The first-ever “green” medicine, created to treat childhood epilepsy, was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration and will hit the market in just a few short months.
The revolutionary drug Epidiolex was created by GW pharmaceuticals to treat childhood epilepsy, specifically two rare forms of it. Epidiolex contains a chemical from the plant that produces all of the medicinally beneficially effects, without producing a “high” sensation. The treatment was given the go-ahead on Monday and will roll out in the U.S. in the next few months.
According to Bloomberg, the therapeutic potential of the plant has been something that both epilepsy doctors and patients have had their eye on for quite some time now. The concept of deriving medical benefits from the natural plant, one that’s been attributed as being inherently criminal despite its growing legality from state to state, isn’t a new discovery. People have been seeking the potential relief that it gives them from their ailments for years, and have even risked legal consequence to do so. Roughy 38% of adults and 12% of children in the United States are using some type of complementary and alternative medicine for their ailments.
This drug is the first of its kind, bookmarking a page in the history books. It is the first time that people in the United States will have access to an FDA-approved drug that is derived from the naturally-occurring plant.
The Chief Executive Officer of GW Pharmaceutical, Justin Gover, stated before Monday’s decision that “…we now remove ourselves from being a special case and now meet the standard criteria for prescription medications.”
Since there is no chance that the patients taking the drug can get the high feeling, the prescription medication serves the sole purpose of relieving the symptoms of epilepsy.
However, because the Drug Enforcement Agency still classifies the plant as an illegal drug, restrictions and regulations will need to be implemented to ensure that the prescription isn’t abused. The DEA has 90 days to come up with these restrictions, according to Gover.
What does this mean in terms of the big picture? Well, it could mean that the legality of the plant is shifting and the medicinal benefits are finally being appreciated on a governmental level.
What does that mean for us? Nothing. We still provide growlights, growlabs, nutrients, netting, and all the other supplies needed to grow your crop. So whatever you need, be it netting, tumblers, or swag, we’re still here to provide.
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