Pharmacology and legal status of cannabidiol.
Authors
Pietro Brunetti, Alfredo Fabrizio Lo Faro, Filippo Pirani, Paolo Berretta, Roberta Pacifici, Simona Pichini, Francesco Paolo Busardò
Abstract
Cannabidiol (CBD) is the second most abundant cannabinoid present in Cannabis sativa
L. It is not associated with psychotropic activity and is capable to mitigate the psychotomimetic
effects produced by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). The latest cannabis decriminalization
policies and the high applicability in therapeutic and technologic-industrial
fields, have determined an exponential marketing growth of foods, cosmetics and in
particularly medicinal products containing CBD, which are easily available for consumers.
Most importantly, on 2018 United States Food and Drug Administration approved
CBD oral solution with the trade name of Epidiolex® for the treatment of two rare and
severe forms of epilepsy, “Lennox-Gastaut syndrome” and “Dravet syndrome”, in pediatric
patients. The aim of this review was to focus on pharmacology and on legal status
of CBD, to highlight the lack of harmonization of international regulatory laws over the
marketing authorization of CBD-based products.
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