SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25 (UPI) -- Researchers have found that the cannabis chemical CBD reportedly helps children with epilepsy have fewer seizures.
The form of cannabis, "Charlotte's web," is bred without the psychoactive chemical THC and is intended for underage patients. Charlotte's web has the chemical CBD. which has anti-epileptic effects on humans. A series of trials around the country, including ones conducted by the University of California-San Francisco, are using the new drug Epidilex, which contains a pure form of CBD given to 25 children suffering from epilepsy.
"Studies have been conducted in healthy adults who have shown CBD to be well tolerated and safe," says Joseph Sullivan, a co-investigator on the trial. "While we don't know the full side effect profile in children, this study will allow us to follow the children closely and determine if the side effect profile differs from that in adults."
The National Epilepsy Foundation has endorsed the research of CBD as an anti-convulsive, and the drug is strictly regulated by the FDA.
