CBD RESEARCH
Clinical Trials: What the Science Says About CBD
CBD in the Treatment of Epilepsy: A Focused Review
This focused review confirmed that highly purified **CBD is an effective adjunctive therapy** for certain treatment-resistant pediatric epilepsies, including **Dravet syndrome** and **Lennox-Gastaut syndrome**. The studies consistently demonstrated that patients receiving CBD had a significantly higher chance of experiencing a 50% or greater reduction in convulsive seizure frequency compared to placebo groups.
Long-term Effectiveness Against Focal-onset Seizures
An analysis from a large Expanded Access Program indicated that continued CBD treatment was associated with a **sustained and significant reduction** in various focal-onset seizures over a long period (up to four years). For some seizure types, median seizure frequency reductions reached up to 99%, confirming that the therapeutic benefits can be durable over time.
Emerging Potential: Anxiety and Mental Well-being
Review of Human Studies for Anxiety Disorders
A focused review of human studies highlighted that an acute single dose of **300 mg of CBD significantly reduced subjective anxiety levels** in participants with social anxiety disorder (SAD) during simulated public speaking. This suggests that CBD has strong potential to act as a temporary anxiolytic in acute, high-stress situations.
Cannabidiol in Anxiety and Sleep: A Large Case Series
An extensive observational case series reported on the experiences of a clinical population using CBD for anxiety and sleep disturbances. The majority of patients experienced **perceived improvements in both sleep quality and anxiety symptoms**, reporting CBD as well-tolerated, though these observations require confirmation via double-blind studies.
Conflicting Evidence: Chronic Pain Management
Efficacy, Safety, and Regulation of Cannabidiol on Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review
This open-access review examines how the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and exogenous cannabinoids (like Cannabidiol / CBD) interact to influence chronic pain management and mood disorders; it outlines the roles of key receptors (e.g., CB1, CB2, TRP channels), endogenous ligands, and metabolic enzymes in maintaining homeostasis.
The authors emphasize the therapeutic promise of full-spectrum hemp extracts by detailing how they modulate multiple ECS targets beyond the “classic” cannabinoid receptors—supporting the case for broad-spectrum rather than isolated cannabinoid approaches.
Effectiveness of Cannabidiol to Manage Chronic Pain (2024)
Another systematic review found that the majority of included studies reported a **reduction in pain (42% to 66%)** when CBD was used, sometimes alongside THC. While the authors suggested CBD *may* be useful, they explicitly warned that the findings should be interpreted with caution due to the highly varied methodologies and low certainty of the evidence.
Preclinical Promise: Anti-Inflammatory and Immunological Effects
Effects of Cannabinoids on Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Cytokines
A systematic review of preclinical (in vivo) studies concluded that **CBD, CBG, and CBD+THC combinations exert a predominantly anti-inflammatory effect**, which was confirmed by a consistent reduction in key inflammatory markers like TNF-alpha and IL-6. This strong animal data provides a vital foundation to inform the targets for future human clinical trials focused on inflammation.
CBD: Clinical and Preclinical Evidence in the Treatment of Pain
This systematic review analyzing evidence for pain treatment suggested that CBD could be an effective, safe treatment due to its analgesic and **anti-inflammatory properties**, which are thought to be mediated through various receptors (including TRPV-1 and 5HT-1A). However, the authors strongly noted that while preclinical results are promising, the available clinical evidence remains limited and requires more rigorous study.
Focus Area: Sleep Quality and Insomnia
Cannabidiol for Moderate-Severe Insomnia (150 mg nightly dosing)
This trial found that nightly supplementation of **150 mg of CBD was similar to placebo** regarding most objective sleep outcomes (like sleep-onset latency). However, the CBD group reported **significantly greater well-being scores**, suggesting stronger psychological benefits than sedative effects at this specific dose.
Effects of a CBD/Terpene Formulation on Sleep (300 mg)
A double-blind trial found that a 300 mg CBD-terpene formulation marginally increased the nightly percentage of time participants spent in **Slow-Wave Sleep (SWS) and REM sleep** compared to placebo. This suggests that the inclusion of terpenes in higher-dose CBD products may positively influence specific objective measures of sleep physiology.
Neuroprotection and Movement Disorders (e.g., Parkinson's)
Neuroprotective and Symptomatic Effects in an Animal Model of PD
A study using a rat model of Parkinson’s disease (PD) found that **CBD treatment significantly reduced neurodegeneration** (dopaminergic neuron loss) and showed a damping of the neuroinflammatory response. The treated animals also displayed improved motor performance in certain behavioral tests.
Low Doses of Cannabis Extract Ameliorate Non-Motor Symptoms of PD
A small case series involving patients with moderate PD found that a cannabis extract combining low doses of **CBD and THC showed significant benefit on non-motor symptoms like insomnia** after 60 days of treatment. This suggests cannabinoid combinations may offer a safe, alternative approach for managing non-movement-related symptoms of PD.
Novel Antipsychotic: Psychosis and Schizophrenia
Efficacy of CBD vs. Standard Antipsychotics in Schizophrenia
An early double-blind randomized clinical trial compared 800 mg of CBD to a standard antipsychotic (amisulpride) in acutely psychotic patients. Both groups showed **similar reductions in psychotic symptoms** and cognitive impairment, but the **CBD group reported far fewer adverse effects**, suggesting a more favorable safety profile.
Major Global Trials to Test CBD Effectiveness on Psychosis
A major, global clinical program (the STEP trial) has been launched to investigate the effectiveness of highly purified **CBD** in treating people at high risk for psychosis, those with first-episode psychosis, and non-responsive patients. This large-scale effort aims to confirm earlier promising results and evaluate if CBD can be the first non-dopaminergic antipsychotic.
Addiction Management: Opioid Use Disorder
CBD Reduces Drug Craving and Anxiety in Heroin Use Disorder
A small clinical trial found that in recently abstinent individuals with heroin use disorder, CBD administration was associated with a **substantial decrease in cue-induced craving and anxiety** compared to placebo. Critically, this effect on craving was observed to last for at least a week after CBD administration.
Adjunctive Management of Opioid Withdrawal with Cannabidiol
A review suggests that CBD’s established properties—including its anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects—make it a **promising adjunctive treatment for mitigating acute or protracted opioid withdrawal symptoms**. Researchers are hopeful that adding CBD to detoxification regimens could simplify treatment and reduce reliance on multiple symptom-specific medications.