When your patient asks about cannabidiol

Abstract The reclassification of hemp’s legal status has resulted in a proliferation of retail cannabidiol (CBD) products. Preliminary research is emerging on CBD’s effect on pain, anxiety, depression, and addiction, but CBD is not a cure-all and there is an urgent need for more robust clinical trials. A pharmaceutical CBD product currently exists as an adjunct treatment for epilepsy disorders. However, several patients are experimenting with unregulated retail CBD products as an alternative treatment for a variety of medical conditions. The use of these retail CBD products is not without risks. Given the paucity of medical guidelines, this article provides an update for physicians and other healthcare practitioners on CBD and its potential side effects, drug interactions, and other safety concerns.