A new study has found that marijuana compound may help some people in treating their epilepsy problem.
The researchers conducted preliminary clinical trials on children and adults, over half of them experiencing fewer seizures, to test the effect of Cannabidiol (CBD).
The study was conducted by Dr. Orrin Devinsky at the NYU Langone Comprehensive Epilepsy Center.
Unlike THC, CBD does not produce any psychoactive effects linked with smoking marijuana.
Out of 137 people who were part of the complete study, 54 percent witnessed an improvement in their symptoms.
As the preliminary trials have shown promising results, Devinsky is starting randomized, placebo-controlled trials for confirming the preliminary findings.
“So far there have been few formal studies on this marijuana extract. These results are of great interest, especially for the children and their parents who have been searching for an answer for these debilitating seizures,” Devinsky said.
Nearly 5.1 million people in the US suffer from the epilepsy problem. About one-third of the affected people are untreatable with any prescription medications.
The findings of the study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology Conference later this month.