With cannabidiol (CBD) found virtually everywhere for its potential to treat a variety of disorders, it’s no question that researchers would soon be undergoing studies to dive deeper into the compound. Growth Canopy Corporation and its medical division Spectrum Therapeutics based in Ontario, Canada just published the first findings of the toxicity effects of using CBD.

Utilizing Caenorhabditis elegans, a type of nematode with genes reaching 60-80% of human orthologs, the Canadian cannabis research company evaluated the solubility, stability, acute toxicity, thermotolerance and effects on the nematodes with chronic exposure to CBD for the duration of their lifespan – approximately 2-3 weeks. Recognized as a valid method for research, the C. elegans model concluded that small amounts and long-term exposure studies resulted in no animals’ deaths and “did not demonstrate any degree of acute or life-long toxicity or related liabilities at physiological concentrations. Instead, CBD extended mean lifespan up to 18% and increased late-stage life activity by up to 206% compared to the untreated controls within the study.” This kind of evidence is vital to the industry as the FDA has stated its most concerning aspects of CBD include its short and long-term effects. With this being the two most concerning aspects of CBD for the FDA, this new revelation is vital to the industry.

Plans to continue similar studies are already in place and medical researchers will soon begin similar studies in mammals to pave the way for FDA regulations in the coming year.