Cannabis and Epilepsy

Abstract

Objective: In recent years, the use of cannabidiol in the treatment of refractory epilepsy has been increasingly investigated and has been gaining public support as a novel way to treat these disorders. Marijuana has been used for medical purposes for thousands of years, and a lot of research has been conducted over the last several decades into the chemistry and pharmacology of marijuana and its many compounds, including cannabidiol. Methods: Using PubMed, we performed a review of the literature regarding the history of cannabinoid use in treating epilepsy. Results and conclusions: There are historical and recent scientific developments that support the use of cannabidiol in rare severe epilepsy syndromes.

Keywords:

• Epilepsy
• cannabis
• marijuana
• cannabidiol

Acknowledgments

The authors of this article would like to thank the Epilepsy division at the UT Southwestern Medical Center as well as the Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no disclosures.