Historical perspective on the medical use of cannabis for epilepsy: Ancient times to the 1980s

Daniel Friedman, Joseph I. Sirven

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

47 Scopus citations

Abstract

There has been a dramatic surge in the interest of utilizing cannabis for epilepsy treatment in the US. Yet, access to cannabis for research and therapy is mired in conflicting regulatory policies and shifting public opinion. Understanding the current state of affairs in the medical cannabis debate requires an examination of the history of medical cannabis use. From ancient Chinese pharmacopeias to the current Phase III trials of pharmaceutical grade cannabidiol, this review covers the time span of cannabis use for epilepsy therapy so as to better assess the issues surrounding the modern medical opinion of cannabis use. This article is part of a Special Issue titled Cannabinoids and Epilepsy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)298-301
Number of pages4
JournalEpilepsy and Behavior
Volume70
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2017

Keywords

  • Cannabinoids
  • Cannabis
  • Epilepsy
  • History
  • Seizure

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Neurology
  • Clinical Neurology
  • Behavioral Neuroscience

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