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Cited by 143Cannabis and Cannabinoid ResearchEpilepsy research and treatmentPsychedelics and Drug Studies

Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD): a Review of the Evidence From Clinical Trials and Human Laboratory Studies

Open access
Sholler, Dennis J., Schoene, Lauren, Spindle, Tory R.·2020·Current Addiction Reports
DOI 10.1007/s40429-020-00326-8PMC PMC7880228
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Abstract

Purpose of Review Global policy changes have increased access to products containing cannabidiol (CBD), a primary constituent of hemp and cannabis. The CBD product industry has experienced tremendous growth, in part, because CBD is widely touted as an effective therapeutic for myriad health conditions. However, only 1 CBD product (Epidiolex®) has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to date. There is substantial interest among consumers and the medical and scientific communities regarding the therapeutic potential of CBD, including for indications that are not recognized by the FDA. The purpose of this review was to synthesize available evidence from clinical research regarding the efficacy of CBD as a therapeutic. Recent Findings Human laboratory studies and clinical trials (e.g., randomized controlled trials and single-arm, open-label trials) evaluating the efficacy of CBD as a therapeutic were identified for various medical conditions, including epilepsy, anxiety, pain/inflammation, schizophrenia, various substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, and others. There is clear evidence supporting the utility of CBD to treat epilepsy. For other health conditions reviewed, evidence was often mixed and/or there was a general lack of well-powered randomized, placebo-controlled studies to draw definitive conclusions. Summary Rigorous, controlled evidence for the therapeutic efficacy of CBD is lacking for many health conditions. Possible concerns with the use of CBD as a therapeutic include the potential for adverse effects (e.g., liver toxicity), drug-drug interactions, and lack of sufficient regulatory oversight of retail CBD products.

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Crossref · 10.1007/s40429-020-00326-8

Cites

54 of 54 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • CBD has fewer safety concerns than THC.

    “CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC, but there is the potential for liver toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and there is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products [105].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [105]

    The Concluding Remarks describe CBD as having low toxicity, no psychotomimetic effects, and a favorable safety profile, while also discussing adverse effects. They do not compare CBD’s overall safety concerns with THC’s, so the comparative part of the claim is not established by this copy. (LLM, conf=0.82)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • CBD is not intoxicating.

    “CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC, but there is the potential for liver toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and there is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products [105].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [105]

  • There is potential for liver toxicity with CBD.

    “CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC, but there is the potential for liver toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and there is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products [105].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [105]

  • There is potential for drug-drug interactions with CBD.

    “CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC, but there is the potential for liver toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and there is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products [105].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [105]

  • There is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products.

    “CBD is not intoxicating and has fewer safety concerns than THC, but there is the potential for liver toxicity, drug-drug interactions, and there is poor regulatory oversight of CBD products [105].”

    From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [105]

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [8]GW Pharmaceuticals and Greenwich Biosciences Announce FDA Acceptance of sNDA Filing withPriority Review for EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) in the Treatment of Seizures Associated with TuberousSclerosis Complex. http://ir.gwpharm.com/node/11346/pdf: GW Pharmaceuticals; 2020 p. 1– 2.

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Authors
Sholler, D. J., Schoene, L., & Spindle, T. R.
Affiliations
Johns Hopkins University (US)
Corresponding author
Spindle, Tory R.
ORCID
Venue
Current Addiction Reports
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2020-09
Volume
7
Issue
3
Pages
405-412
ISSN
2196-2952 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1007/s40429-020-00326-8
PMC
PMC7880228
OpenAlex
W3045132465
Semantic Scholar
39ea7cf78e1482be07f9039fd5a39baf7624c0c3
Cited by
143
References
54
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 34 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 1 · 2014: 1
FWCI
8.84
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Current Addiction Reports (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DA007209)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Epilepsy research and treatment
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychedelics and Drug Studies
Keywords
cannabidiol, treatment efficacy, epilepsy, anxiety, pain and inflammation, schizophrenia, substance use disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug-drug interactions, hepatotoxicity, Epidiolex

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