The Safety and Efficacy of CBD—A Pharmacist’s Perspective

Here in the United States Cannabidiol (CBD) is legal in all 50 states if the Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentration of the product is no more than 0.3%. The largest retailers of CBD in 2019 were located in California, Florida, and New York, which sold $730 million, $291 million, and $215 million, respectively. Of the patients who use CBD, the most common reasons for their use were pain, anxiety, and insomnia. As the use of CBD for the relief of different issues increases, it is important to assess the safety and efficacy of CBD as it pertains to drug-drug interactions, lab interactions, and its actual benefits. This subject of safety and efficacy is increasingly important as the use of CBD has increased, with approximately 64 million Americans having tried CBD between 2017 and 2019. In this article, we will discuss these different aspects of CBD use from the point of view of a pharmacist. Not only do pharmacists commonly get questions on different aspects of CBD use, but they are also drug experts in areas including drug-drug interactions, drug toxicities, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamic profiles of medications, and guideline-recommended therapeutic options. Although there is a limited amount of data, there is still accessible data that may serve to inform pharmacists to become aware of the safety and efficacy of CBD. This information will serve pharmacists to educate patients that CBD contains properties to be used in a variety of conditions such as Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome, pain, and sports enhancement.