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The reality behind cannabidiol’s medical hype

The cannabis compound known as CBD is being touted as a treatment for a variety of conditions. But the substance’s uncertain legal status is stalling serious investigation.
  1. Michael Eisenstein

    1. Michael Eisenstein is a freelance writer in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

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Cannabidiol (CBD) is an illegal drug with no redeeming value. It is also a useful prescription medicine for epilepsy, with considerable potential for treating numerous other conditions. And it is a natural dietary supplement or ‘nutraceutical’ with countless evangelists in the health and wellness community. Although contradictory, all three statements are true from different perspectives, and clinical researchers are frustrated.

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Nature 572, S2-S4 (2019)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-019-02524-5

This article is part of Nature Outlook: Cannabis, an editorially independent supplement produced with the financial support of third parties. About this content.

Updates & Corrections

  • Correction 23 July 2020: An earlier version of this Outlook article misquoted Gabriella Gobbi. She said that 5-HT1A is desensitized in response to cannabidiol, not sensitized.

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