Sales of CBD-based products are booming, backed by celebrity endorsements and ads claiming that the marijuana derivative will cure all that ails you. An editorial in Scientific American, however, sets the record straight: there’s little scientific evidence showing that CBD—now available in oils, cream, tinctures and food and beverages—does anything the marketers say it does. One study of people with mental health conditions found “scant evidence” that CBD improved depression or anxiety disorders, ADHD or PTSD.
Another report found no evidence of a therapeutic effect of CBD for chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced vomiting and muscle spasms. The FDA is currently considering new regulations for CBD—the non-psychoactive component of marijuana—but until then the CBD market operates virtually without clear oversight, which could potentially harm consumers who are expecting miracle cures or avoiding conventional therapies. To safeguard public health, we need more research into CBD to determine both the harmful and possible beneficial effects.
And finally, a new study looks at the influence that marijuana advertising and the location of cannabis dispensaries has on adolescents using pot. The research shows that regular exposure to marijuana ads on billboards, websites and storefronts increases the likelihood of underage cannabis use. Concerning the location of retail stores, study participants who lived within five miles of a dispensary were more likely to report intentions to use the drug than those who lived farther away. The results provide critical insights for states that are considering legalizing marijuana and are grappling with how to regulate and control underage use.