The health benefits of medical and therapeutic cannabis are still subject to intense debate, despite sweeping legislative changes regarding the drug’s legality. Trials using an array of scientific instruments have demonstrated the potential of the drug for pain management, treatment of depressive symptoms, alleviation of conditions associated with chemotherapy, and more.
Thirty-one U.S. states currently have laws in place allowing the use of medical cannabis and Canada recently decriminalized recreational use of the drug. However, it remains illegal in the U.S. at a federal level and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refutes findings that cannabis is a “safe and effective drug for any indication” .
Scientific Instruments: Modernizing Cannabis Research
The FDA has recognized the potential of distinct bioactive ingredients derived from one or more of the constituents from cannabis plants. Cannabidiol (CBD) is the primary therapeutic ingredient, while tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the main psychoactive. High purity extraction of these distinct constituents using specialized scientific instruments, such as short-path distillers, has formed the backbone of modern cannabis research. Isolating these ingredients and studying them in clinical trials has provided more quantitative data regarding the therapeutic action of CBD.
In June 2018, the administration approved a novel drug for the treatment of rare and severe forms of epilepsy; the primary active ingredient of which is cannabidiol (CBD). FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D. claimed:
“This approval serves as a reminder that advancing sound development programs that properly evaluate active ingredients contained in marijuana can lead to important medical therapies.”
The importance of clinical cannabis trials is often overlooked in the digital age. Circumstantial or individual cases are often shared via social media and adopted as verbatim regarding the therapeutic effects of the drug for select conditions. The FDA and other administrations around the world have stoically reminded individuals that while the effects of cannabis may be well documented, they are currently inconclusive for many specific conditions. It is critical to precisely analyze the chemical composition of cannabis constituents and assess their therapeutic actions with respect to distinct conditions and diseases using specialist scientific instruments.
It is widely accepted that further research is needed before further conclusions can be drawn regarding the therapeutic potential of CBD.
Scientific Instruments from Glas-Col
Glas-Col is a specialist manufacturer and supplier of scientific instruments for an extensive range of commercial, industrial, and academic fields. We believe in the importance of the scientific method, and understand that the widespread legalization of cannabis use will expand the potential avenues of research for the drug’s use in novel areas of the pharmacological sector.
If you would like to learn more about using our scientific instruments for laboratory research, read our previous blog posts: Balance Enclosures for Marijuana Preparation and Research; or The Benefits of Short-Path Distillation.
Alternatively, if you would like to contact us about any of our scientific instruments, simply contact us directly.
[Source: FDA]