ABSTRACT

Both marijuana and hemp are produced from the same species of plant, Cannabis sativa, though different varieties are cultivated for specific characteristics. Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of over 100 naturally occurring cannabinoids found in both marijuana and hemp. Although both marijuana and hemp come from Cannabis sativa, hemp typically has a much lower concentration of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive chemical found in marijuana that produces a “high” when consumed. 1 The World Health Organization's Expert Committee on Drug Dependence discussed CBD during its 39th meeting, which took place in November 2017 in Geneva, Switzerland. The World Health Organization reported that when consumed by humans, pure CBD does not exhibit the effects indicative of abuse, dependence potential, or any public health-related problems. 2 Although pure CBD does not produce a “high” or cause dependence in users, the legal status of CBD in the United States has been mired in an intricate web of regulatory and legal considerations that are worthy of examination.