A nonintoxicating component of cannabis could be used as a source for novel antipsychotic medicines, according to research done by British scientists. Researchers already knew cannabidiol (CBD) appears to reduce the chances of developing psychosis, Reuters said, but they didn’t know how it worked until now.
Cannabis, better known as marijuana, has been used for its medicinal properties for thousands of years, with earliest written references to it found in ancient Chinese documents. It contains more than 60 different cannabinoids, with two primary ones being CBD and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). When it comes to medicinal use, CBD is what we’re talking about — not about the “high” you get from THC, which doesn’t even need to be a part of CBD products to get the medicinal effects.
Like the British researchers, we already know that cannabis in the form of CBD has been found useful in treating mental disorders, seizures, pain, multiple sclerosis, cancer and numerous other illnesses and diseases. We even know that medical marijuana could help stem deaths from narcotic pain relievers, yet, the U.S. federal government continues to label it as a Class 1 narcotic, forcing states to take legalization into their own hands while desperate patients who could benefit from CBD have to wait to see whether the feds or the states will win this battle.
Meanwhile, Big Pharma has seized the situation by trying to monopolize the CBD industry with ongoing studies done in the guise of proving what we already know, but with the goal of owning the market with a prescription CBD product. Unfortunately, while the latest news on what CBD can help treat, it also means the drug industry will ramp up doing everything it can to secure its place in the market, and in so doing, eliminating the legal use of natural and far less expensive cannabis products.
It’s up to us to make sure we stay involved in the political process whenever marijuana-related legislation is brought up. If we don’t, you can be sure the drug industry will become the only game in town.