liberally. 

    More importantly, the FDA points out that people should not use CBD products as a replacement for medical care. 

    “Misleading and false claims associated with CBD products may lead consumers to put off getting important medical care, such as proper diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care,” the warning read. “For that reason, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the best way to treat diseases or conditions with existing, approved treatment options.”

    Protecting Public Health

    The agency has issued warnings to companies that market their CBD products as ways to relieve the effects of certain diseases. 

    “The FDA’s top priority is to protect the public health, and that includes making sure consumers know about products that put their health and safety at greatest risk, such as those claiming to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure serious diseases,” the organization wrote. 

    In addition to better understanding how CBD affects people, the FDA is researching how CBD affects animals, and whether it is safe for animal use. Right now there are many CBD products marketing for animals, but the claims for their effects are unproven, the organization said. 

    The organization is collecting public comments online through July 16. The public input will help inform policy going forward. 

    “The FDA continues to believe the drug approval process represents the best way to help ensure that safe and effective new medicines, including any drugs derived from cannabis, are available to patients in need of appropriate medical therapy,” the organization wrote. “The Agency is committed to supporting the development of new drugs, including cannabis and cannabis-derived drugs, through the investigational new drug and drug approval process.”

    View the original article at thefix.com