CBD-based drug will be freely prescribed by doctors
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced that a cannabidiol-based drug (CBD) will no be a schedule I drug of the Controlled Substances Act at the federal level.
This is the second step in the line of requirements to make the drug Epiodiolex, an oral solution for patients with severe seizures, more accessible to families throughout the United States.
In November 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved this drug for distribution in the US.
“This notification from DEA fully establishes that EPIDIOLEX, the only CBD medicine approved by FDA, is no longer a controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act,” said Justin Gover, GW’s Chief Executive Officer.
Previously, cannabis was part of the List I in the Controlled Substances Act. This list is compound by this drugs that supposed to have no medical effect.
From now on, cannabis or this CBD drug based, is in List V, the list for safe drugs for medical use.
Patients suffering from diseases known as Lennox-Gastaut or Dravet Syndrome will now be able to access a prescription more easily.
“Epidiolex is the first pharmaceutical prescription formulated with highly purified cannabis derivatives (CBD) and the first in the new category of antiepileptic drugs”.
High price
Through its subsidiary, the company will begin with an implementation of distribution chains across different states with their different permissions and legal processes. This process could take months or years depending on the controls in each state.
Now, the biggest problem is the high price of this drug. According to analysis in 2018, the costs can amount to $32,500 per year.
in Costa Rica. 
