The CBD which has swept across the world continues to evolve. When you get right down to it, CBD has created a gold-rush atmosphere that has allowed the drug to explode in use, even as many questions remain unanswered.
On one hand, much of CBD’s popularity has been fueled by research. A variety of evidence has been presented which suggests that CBD can help address numerous physical and emotional problems. CBD may be able to help mitigate many problems, like pain, skin disorders, seizures, insomnia and more.
On the other hand, this research is far from definitive. Many questions remain about CBD, including its long-term effects, ideal therapeutic dosages and potential negative interactions with drugs.
These questions should hopefully be answered with new research, and thankfully, many things are happening within the CBD research field. Here’s a look at the latest CBD scientific trends.
Potential New Uses
As noted above, there is no question that some studies have shown CBD as being a potential remedy for a variety of ailments.
The scientific research on this is not yet definitive, and more work needs to be done. However, thus far, early indications are positive.
However, since CBD is so new to the legal market (it was formally legalized by the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill in December 2018), a variety of potential uses remain undiscovered.
For example, a study at King’s College in London found that CBD may have antipsychotic applications.
While some research had indicated that CBD had the potential to address depression, anxiety, and insomnia, this is one of the first studies to reveal that CBD may have the ability to help patients with some form of psychosis.
This study is emblematic of another rising trend in the CBD world: CBD’s uses and potential are just being discovered. AS such, it appears likely that more uses will be found in the near future.
Food Research
CBD edibles are everywhere these days, and for sale at most major CBD vendors.
The food industry is starting to take notice of this popularity, and a 2019 survey of 650 chefs by the National Restaurant Association noted that CBD-infused food and drinks are the top trends which chefs believe they will have to address in the future.
However, as noted in numerous news sources, a great deal of scientific confusion remains about food and CBD, including its impacts, what foods can help (or hinder) the effect of CBD and more.
Given the rising popularity of this specific sub-sector of the CBD market, it seems likely that more research will be conducted on the specific impacts of CBD-infused food.
A Closer Look at CBD and Epilepsy
The FDA frowns upon making definitive medical claims about CBD’s ability to treat medical illnesses. There is one exception: Epidiolex, which has been approved for prescription by the FDA as a treatment for two rare seizure disorders in children (Dravet’s Syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome).
Epidiolex is the first drug ever approved by the FDA that is CBD-based.
The approval clearly means that the FDA believes that Epidiolex has the potential to remedy these types of seizure disorders.
However, there are numerous other seizure disorders that have not been directly addressed by the FDA, though there are studies that show CBD’s potential to help remedy other types of seizure disorders.
Given that the FDA has already given its regulatory stamp of approval on Epilepsy, it is highly possible that other research will follow in this area that will address just how CBD can help deal with epilepsy.
Addressing FDA Questions
In a November update, the FDA expressed numerous concerns with CBD. Among the problems they raised: Side effects of CBD, CBD’s potential for liver injury, its impact on other drugs and its effects on developing brains or nursing/pregnant mothers.
These are real concerns, and at the moment, there is relatively little research to provide answers to these questions.
That certainly doesn’t mean that they are insurmountable questions, just questions with unknown answers. The FDA has said that they will not give regulatory approval for CBD until these questions (among others) can be answered.
As such, it follows that businesses and concerned researchers are highly likely to investigate the answers to these questions.
Not only are they highly relevant to the CBD industry as a whole, but providing answers and addressing challenges is likely to hasten additional CBD regulatory authority, making it more likely that the drug can be sold in the future.
The Unknown Future
There is no question about it: The CBD market is wide open and somewhat unpredictable. These trends are likely to be addressed in the future, but the CBD market is rapidly evolving and changing.
As a result, additional events may happen in the future that alter the market and ongoing scientific trends.
The best thing that anyone concerned about this industry can do is watch the news and see what sort of things are happening in science and medicine.
Doing so will allow you to stay on top of the latest developments in the CBD industry.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.