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Marijuana was made illegal back in the 1930s, about the same time as prohibition. Right or wrong, the drug has played a central role in our “war on drugs” for almost 100 years. But now we are beginning to see some possible benefits and attitudes toward the plant are changing. States are starting to pass laws making cannabis legally available. Although Texas is not one of them, the state has approved CBD oil via the Texas Compassionate Use Act. But many people don’t know what it is or how to use it.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is an extract from the marijuana plant. It was discovered in the 1940s. So it has been known about for quite a while although the media seems to have only recently picked up on it. CBD in a pure form has no THC in it. THC or tetrahydrocannabinol is the component of the plant that when smoked or ingested gives people a “feel good” response. It has psychoactive properties among other things that many people find pleasing. For decades people that liked to smoke marijuana have been extolling the many virtues of the plant. But it was illegal so unless you were willing to break the law, you were never going to find out for yourself.
With science comes knowledge and we now know that many of the benefits that come from marijuana come from the cannabidiol portion of the plant. So if we are going to be honest with ourselves, we no longer need to smoke “weed” for the supposed health effects. We can extract the CBD oil, which has no THC or almost no THC, and take it by itself.
So is CBD oil just a modern day “snake oil”? I don’t think so, but that’s not to say it is a miracle drug either. Here in Texas the most well known use for CBD oil is epilepsy. Early on the evidence supporting cannabinoid use for controlling seizures was mostly anecdotal but since then, there have been very good studies proving this effect. In fact, the FDA has actually approved a new drug, Epidiolex, which is a cannabinoid for the treatment of certain types of seizures. Parents struggling with controlling their children’s seizures have found the benefits of CBD oil and thus lobbied successfully for Texas to approve its use. This has made headlines ever since.
Up to now only a small number of physicians have been approved to write CBD oil for seizures here in Texas. If you’re like me, initially I was confused why on the one hand you apparently needed a doctor’s prescription for CBD but on the other it looked like CBD was being sold in all the smoke shops over town. That is because the CBD for use in seizures has 0.5 percent THC and does require a doctor to write for it. The CBD you can order from Amazon or any storefront has much less THC if any at all.
If you have multiple sclerosis, there is good news, CBD has been found to help with chronic pain and muscle spasms. Actually, European studies have found that CBD oil helps in any kind arthritic or neuropathic pain. There is evidence going back over 2,000 years of marijuana being used to ease pain. Studies in rats have actually found reduced pain during surgery with CBD and another rat study found improvement in sciatica pain.
For insomnia sufferers, CBD has been found to aid getting to sleep as well as staying asleep. Anxiety and depression may be helped too. In a study of public speakers, CBD seemed to reduce anxiety before and during their speeches. Nausea and vomiting are definitely reduced with CBD use. I remember when I was in residency training we treated many patients with nausea from cancer and Aids with a drug derived from marijuana. Nausea is actually effectively treated by both CBD and THC.
Now there is also talk of CBD helping improve the cardiovascular system thus reducing heart attacks and strokes. This is not proven. The benefit, if there is any, may come from the anxiety relaxing effect which may help reduce blood pressure but that is speculation at this point. CBD has also not been proven to help reduce cognitive decline in people at risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia. There is a possible effect but much more work is needed to evaluate it.
Can CBD cure cancer? No, it cannot. But there are lab studies showing possible improvement in tumor growth when exposed to CBD. Again, more studies are needed. Can CBD cure diabetes? No, it cannot but there are mice studies indicating improvements in diabetes.
Are there any side effects to CBD? Only a few. Tiredness, diarrhea and changes in appetite — I was not surprised to see that it affected appetite.
There are lots of makers of CBD now, so it’s up to you to do your homework before you decide to try it. You will find if you go into a shop with knowledgeable attendants that they sound like sommeliers as they talk about all the varieties. These guys are often very passionate about CBD and can walk you through the process of finding what’s right for you. I normally advise you to talk to your doctor before starting new therapies but unfortunately most of us are not real knowledgeable about CBD. Give us time; if the benefits of this drug are truly there we will slowly, safely start to adopt its use for our patients.
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Dr. John Turner is a family medicine and emergency medicine doctor with 25 years of experience. He is also the owner of My Primary Care Clinic and My Emergency Room 24/7 here in Hays County. Dr. Turner may be reached at 512-667-6087.
