DEA reschedules Epidiolex, marijuana-derived drug, paving the way for it to hit the market

Epidiolex is the first FDA-approved drug that is derived from maijuana. DEA reschedules Epidiolex, marijuana-derived drug, paving the way for it to hit the market

  • The Food and Drug Administration in June approved Epidiolex, which is derived from cannabidiol, or CBD, a molecule contained in the marijuana plant.
  • This forced the DEA to consider how it would classify Epidiolex since marijuana is considered a schedule 1 drug, which it defines as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has rescheduled Epidiolex, paving the way for GW Pharmaceuticals to start selling the first FDA-approved drug derived from cannabis, but stopped short of reclassifying all cannabidiol products.

The Food and Drug Administration in June approved Epidiolex, which is derived from cannabidiol, or CBD, a molecule contained in the marijuana plant. This forced the DEA to consider how it would classify Epidiolex since marijuana is considered a schedule 1 drug, which it defines as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.

Epidiolex will be classified as a schedule 5 controlled substance, the lowest level, defined as those with a proven medical use and low potential for abuse. Other drugs in this category include some cough medicines containing codeine.

The drug is indicated to treat patients two years and older with Dravet Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, rare forms of epilepsy that emerge during childhood and can be difficult to treat. It does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis that makes people high.

GW Pharma said it would “work hard” to make Epidiolex available within the next six weeks. Shares of GW Pharma rose 7 percent on the news.

“We are pleased that the DEA has placed EPIDIOLEX in the lowest restriction Schedule, because it will help ensure that patients with LGS and Dravet syndrome, two of the most debilitating forms of epilepsy, can access this important new treatment option through their physicians,” GW CEO Justin Gover said in a statement.

The rescheduling applies to CBD containing no more than 0.1 percent THC, in FDA-approved drug products. Though this allows GW Pharma to sell Epidiolex, it does not broadly apply to CBD.

So while oils and lotions are becoming wildly popular, they’re still schedule 1 drugs and therefore illegal under federal law, though the DEA typically does not pursue, or enforce the law against, individual users, a DEA spokeswoman told CNBC. Some states have legalized CBD and other marijuana products.

The DEA classifies marijuana as a schedule 1 drug, which it defines as having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. Because CBD is a compound found in the marijuana plant, it is considered a schedule 1 drug and therefore illegal.

Coffee shops and other places selling CBD oil may be in line with state laws, depending on where they’re located, but they’re still skirting federal laws. And though the DEA may not pursue small-scale sellers, it may enforce those federal laws if consumer product conglomerates decide to enter the space.

Beverage giant Coca-Cola in September said although it has “no interest” in marijuana, it’s “closely watching the growth of non-psychoactive CBD as an ingredient in functional wellness beverages around the world.”

In announcing its approval of Epidiolex, the FDA was clear to distinguish that the drug contains purified CBD and the agency’s decision was not a broad approval of the substance. Commissioner Scott Gottlieb said the FDA remains “concerned about the proliferation and illegal marketing of unapproved CBD-containing products with unproven medical claims.”

 

One Response

  1. Does approving CBD oil by the FDA make it work better? NO! Possibly what it does do WHEN doctor prescribed, is make sure that it is unfortunately even more expensive than already legally marketed CBD oils, no thc of course unless sold in a “legal” state for cannabis use. I tried multiple brands of CDC oil, at different strengths, and at a varied but an expensive cost with virtually zero percent thc. It did not help but, some say it and or “kratom” helps so, “some” recognition of the absolute potential of the cannabis plant as a multi-use and medically used substance? Good?! I unfortunately live in a Very restricted cannabis use state and cannabis only provided when under the most regulation it can be subjected to. CBD oil, literally zero thc, can’t hurt for patients to try it but, don’t expect miracles if you are a long time opiate pain management [atient.

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