UAB released its first results of a study on a form of medical marijuana.UAB is currently working with Children’s of Alabama to see if a special form of medical marijuana known as cannabidiol, or CBD oil, is an effective treatment for adults and children with severe seizures.The study launched in April 2015, a year after it was authorized by the Alabama State Legislature in legislation known as “Carly’s Law.”Of the first 51 patients in the study, 50 percent saw overall sustained improvement in seizure control in a sixth-month period, 32 to 45 percent saw declines in seizures, two patients were seizure-free, and nine patients had to drop out of the study because they saw no improvement or they had significant side effects.Investigators on the study said there’s still a lot more to learn about CBD oil. “The studies are ongoing, and we have a lot more to learn; but these preliminary findings are encouraging,” said Jerzy Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurology, principal investigator of the adult study.Investigators on the study will present these preliminary findings at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Neurology next month.For more information on UAB’s CBD oil study click here.

UAB released its first results of a study on a form of medical marijuana.

UAB is currently working with Children’s of Alabama to see if a special form of medical marijuana known as cannabidiol, or CBD oil, is an effective treatment for adults and children with severe seizures.

The study launched in April 2015, a year after it was authorized by the Alabama State Legislature in legislation known as “Carly’s Law.”

Of the first 51 patients in the study, 50 percent saw overall sustained improvement in seizure control in a sixth-month period, 32 to 45 percent saw declines in seizures, two patients were seizure-free, and nine patients had to drop out of the study because they saw no improvement or they had significant side effects.

Investigators on the study said there’s still a lot more to learn about CBD oil.

“The studies are ongoing, and we have a lot more to learn; but these preliminary findings are encouraging,” said Jerzy Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Department of Neurology, principal investigator of the adult study.

Investigators on the study will present these preliminary findings at the annual meeting for the American Academy of Neurology next month.

For more information on UAB’s CBD oil study click here.