FDA Approves Epilepsy Drug Derived from Marijuana
On Monday, June 25, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of a purified form of the drug cannabidiol (CBD). The new product, called Epidiolex, was approved to treat seizures in patients two years of age and older who have two rare and severe forms of epilepsy — Lennox-Gastaut and Dravet syndromes. See First marijuana-derived drug approved, will target severe epilepsy (Washington Post, 6/25/28). A statement from FDA Director Scott Gottlieb made it clear that this approval does not reflect an endorsement of cannabis in general: “Today, the FDA approved a purified form of the drug cannabidiol (CBD). …This is an important medical advance. But it’s also important to note that this is not an approval of marijuana or all of its components. This is the approval of one specific CBD medication for a specific use.”
WORTH REPEATING: Framework for States about Supporting Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs
The child-policy research firm Child Trends – funded by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children’s Health, and advised by a group of experts (including a representative of the National Center on Family/Professional Partnerships) — has developed A State Multi-Sector Framework for Supporting Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (6/7/18). This framework is intended to help state agencies and other stakeholders assess and improve the ways a state provides care for CYSHCN across health, education, justice, and other systems.
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