Over the counter low-dose cannabidiol: A viewpoint from the ACRE Capacity Building Group

Christine Mary Hallinan; Edward Eden; Myfanwy Graham; Lisa-Marie Greenwood; Jessica Mills; Amirali Popat; Linda Truong; Yvonne Bonomo

doi:10.1177/02698811211035394

Over the counter low-dose cannabidiol: A viewpoint from the ACRE Capacity Building Group

J Psychopharmacol. 2022 Jun;36(6):661-665. doi: 10.1177/02698811211035394. Epub 2021 Aug 3.

Authors

Christine Mary Hallinan^{1

2}, Edward Eden³, Myfanwy Graham^{3

4}, Lisa-Marie Greenwood⁵, Jessica Mills⁶, Amirali Popat⁷, Linda Truong^{3

8

9}, Yvonne Bonomo^{1

10}

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
² Department of General Practice, Melbourne Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
³ School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Hunter Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
⁵ School of Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
⁶ School of Psychology, Illawarra Health and Medical Research Institute (IHMRI), Faculty of the Arts Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, Australia.
⁷ School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences, The University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
⁸ Department of Neurology, Sydney Children's Hospital Randwick, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁹ School of Women's and Children's Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
¹⁰ Department of Addiction Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne, VIC, Australia.

PMID: 34344208
DOI: 10.1177/02698811211035394

Abstract

Amidst growing global acceptance of medicinal cannabinoids as a potential therapeutic interest in cannabidiol (CBD) is increasing. In Australia in 2020, a government inquiry examined the barriers that the public are experiencing in accessing medicinal cannabis. A number of recommendations to improve access were made. In response to these recommendations, the Australian therapeutics regulatory authority down-scheduled CBD from Prescription Only (Schedule 4) to Pharmacist Only (Schedule 3). As a group of early to mid-career researchers of the Australian Centre for Cannabinoid Clinical and Research Excellence (ACRE), we propose some considerations in relation to over-the-counter availability of CBD and opportunities to improve knowledge about its potential therapeutic benefits alongside its increased uptake.

Keywords: CBD; CBD down-scheduling; Medical cannabis; cannabidiol; medicinal cannabinoids.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Cannabidiol* / therapeutic use
Cannabinoids* / therapeutic use
Cannabis*
Capacity Building
Dronabinol

Substances

Cannabinoids
Cannabidiol
Dronabinol