Cannabidiol and Other Cannabinoids: From Toxicology and Pharmacology to the Development of a Regulatory Pathway

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychotropic constituent of Cannabis sativa that has grown in popularity during the last decade. CBD is the active component of EPIDIOLEX®, a U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug designed for the treatment of drug-resistant pediatric epileptic seizures associated with several rare syndromes. Furthermore, CBD has been proposed as a treatment for a number of other diseases for which clinical trials are now ongoing. Accumulating evidence indicates that the number of “CBD-containing” products, available mostly online, is growing exponentially. However, the U.S. FDA currently prohibits sales of CBD as a dietary supplement (DS) or ingredient in conventional food. Further, clear federal regulatory and quality oversight does not exist, which has led to an uncontrolled CBD market that, in turn, threatens to result in negative health effects experienced by a trusting public. Thus, there are open questions demanding answers in the very near future: For which medical purposes is CBD provably effective? Can it be used safely as a non-prescription product? At what level? Is a hemp extract that contains CBD a different ingredient than isolated CBD? Is CBD safe for everyone? What is a future path for hemp products with CBD as well as for other cannabinoids? Should CBD be allowed as a drug only, or is there a way for hemp extracts to be listed as a dietary supplement and food ingredient? This Special Issue, the first of its kind on CBD and other phytocannabinoids, is devoted to answering those and other questions by publishing articles in the fields of pharmacology, toxicology, and regulation.