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NIDA Director Admits CBD Is Safe Medicine

Nina Volkow, Director of the National Institute of Drug Policy (Photo Via Wikimedia)

Medical

NIDA Director Admits CBD Is Safe Medicine

“CBD appears to be a safe drug with no addictive effects,” Nora Volkow said.

The federal government has been dropping hints recently that suggest they may finally be prepared to partially legalize medical cannabis, or at very least, open the gates to researching some of its compounds.

Earlier last week, Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), published an article on The Huffington Post admitting that cannabidiol or CBD is a “safe drug with no addictive effects,” going on to say that “preliminary data suggests that it may have therapeutic value for a number of medical conditions.”

Although it is a bit disheartening to see the cannabis plant dissected into realms of good (CBD) and evil (THC), it holds potential promise that one of the federal government’s leading drug officials is finally willing to publicly go on record about cannabis having medicinal value.

As it stands, cannabis is listed as a Schedule I dangerous drug under the Controlled Substances Act, which suggests that not only is the herb without medical value, but that it is also as dangerous as heroin.

Across the nation, CBD has been legalized in 15 states, most of which is due to a surge in media hype within the past several years over its power to treat seizure disorders in children. However, a number of clinical studies have also surfaced that suggest CBD is one of the most versatile compounds in cannabis, with evidence to show that it has the ability to fight cancer, stimulate bone regeneration and ease anxiety disorders.

“We are quickly learning a lot about THC and CBD, and because of its unique properties, CBD, especially, may be poised to make great inroads into our pharmacopoeia,” wrote Volkow.

There are some concerns, however, that the focus on CBD may deter the legalization of the entire cannabis plant. Although lawmakers like Senators Diane Feinstein and Charles Grassley have been pushing the Obama administration lately to explore the “scientific and medical benefits” of CBD, many people across the country that have seen this herb in action believe that only total plant legalization is acceptable.

In fact, parents of epileptic kids claimed to only see “minor seizure control and developmental progress with CBD alone.” It wasn’t until “measurable levels of THC” were incorporated that most achieved noticeable results.

Volkow concluded her article by stating “NIDA will do what we can to address such barriers and expedite the study of this potentially valuable compound, as well as other components of the marijuana plant.”

Do you believe cannabis is medicine? Share your opinion in the comments below.

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