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PL Cannabinoid index · Non-intoxicating
CBD (cannabidiol) is a non-intoxicating cannabinoid and the only one approved as a prescription medicine: as Epidiolex, a purified cannabidiol, for rare seizure disorders. It is fat-soluble, so it infuses into oils and butter like THC, and its acid form CBDA converts to CBD with gentle heat (decarboxylation).
Decarboxylation & infusion
Activation temperatures are approximate and depend on time; gentle, longer heating preserves more cannabinoid than a hot, fast bake. See the tableau des températures de décarboxylation.
Reviewed 2026-09-04. Regulatory status varies by market and is not legal or medical advice.
What the published literature examined
Unlike most cannabinoids, CBD has genuine randomised controlled human trials behind a specific use. Its approval rests on phase 3 trials in rare, treatment-resistant childhood epilepsies. In Dravet syndrome, purified cannabidiol reduced convulsive seizure frequency versus placebo (Devinsky et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2017). In Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, it reduced drop-seizure frequency in two placebo-controlled trials (Thiele et al., The Lancet, 2018; Devinsky et al., NEJM, 2018). Beyond epilepsy, smaller human studies have examined anxiety and other conditions, but those are early and not the basis of any approval.
What is established, and what is not
Established: that purified cannabidiol reduces seizure frequency in the three approved rare-epilepsy indications, with a known safety and drug-interaction profile (notably a rise in liver enzymes and interaction with clobazam). Not established: most of the wellness claims made for over-the-counter CBD, which are not supported by trials of the same quality, and where dose, purity and formulation vary widely. This page describes the compound and summarises research; it is not medical advice.
Sources
- Devinsky O, et al. Trial of Cannabidiol for Drug-Resistant Seizures in the Dravet Syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2011-2020. PubMed
- Thiele EA, et al. Cannabidiol in patients with seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (GWPCARE4): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2018;391:1085-1096. PubMed
- US FDA. FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana (Epidiolex), 25 June 2018. fda.gov
- Registered human studies for cannabidiol. ClinicalTrials.gov
- World Anti-Doping Agency. Prohibited List (cannabidiol exempt; other cannabinoids prohibited). wada-ama.org
Frequently asked questions
Does CBD get you high?
No. CBD is non-intoxicating and does not produce the high associated with THC. It is the one cannabinoid permitted in competitive sport by WADA.
Is any CBD product FDA-approved?
Yes, one: Epidiolex, a purified cannabidiol prescription medicine, is approved for seizures in Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, Dravet syndrome and tuberous sclerosis complex. Over-the-counter CBD products are not FDA-approved.
Do you decarb CBD like THC?
Yes. In raw flower CBD exists as CBDA, which converts to CBD with heat over time, roughly 110 to 150C. Gentle, longer heating preserves more than a hot, fast bake.
Can you infuse CBD into oil or butter?
Yes. CBD is fat-soluble, so it transfers into coconut oil, butter or MCT the same way THC does, using the same infusion methods.
Part of the cannabinoid index.
This page describes a compound and summarises published research about it. It is general and educational information, not medical advice, and not guidance on use.
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