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CBD Health Policy

YES! Tell WHO And The FDA What You Think Of CBD

Written by Julie Godard

CBD is one of many phytocannabinoids found in cannabis, and was discovered by Roger Adams in the 1940s at the University of Illinois.

Raphael Mechoulam isolated and synthesized both cannabidiol (CBD) and THC (another phytocannabinoid), as well as discovering anandamide with his colleague William Devane, also known as the bliss molecule. CBD has shown great promise in medical studies to help protect the human body and mind, relieve pain and anxiety, and reduce nausea and inflammation. CBD may also help reduce seizures, tremors, and spasms in patients with epilepsy, muscular dystrophy, and Parkinson’s disease. CBD has been so promising in medical studies and patient reports that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the World Health Organization (WHO) now want to know about patient and general public experiences with it; international and national drug scheduling are in question.

What Does WHO Want to Know About CBD?

WHO and the FDA aren’t sure how to classify CBD because it is a natural, non-psychoactive plant extract that is found in high concentrations in both hemp and cannabis. Both organizations have seen the emerging medical studies that indicate that CBD has many benefits for patients and for patient wellbeing, and are struggling with how the extract should be used, named, classified, and made available to patients, especially those with neurological issues. As a result, the 1971 Convention on Psychotropic Substances has yet to be updated with new information. Now is the best time to add a voice to the rising clamor of patients calling for international medical use of the extract; filling out this survey can contribute the knowledge of WHO and future regulations concerning CBD. WHO and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are specifically requesting information on “abuse potential, actual abuse, medical usefulness, trafficking, and impact of scheduling changes on availability for medical use of” seventeen known drugs, including CBD and Ketamine. To comment, access the survey here (click on the dark blue “Comment Now!” button in the upper righthand corner of your screen at Regulations.gov), or mail in comments to:

 Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305)

Food and Drug Administration

5630 Fishers Lane

Rm. 1061

Rockville, MD 20852

Include this information in your letter, as well:

Docket No. FDA-2017-N-4515 for “International Drug Scheduling; Convention on Psychotropic Substances; Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs; Cannabidiol; Request for Comments.”

Keep in mind that WHO and the FDA will only accept comments on these topics until midnight, eastern standard time on September 13, 2017.

What Should I Tell the FDA About CBD?

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are two extremely influential organizations that help determine international health and safety regulations that protect people and allow them to make their own choices when it comes to health care and medicines. By adding a comment to the survey on cannabidiol, the general public can make it’s voice heard through all the political clamoring over cannabis legalization, and hopefully help establish reasonable, right, and effective international and national policies concerning cannabis and CBD consumption across the planet. There are currently 1,359 comments in the docket. The future of CBD medicine in countries around the world may be affected by this survey, so add a comment and contribute to the knowledge surrounding.

Have anything to add? Your voice matters! Join the conversation and contribute your insights and ideas below.

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About the author

Julie Godard