Cannabidiol (CBD), one of the non-psychoactive components found in marijuana, has been declared as medicine by the UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). The form of CBD that has been approved is oil, or extract. CBD is derived from marijuana and hemp.
Research has shown that CBD can aid in treating some forms of cancer, depression, inflammation, PTSD, siezures, and irritable bowel syndrome, according to The Huffington Post. The MHRA finds that CBD has a beneficial restoring, correcting or modifying effect on the body. The UK still classifies marijuana as a Class-B drug, meaning that is seen as having no medicinal value.
The MHRA says, “Products will have to meet safety, quality and effectiveness standards to protect public health,” and “we have come to the opinion that products containing cannabidiol (CBD) are a medicine.”
Drug Policy Alliance director Michael Collins said, “It’s definitely a positive development. CBD-only legislation can be detrimental overall for the medical marijuana movement because it leaves behind too many patients. The majority of medical marijuana patients are not CBD patients. We want people to have access to CBD but not at the cost of getting access to broader medical marijuana.”