Is CBD a medical canabis?
On July, 13, Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine supported (so far only in the first reading) the draft law, which people already named "on medical cannabis" [1]. Given the speed with which laws are usually adopted, implementation of the changes will most likely take some extra time. But now in Ukraine it is already possible to buy CBD (absolutely legally) — a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, which for many has become synonymous with medical cannabis.
What is medical cannabis?
Actually, there is no such thing as medical cannabis, instead, there is cannabis that is used for medical purposes [2]. Sometimes the term "medical cannabis" refers to non-psychoactive hemp varieties (CBD), but it is a mistake, because psychoactive cannabis (THC) also has medical properties [3].
The first medical cannabis.
Legalization of medical cannabis began in the USA, 1976, when the Federal Government allowed Robert Randall, a patient suffering from glaucoma, to have controlled access to cannabis [4]. According to Randall, smoking cannabis alleviated the symptoms of his illness and saved him from the blindness. The court rulled in favor of Randall, making him the first patient to legally use medical cannabis in the United States.
In 1996, "medical cannabis" was first legalized in the state of California.
What was allowed is the use of psychoactive cannabis, but for medical purposes [5]. Patients, who underwent certain registration had the right to possess up to 8 ounces of dry cannabis, and to grow up to 6 plants.
Is CBD medical cannabis?
CBD, cannabidiol, is a chemical produced in hemp (or any form of cannabis). CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid (unlike THC). Cannabis strains with high CBD contain do not cause a euphoria or high. So recreational use of CBD doesn't make much sense. Instead, non-psychoactive cannabis, and CBD in particular, is gaining popularity due to its therapeutic effects [6].
CBD is already used in medicine. CBD solution (10%) is a registered pharmacological drug for the treatment of rare forms of childhood epilepsy [7].
Scientific studies have shown aside from its antiepileptic action, CBD has many therapeutic effects [8]. CBD reduces inflammation, improves function of the nervous system, reduces anxiety and psychosis, has antioxidant and moderate analgesic effects. At the same time, CBD does not cause major side effects and is safe in a very wide range of doses (15 - 1500 mg) [9, 10]. It is recommended to start taking CBD with 15-30 mg per day and gradually increase, following changes in the CBD action [10]. Gradually increase of the dosage of CBD will allow you to achieve the best result with the knowledge of how much CBD is needed for you.
Reference:
1. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rad...
2. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lif...
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bo...
4. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rober...
5. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996...
6. https://www.forbes.com/health/body/c...
8. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ful...
9. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lif...
10. https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-dosage