By STACY BIRNBACH
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Sponsored
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It was an expected, but still a momentous, date. On June 25, 2019 the Florida Governor (Ron DeSantis) approved Florida Senate Bill 1020, which introduced legislation designed to regulate the sale and use of CBD, a marijuana derivative. The bill was remarkable in that it passed with almost unanimous bipartisan support and follows the federal government, which legalized CBD late last year.
Now that CBD is legal to grow and use in Florida, more and more physicians are exploring the health benefits of CBD for their patients.
Although CBD is derived from the same cannabis plant as marijuana, it does not contain THC, the psychoactive component of cannabis. Pursuant to federal regulations, CBD is legal as long as it does not contain more than 0.3 percent of THC.
As a reaction to the new federal CBD regulations, Florida created a legal framework for the new CBD regulations in the state. The new law launched a state CBD program designed to promote the cultivation and distribution of CBD. The law also restricts the sale of CBD to only those businesses that register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Farms and businesses who intend to cultivate and produce CBD must provide extensive information about their operation to the department, including details like the exact GPS coordinates of their plants.
For physicians, it is important to understand no one can distribute CBD without a certificate of analysis from an independent testing laboratory, confirming each batch does not contain more than a total of 0.3 percent of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol concentration on a dry weight basis. The laboratory must also certify each batch is free of unsafe contaminants.
Florida is still in it's cannabis infancy. Misinformation is abundant, and Florida, along with other states, has struggled with it's CBD roll-out.
For example, the new federal Farm Bill has put Florida's new agricultural commissioner, Nikki Fried, in a bind. She ran on a platform featuring making CBD and medical marijuana more widely available, but has faced opposition from a variety of sources. Florida lawmakers are still largely playing legal catch-up.
Some common questions physicians have about CBD:
What is it?
CBD is an acronym for cannabidnol, and it is a natural compound found in hemp and marijuana plants.
How is it taken?
CBD comes in several forms, including chewable gels, sublingual drops, vapor cartridges, topical creams, and even chocolate bars. Be aware, however, the amount and quality of CBD varies widely by manufacturer.
Can my patients become addicted?
Several studies have concluded that CBD by itself is not addictive. On the other hand, sometimes CBD contains THC, which can be addictive.
A patient of mine is suffering from epileptic seizures and is resistant to traditional treatments. Can CBD help?
The FDA has approved Epidiolex, a CBD-based drug, for treating two rare forms of epilepsy: Dravet sydrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome.
Does CBD oil treat pain?
The short answer is we simply don't know yet. Scientists are currently testing CBD as a treatment for arthritis, and there is anecdotal evidence that it can help people with HIV-related nueropathy. Finally, some recent research indicates CBD may provide relief from muscle spasms linked to Multiple Sclerosis.
Can CBD oil help patients with hypertension?
At this time, there is no scientific evidence that CBD can lower a patient's blood pressure.
What about inflammation?
Several early studies on this treatment indicate CBD may help with inflammation due to Diabetes, Alzheimer's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, and Arthritis.
Can CBD help treat the symptoms of cancer?
Several studies have been conducted with CBD and lab mice, and CBD showed promise by making chemotherapy work better. There is also some evidence that CBD may be effective at killing breast cancer cells.
Is CBD used to treat psychosis like schizophrenia?
To date, there has been only one accredited study on CBD and psychosis but it was unclear how effective CBD was.
Can CBD help treat addictions?
This possibility is still being studied. Some early results look promising in helping patients dealing with cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and opioid addictions.
What are the side effects?
Numerous studies have been conducted on identifying side effects, and so far there is no evidence of anything serious. That being said, there have been reports of fatigue, diarrhea, and changes in appetite when used to treat psychosis and epilepsy.
Summary
In the end, physicians should keep in mind CBD is still being evaluated for a wide range of conditions. In the very near future, your practice will likely be dealing with cannabis is some way. Mounting evidence indicates patients will often try CBD without consulting their physician beforehand. Physicians who are open to the treatment possibilities of CBD will likely find an increase in their patient number and satisfaction.
Stacy Birnbach is the Founder and President of CBD for Total Health and provides CBD products imported from the Austrian Organic Farming Zone, which is in a rare location untouched by pesticides. The company has invested in Triple Lab TestedTM products in both the US and Austria, and whose product is listed in the Physician's Desk Reference.
