Is It Ethical For Your Vet To Recommend CBD?

Many people believe that a substance in marijuana — CBD — is like a miracle drug that can help with a variety of ailments, such as pain, anxiety, nausea, and even neurological disorders. CBD is a naturally occurring cannabinoid found in hemp and it is considered safe, as it doesn’t produce the “high” associated with marijuana.

Because of this, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) is trying to legalize the use of medications containing CBD. So far, it has approved Epidiolex, an anti-seizure drug. This approval meant that the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) had to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule V one, meaning that it has the lowest possibility for abuse. This ruling also means that any prescription medication containing CBD can be legally sold in the United States, as long as it has no more than 0.3 percent THC.

Marijuana is not legal in Florida for recreational use. It is, however, legal for medicinal purposes. But does that extend to pets?

The answer is no. While many states have legalized use of marijuana, it is still a crime under federal law. And it certainly cannot be prescribed to pets. In Florida and almost all other states, veterinarians can only talk about CBD if clients ask about it. California is the only state that authorizes veterinarians to discuss CBD with their clients.

This law is in place even though many human drugs can successfully treat dogs. For instance, veterinarians often prescribe metronidazole (Flagyl) for canine giardia, infections, and diarrhea. Tramadol is a human pain medication that is also used to treat pain in dogs. Doxycycline is an antibiotic used in humans that is also used for various canine bacterial infections. Some human drugs have been approved for veterinary use, while others have not. So what’s good enough for humans isn’t always good enough for our pets — or safe enough for them.

But that doesn’t mean pet owners cannot use CBD products on their dogs, cats, and other pets. That’s strictly up to the pet owner. However, a veterinarian cannot prescribe or even recommend CBD products. While many vets do use CBD products on their pets, many do not due to the laws and lack of information. Until more research is done touting the benefits of CBD, it’s likely that marijuana products will stay illegal for pets for the near future.

Keep Your License With Help From a Tampa Veterinarian Licensing Lawyer

Marijuana is not legal in Florida or at the federal level, so there are concerns about veterinarians recommending it. There are also a lot of questions about the ingredients in marijuana and how they affect pets.

It’s important to be wary of any ethical issues involved in prescribing and using CBD. A Tampa veterinarian licensing lawyer from The Law Offices of David P. Rankin, P.A. can help you with administrative issues. To schedule a consultation, call (813) 968-6633 or fill out the online form.

Source:

theunion.com/lifestyles/pets/joan-merriam-cbd-for-your-dog-help-or-hype/