First Drug Which Contains Marijuana Approved by FDA

The FDA has approved a purified form of the drug cannabidiol (CBD) to treat severe forms of epilepsy in patients older than two. In FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb M.D. statement he mentions “This is an important medical advance. But it’s also important to note that this is not an approval of marijuana or all of its components. This is the approval of one specific CBD medication for a specific use.”

Dr. Gottlieb mentions this now opens a pathway for other developers to put forth their marijuana-derived products if they adhere to the appropriate drug development process. It also mentions within the statement that FDA has recommended to the DEA to approve several hundred Schedule I marijuana research protocol licenses.

As for the DEA their website still shows marijuana (cannabis) listed under the Schedule I drugs which are defined as drugs with no currently accepted medical use. We will see what the outcome of the FDA approval of this cannabidiol drug and DEA reaction will be in the coming weeks.