<h3 id="1">Related: <a title="How Is Marijuana Used For Epilepsy?" href="https://weedzly.com/library/medicinal-marijuana-used-for-epilepsy">How Is Marijuana Used For Epilepsy?</a></h3>
<h2 id="0">Creating Pharmacy Meds with Cannabis</h2>
<p>Drug discovery and development is a long and arduous process with no guarantee of success. The most promising molecules in the lab can fail in <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/testing-marijuana-why-is-it-a-requirement">clinical trials</a> for any number of reasons. But on June 25, 2018, the FDA approved a prescription drug derived from cannabis for the first time &mdash; Epidiolex (cannabidiol). Shortly after that, G.W. Pharma (GWPH) began trading on the NASDAQ at a valuation worth $2 billion.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673902925/articles/hdugovnxwzbyc3bbs0k5.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673902925/articles/hdugovnxwzbyc3bbs0k5.jpg" alt="weed medicine" width="550" height="367" /></p>
<h3 id="2">The history of drugs derived from cannabis</h3>
<p>The history of drugs derived from cannabis goes back thousands of years. In the 19th century, Queen Victoria used cannabis to relieve menstrual cramps. A few decades later, the U.S. Department of Agriculture used it for its fiber. In 1937, the U.S. Treasury Department introduced the Marihuana Tax Act, which effectively banned cannabis use in the U.S. After Congress failed to reclassify cannabis, the federal government classified it as a highly addictive drug. From there, the story of cannabis and the U.S. government is a complicated one.</p>
<p>Around that time, researchers in Colorado began to experiment with CBD, and early trials showed promise. In 1942, Dr. Theodore Lamoureux, a Canadian neurologist, published a study in which he compared &gamma;-hydroxybutyrate (GHB), a natural plant hallucinogen, to a "transparent liquid," ephedrine, which is also found in plants. After consuming the "false edibles", 17 patients reported symptoms of "relaxation", including a feeling of well-being and reduced anxiety.</p>
<p>Several decades later, in the 1990s, bath salts entered the market. These reinforced the understanding that high concentrations of CBD (and other CBD-like compounds) could counter the effects of psychoactive drugs like cocaine and alcohol. In recent years, scientists have used this phenomenon to produce affordable, consumer-friendly products such as Knockout.</p>
<p>Not only did CBD act as a powerful anti-addiction medication, but it also exhibited neuroprotective abilities against neurotoxins, cognitive decline, and epilepsy. Neurologic research, in particular, is hot right now.&nbsp;</p>
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<h3 id="3">Why G.W. Pharma's Epidiolex was the first to be approved by the FDA</h3>
<p>Epidiolex, a drug made by G.W. Pharma to <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/medicinal-marijuana-used-for-epilepsy">treat certain types of childhood epilepsy</a>, is the first cannabis-based drug to be approved by the FDA. It's made from purified cannabidiol. CBD is one of the more than 100 compounds found in cannabis that has shown great promise in the past.&nbsp;</p>
<p>CBD and related compounds are incredibly effective at stopping seizures in animals and are less impairing than conventional antiepileptic drugs. Moreover, CBD has a low potential for abuse, works quickly in the body, and can address nutritional deficiencies. Epidiolex is uniquely poised due to an unparalleled partnership between G.W. and an organization with a genuine interest in neuropsychiatric conditions, epilepsy, and related disorders.</p>
<p>GWPH has pumped significant resources into the project with the hope that it would boost the effectiveness of the drug in those with ADT and additional seizure types. Put more simply, GWPH intends to win the war on seizures.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Many physicians are already prescribing CBD supplements. Several companies make CBD products. CBD is becoming widely accepted in places like Australia and the U.K., and it will likely have more mainstream acceptance over the next few years.</p>
<p><img title="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673903074/articles/hetekvmqrknlutu4v00p.jpg" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/timj111/image/upload/v1673903074/articles/hetekvmqrknlutu4v00p.jpg" alt="Weed pill blister" width="464" height="309" /></p>
<h3 id="4">A look at other cannabis-derived pharmaceuticals in development</h3>
<p><strong>Marinol:</strong> Marinol is a pure pharmaceutical grade version of <a href="https://weedzly.com/library/cbd-and-thc-whats-the-difference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">THC</a> that is used as a therapy for cancer, weight loss, and other ailments. The <a href="https://weedzly.com/brands/nectar/products/thc-pills?fromSearch=true" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pill </a>can be prescribed for treating nausea, vomiting, and appetite loss in people who have AIDS. Other names for this substance are: Dronabinol, Dronabinol solution</p>
<p><strong>Sativex</strong>: Sativex is a prescription medicine that contains two cannabinoids (THC and CBD), delivered as an oral spray. Sativex is not available in the United States but is available in Canada, New Zealand, parts of Europe, and other countries.</p>
<p><strong>Nabiximols:</strong>&nbsp;Sativex, also referred to as nabiximols, is a patented sublingual spray derived from Cannabis sativa and Cannabis indica. It's delivered as an oral spray and approved for medical use in Canada and several European countries to treat multiple sclerosis (M.S.).</p>
<p><strong>Syndros:</strong>&nbsp;Syndros is a liquid oral solution that contains a precise amount of pure THC. Syndros is being developed to treat anorexia associated with weight loss in patients with AIDS. Additionally, it may relieve nausea and vomiting associated with chemotherapy in patients who have cancer or receive palliative care.</p>