Source: cbdamericanshaman.com
There’s no use denying big pharma is against medical marijuana, if only until they bring the substance under their own umbrella. CBD isn't really a part of medical marijuana, considering it's nonpsychoactive and legally available in most states, but big pharma has had its eye on it anyway. CBD not only treats a number of different conditions, from chemotherapy symptoms to acne, it also comes with a far less terrifying list of side effects than many of the available prescriptions on the market. Unfortunately, it seems clear that there are enough people in the pharmaceutical world to have earned the industry the reputation it has for pure greed. It no longer seems as though helping patients is the primary motivator — if it was ever a motivator in the first place. See what’s going on with the great debate, and how the influence of Big Pharma may affect the future of CBD.
What’s Going On?
In the past, big pharma seemed content to block CBD oil entirely, lobbying the DEA to make it a Schedule I drug. This basically means that in the government’s eyes, LSD and nonpsychoactive CBD would be exactly the same. Even the most junior person at the DEA would have to realize how entirely absurd this is, especially considering just how many studies have proven that CBD has minimal negative side effects. As more and more research emerges about how effective (and popular) the oil is, Big Pharma is starting to recognize the opportunity to be found with CBD.
Right now, some pharmaceutical companies are itching to make CBD oil into a drug. Once it’s a drug, they can manipulate its production as well as its distribution. Reclassifying CBD oil would give regulators the chance to treat it as a Schedule IV substance as opposed to a Schedule I, which would make it legal to sell CBD to those who needed it — regardless of whether or not medicinal marijuana or CBD is allowed or not. It’s not hard to see that all this reclassifying has everything to do with keeping the wealth in one place.
Pros and Cons
There’s no doubt that there would be some good that comes from Big Pharma taking over CBD oil, as hard as it is to admit that fact right now. For one thing, there would be some semblance of regulation over the very new substance, which may ensure that people get what they pay for instead of a combination of snake oils and basil. But that’s really where the benefits end. By turning over this business to Big Pharma, the public stands to be that much more indebted to an industry that has chosen to put profits above health. Remember that this is the same industry that pushed opiates on doctors across the country in the 1990s, promising them in no uncertain terms that the cousin of heroin would be entirely non-habit forming.
Competition Threats
People respond to the incentives that are placed in front of them, and these incentives change not just from person to person but sometimes from minute to minute. Big Pharma has seen study after study comes out showing (or at least suggesting) that cannabis does what prescription drugs do — only better. Most people suffering from PTSD found that their stresses were better alleviated when using cannabis than when using their own prescribed medications. Like most conglomerates, pharmaceutical companies going to take the opportunity to join ‘em if they can’t happen to defeat ‘em. But when this happens, we all lose. Big Pharma already has the resources behind them to stamp out their competition without making it a fair fight. And unfortunately, they’re going to try to destroy the good companies as much as they will the bad ones. This discourages independent research and diversification in treatments — a losing combination for us all.
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