As medical marijuana bills and recreational cannabis legalization sweep through the United States, researchers are discovering more uses for the plant. A new study released at the American Epilepsy Society (AES) 2016 Annual Meeting highlights the benefits of a purified oral formulation of cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex, GW Pharmaceuticals) in reducing seizures in certain treatment-resistant forms of epilepsy.
In their double-blind, randomized controlled trials, researchers found that patients with Dravet Syndrome (DS) and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) had their seizures significantly reduced. These syndromes are two of the most difficult-to-manage epilepsy conditions.
What Does This Mean for Seizure Treatment?
There are infrequently developments of this kind that fundamentally change the way seizure patients can find treatments for their disease. Dr. Elizabeth A. Thiele, MD, PhD, director of the Pediatric Epilepsy program at Mass General, who contributed to this study, said, “It's exciting because at least for a portion of people with Dravet and with Lennox-Gastaut, it's going to be an effective treatment, and what I can see with my experience with the expanded-access program, it's going to be an effective treatment for other people as well."
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| Parents reported a reduction of seizures in their children after beginning seizure treatment with Epidolex. Source: sec.gov |
She estimates that over 1000 people now have access to CBD through the expanded program and may be able to find a more effective method for treating seizures. The research had very few adverse effects, with only five patients reporting side effects.
Dr. Thiele believes this treatment has a significant future not only for seizure treatment but potentially for other conditions. She compares it to the very-low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet, which was initially discarded by much of the medical community, but is now used in the treatment of epilepsy, neurologic disorders, and cancer.
What Does This Mean for the Future of Marijuana?
This study is just one of many that show the promise of marijuana use in a medical setting. Although the DEA still views marijuana as a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act, every election, more states are moving to legalize marijuana medically, recreationally, or both. The United States is moving in the direction of utilizing marijuana in a way that is helpful to its citizens.
As more studies of this nature are published, the DEA may be further petitioned to change its stance on marijuana and other illicit substances that have medical value.
