
That people can now receive the medical benefits of marijuana with no psychoactive side effects has turbo-charged the herb’s potential as a mainstream medication. In the past, the possible mental health side effects of too much tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) turned many against cannabis, but that was before the qualities of CBD and other non-intoxicating cannabinoids came to light.
Beyond helping people directly with their conditions, studies show that CBD also enables many patients to reduce the quantity of prescription drugs they take. A long-term investigation of 435 participants conducted by Israeli organization Tikun Olam found that medical cannabis use allowed them to reduce their prescription drug intake by 75 percent. Considering that strong painkillers can have harmful, addictive side effects while cannabinoids do not, this is a significant development.