The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to decide soon whether to give its first approval to a prescription drug made from the marijuana plant.

But parents who have used other products containing chemicals from the plant to treat their children’s severe forms of epilepsy are feeling more cautious than celebratory.

They want assurance that existing medical marijuana markets in more than two dozen states won’t be harmed if the drug called Epidiolex (Eh-peh-DYE’-oh-lex) gets approved.

In particular, some advocates worry that drugmaker GW Pharmaceuticals has lobbied for changes to several states’ definition of marijuana, seeking legal cover for pharmacies to sell cannabis-derived products that have the FDA’s backing.

A company representative says GW Pharmaceuticals only wants to ensure its product can reach patients.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Washington Post

   

    US could back 1st pot-derived medicine
    medical marijuana

   
   

       washington post

   

   
   

        FIRSTNAME
        LASTNAME
        Washington post