Going to Pot?

Cannabis alters mood in humans. Cannabis-based medicines, however, are currently only prescribed for a very small number of conditions, possibly reflecting an anti-recreational drugs bias in political circles. Cannabidiol (CBD) is given to treat a rare form of severe epilepsy with repeated, life-threatening fits. The drug is also used to counter severe vomiting, brought on by chemotherapy in cancer treatment. Oxford scientists are scheduled coordinate a timely major global trial, to establish whether CBD is effective in treating patients with psychoses or psychotic symptoms (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2023/feb/16/global-oxford-study-trial-cannabis-based-medicine-treatment-psychosis-cbd). This global trial will involve 35 centres, mainly in Europe and North America. The CBD used will be donated by Jazz Pharmaceuticals, who manufacture the preparation currently used in medical circles. As well as investigating the impact of CBD on people who already have psychosis, the compound's effect on circa 1000 people, judged to be at risk of developing such symptoms will be evaluated. Preliminary studies have generally been suggestive. It's important, however, to establish whether CBD can be safely added to the psychopharmacologist's armamentarium.