Cannabis sativa (C. sativa) is a plant that has been cultivated for medicinal and recreational purposes for hundreds of years.1 Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the C. sativa plant, while cannabis refers to a variety of products derived from the C. sativa plant.2,3 Two secondary products from the cannabis plant are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD).1 Cannabidiol can be plant-derived or synthetically produced; both have similar pharmacokinetic and biological effects.4
Most importantly, while THC causes intoxicating or psychoactive effects—the “high” that someone feels—CBD does not. CBD is also thought to have fewer side effects than THC. Both CBD and THC have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties; however, CBD, unlike THC, also has anticonvulsant, anxiolytic, and antipsychotic properties. Thus, CBD can be used for conditions such as epilepsy, anxiety, and psychotic disorders.3
As many as 1 in 3 adults in the United States report using cannabidiol (commonly referred to as CBD) as an OTC health supplement.
In 2020, as many as 1 in 3 adults in the United States reported using CBD as a health supplement for mood, sleep, gastrointestinal (GI) relief, pain support, and other purposes.5,6 The content of over-the-counter (OTC) products varies greatly based on growing conditions, contamination, and formulation.6,7 Also, the composition of OTC CBD products has been shown to significantly differ from the CBD products used in clinical studies.6 CBD products sold OTC cannot claim to prevent, diagnosis, treat, or cure any diseases because they have not been US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved. There is currently one FDA-approved cannabidiol product that is available by prescription.
Recently, there has been growing interest in CBD for neurologic disorders and a growing interest among patients for healthcare providers (HCPs) to prescribe cannabis-based therapies.7,8 It is important for patients and their HCPs to be educated on CBD and the differences between CBD and other cannabis products so that they can openly discuss whether its use is appropriate.
