FDA wants to know if the effects of CBD are different for women

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the United States, equivalent to Anvisa in Brazil, announced that it will host a public event on November 19, discussing sex and gender differences in the effects of CBD and other cannabinoids.

The FDA's Office of Women's Health made the announcement, as many conditions for which CBD is marketed, such as chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders, are more prevalent in women.

Last week, the FDA published a notice in the Federal Register, stating that "the objective of the public meeting is to discuss potential sex (biological) and gender (psychosocial) differences in the use and responses to cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids. Researchers, educators, physicians, and patients may benefit from participating in this multidisciplinary scientific conference on CBD and other cannabinoids."

>>> Sechat confirms the largest event on Medicinal Cannabis in Brazil for 2021

The notice also mentions discussing the use of CBD and other cannabinoids during pregnancy, citing it as an important public health concern. Government agencies' perspectives on CBD research and evaluation will also be highlighted during the event.

Since last year, the FDA "strongly recommends that during pregnancy and breastfeeding, you avoid using CBD, THC, or marijuana in any form." Although CBD is used and marketed as an ingredient in a variety of products, from dietary supplements to cosmetics and animal health products, the FDA has only approved one CBD product - a prescription drug used to treat two very rare forms of epilepsy.

There are many unique conditions for the use of CBD in women, such as hormonal imbalance, beauty, premenstrual syndrome, and menopause, making CBD another treatment option to be considered. As pointed out by health.harvard.edu, two major factors are missing in the development of the CBD industry: high-quality research and regulation.

>>> Senator Mara Gabrilli wants a scientific and ideology-free discussion in the Cannabis bill

It seems that these components are finally starting to be significantly addressed by the FDA. Since hemp and its derivatives, such as CBD, were federally legalized under the 2018 Farm Bill, the FDA has been actively developing regulations and providing guidance on implementation.

There was even a meeting "to help inform cannabis researchers and cultivators about opportunities to protect their proprietary information and promote studies on the plant." Additionally, the agency "is also actively seeking to award a contract to help study CBD as the agency develops regulations for products containing the non-toxic cannabinoid."

Source: Crystal Segovia Gomez/Cannabis & Tech Today