The DOI matches its Crossref record; 54 of the 54 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Therapeutic Efficacy of Cannabidiol (CBD): a Review of the Evidence From Clinical Trials and Human Laboratory Studies
Open accessAbstract
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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“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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“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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“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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“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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“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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Cites
Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome
Devinsky, O., Cross, J. H., Laux, L., Marsh, E., Miller, I., Nabbout, R., Scheffer, I. E., Thiele, E. A., & Wright, S. (2017) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1611618 · Cited by 1,711
Cannabidiol enhances anandamide signaling and alleviates psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia
Leweke, F. M., Piomelli, D., Pahlisch, F., Muhl, D., Gerth, C. W., Hoyer, C., Klosterkötter, J., Hellmich, M., & Koethe, D. (2012) · Translational Psychiatry · doi:10.1038/tp.2012.15 · Cited by 1,059
Effect of Cannabidiol on Drop Seizures in the Lennox–Gastaut Syndrome
Devinsky, O., Patel, A. D., Cross, J. H., Villanueva, V., Wirrell, E. C., Privitera, M., Greenwood, S. M., Roberts, C., Checketts, D., VanLandingham, K. E., et al. (2018) · New England Journal of Medicine · doi:10.1056/nejmoa1714631 · Cited by 1,015
Cannabidiol in patients with treatment-resistant epilepsy: an open-label interventional trial
Devinsky, O., Marsh, E., Friedman, D., Thiele, E., Laux, L., Sullivan, J., Miller, I., Flamini, R., Wilfong, A., Filloux, F., et al. (2016) · The Lancet Neurology · doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(15)00379-8 · Cited by 900
Bergamaschi, M. M., Queiroz, R. H. C., Chagas, M. H. N., de Oliveira, D. C. G., De Martinis, B. S., Kapczinski, F., Quevedo, J., Roesler, R., Schröder, N., Nardi, A. E., et al. (2011) · Neuropsychopharmacology · doi:10.1038/npp.2011.6 · Cited by 771
Iffland, K., & Grotenhermen, F. (2017) · Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research · doi:10.1089/can.2016.0034 · Cited by 645
McGuire, P., Robson, P., Cubala, W. J., Vasile, D., Morrison, P. D., Barron, R., Taylor, A., & Wright, S. (2018) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2017.17030325 · Cited by 617
Crippa, J. A. S., Derenusson, G. N., Ferrari, T. B., Wichert-Ana, L., Duran, F. L., Martin-Santos, R., Simões, M. V., Bhattacharyya, S., Fusar-Poli, P., Atakan, Z., et al. (2011) · Journal of Psychopharmacology · doi:10.1177/0269881110379283 · Cited by 535
Labeling Accuracy of Cannabidiol Extracts Sold Online
Bonn‐Miller, M. O., Loflin, M., Thomas, B. F., Marcu, J. P., Hyke, T., & Vandrey, R. G. (2017) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.2017.11909 · Cited by 532
Drug–drug interaction between clobazam and cannabidiol in children with refractory epilepsy
Geffrey, A. L., Pollack, S. F., Bruno, P. L., & Thiele, E. A. (2015) · Epilepsia · doi:10.1111/epi.13060 · Cited by 496
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- GW Pharmaceuticals and Greenwich Biosciences Announce FDA Acceptance of sNDA Filing with Priority Review for EPIDIOLEX® (cannabidiol) in the Treatment of Seizures Associated with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex. http://ir.gwpharm.com/node/11346/pdf: GW Pharmaceuticals; 2020. p. 1–2.
Cited by
Sorted by citations
A narrative review of molecular mechanism and therapeutic effect of cannabidiol (CBD)
Peng, J., Fan, M., An, C., Ni, F., Huang, W., & Luo, J. (2022) · Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology · doi:10.1111/bcpt.13710 · Cited by 315
“Previously, there were some excellent reviews on CBD, such as pain management,30–32 CNS disorders,(33) anticancer,(34,35) pharmacology and pharmacokinetics (PK)(5,36) and clinical trials.(32,37,38) This review will discuss the molecular mechanisms of action of the therapeutic effects of CBD within different disease co…”
BackgroundFischer, B., Robinson, T., Bullen, C., Curran, V., Jutras-Aswad, D., Medina-Mora, M. E., Pacula, R. L., Rehm, J., Room, R., Brink, W. V. D., et al. (2022) · International Journal of Drug Policy · doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103381 · Cited by 236
Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits
Hoch, E., Volkow, N. D., Friemel, C. M., Lorenzetti, V., Freeman, T. P., & Hall, W. (2025) · European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience · doi:10.1007/s00406-024-01880-2 · Cited by 139
“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].”
The safety and efficacy of low oral doses of cannabidiol: An evaluation of the evidence
Arnold, J. C., McCartney, D., Suraev, A. S., & McGregor, I. S. (2022) · Clinical and Translational Science · doi:10.1111/cts.13425 · Cited by 90
Crippa, J. A. S., Zuardi, A. W., Guimarães, F. S., Campos, A. C., Osório, F. D. L., Loureiro, S. R., SANTOS, R. G. D., Souza, J. D. S., Ushirohira, J. M., Pacheco, J. C., et al. (2021) · JAMA Network Open · doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.20603 · Cited by 96
Metadata
- Authors
- Sholler, D. J., Schoene, L., & Spindle, T. R.
- Affiliations
- Johns Hopkins University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Spindle, Tory R.
- Venue
- Current Addiction Reports
- Published
- 2020-09
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 405-412
- ISSN
- 2196-2952 (ISSN-L)
- 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
- FWCI
- 8.84
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Current Addiction Reports (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (T32DA007209)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology (medical) › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Clinical Neurology › 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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