CBD, Cannabis Oil and Epilepsy Claims

“CBD cures epilepsy” is too broad and medically inaccurate. There is good evidence for a licensed, highly purified cannabidiol medicine in specific epilepsy syndromes, but that is not the same as saying all CBD oils or cannabis products treat epilepsy.

What is actually licensed

Epidyolex is a highly purified cannabidiol medicine. NICE recommends it in defined circumstances for Dravet syndrome, Lennox–Gastaut syndrome and seizures caused by tuberous sclerosis complex. In some indications it is used with clobazam, and treatment response is reviewed over time.

Shop-bought CBD is not the same product

CBD oils sold as food supplements are not equivalent to a licensed medicine. Their quality, concentration and evidence base are different, and unlicensed cannabis-derived products have not been shown to be interchangeable with Epidyolex.

What about THC?

THC is the psychoactive component of cannabis. NHS England notes that the strongest evidence for childhood epilepsies is for purified cannabidiol, while evidence for products containing THC remains insufficient for routine use and there are concerns about harm, especially to the developing brain.

A treatment is not a universal cure

Even where cannabidiol is appropriate, it is an add-on treatment for particular conditions, not proof that CBD cures every form of epilepsy.

Sources

NHS — Medical cannabis
NHS England — Cannabis-based products for medicinal use
NICE NG144 — Cannabis-based medicinal products