Britain has Sativex, and the FDA is currently considering America’s first prescription drug
The U.S. could soon have its first marijuana-derived prescription medicine.

But what does this mean for states that are already reaping the financial benefits of legal medical marijuana? Besides the financial rewards that the cities can benefit from, there are many people in these states and cities that rely on the medical marijuana program for their medical marijuana. Some even buy weed online. However if the new weed based prescription drug is approved, what will the effect be on the medical marijuana that does not have the federal approval?

This the questions many people are asking.

If you are in a state like Colorado, where medical marijuana is legalised, then you need to have your medical marijuana card and then find a dispensary to buy weed. Or, you can make use of the many websites to buy weed online.


Even though this may be a legitimate fear for many, there are some law professionals who calm the fear by saying that the medical marijuana program can still be operational even if a federal approved prescription drug will be on the market. One such attorney has even stated that this could be the future of marijuana; we can expect pharmaceutical based drugs alongside the medical marijuana dispensaries. There will be two movements, running congruently: the pharmaceutical and the nutraceutical.

However, this will cause changes to be made with the existing medical marijuana programs. There are still fears that the pharmaceutical company lobbying for the weed based drug will push the non-federal approved medical cannabis programs out. Those who buy weed online or buy weed from a medical dispensary are concerned that the ease at which they get their medicine could be compromised. The main cause for concern is that the GW pharmaceutical company is seeking changes to the definition of marijuana. This may not sound like a big deal to the average citizen, but it can cause major legal ramifications for the medical marijuana program if it comes to fruition.

The prescription cannabis based drug that is causing all this stir is named Epidolex. The main component of this drug is the non psychoactive cannabinoid called CBD. CBD is now legally in many countries, and products based on CBD (with none of the psychoactive THC) are now available in countries like Italy and Switzerland.

CBD and CBD products are increasingly popular among the cannabis user community, especially so amongst the medical cannabis community. CBD oils are amongst the most popular products however other popular products are rubs (for localised pain relief) and whole leaf for teas.

Although the medicinal value of CBD is highly promising, there are new studies that suggest that isolated CBD is not as effective as whole plant. Researchers are finding that the cannabinoids work best together, and has been dubbed the ‘entourage effect’.

While researchers still need to perform more clinical trials and studies to identify the truth behind the scepticism, CBD has shown some promise. This is especially true for children who suffer from severe epilepsy. The proposed weed based prescription drug, Epidolex, is suggested to only be available for children who suffer from severe forms of epilepsy, and will only be able to obtain the medicine with a doctor’s prescription.

In April, the FDA was advised to give the official approval for the prescription drug but should make an official announcement about the decision by the end of June.