Review: Cannabinoids as Medicinals

Authors

Jag H. Khalsa, Division of Therapeutics and Medical Consequences, Medical Consequences of Drug Abuse and Infections Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Special Volunteer, 16071 Industrial Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877 USA.
Gregory Bunt, Samaritan Day Top Village, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Ave, New York, NY 10016 USA.
Kenneth Blum, Center for Behavioral Health & Sports, Western University Health Sciences, Pomona, CA USA.
Sanjay B. Maggirwar, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University School of Medicine, Ross Hall Room 502A, 2300 I Street, Washington, NWDC 20037 USA.
Marc Galanter, Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine, 550 First Avenue, Room NBV20N28, New York, NY 10016 USA.
Marc N. Potenza, Departments of Psychiatry and Neuroscience and the Child Study Center, Yale School of Medicine, 1 Church Street, Rm726, New Haven, CT 06510 USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

9-7-2022

Journal

Current addiction reports

DOI

10.1007/s40429-022-00438-3

Keywords

CBD; Cannabidiol; Cannabinoids; Cannabis; Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; Substance-related disorders; THC

Abstract

Purpose of review: There have been many debates, discussions, and published writings about the therapeutic value of cannabis plant and the hundreds of cannabinoids it contains. Many states and countries have attempted, are attempting, or have already passed bills to allow legal use of cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD), as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions without having been approved by a regulatory body. Therefore, by using PubMed and Google Scholar databases, we have reviewed published papers during the past 30 years on cannabinoids as medicines and comment on whether there is sufficient clinical evidence from well-designed clinical studies and trials to support the use of CBD or any other cannabinoids as medicines. Recent findings: Current research shows that CBD and other cannabinoids currently are not ready for formal indications as medicines to treat a wide range of clinical conditions as promoted except for several exceptions including limited use of CBD for treating two rare forms of epilepsy in young children and CBD in combination with THC for treating multiple-sclerosis-associated spasticity. Summary: Research indicates that CBD and several other cannabinoids have to treat multiple clinical conditions, but more preclinical, and clinical studies and clinical trials, which follow regulatory guidelines, are needed to formally recommend CBD and other cannabinoids as medicines.

APA Citation

Khalsa, Jag H.; Bunt, Gregory; Blum, Kenneth; Maggirwar, Sanjay B.; Galanter, Marc; and Potenza, Marc N., "Review: Cannabinoids as Medicinals" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 1653.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/1653

Department

Microbiology, Immunology, and Tropical Medicine