The American Herbal Pharmacopoeia (AHP) announced the release of a section of the soon-to-be-completed Cannabis Therapeutic: Compendium Cannabis in the Management and Treatment of Seizures and Epilepsy. The section of the review was written by Ben Whalley, Ph.D. and currently available in the public domain. The full release of Therapeutic Compendium is scheduled for release in 2014. The review will cover the board range of science regarding the therapeutic effects and safety of cannabis.

Whalley is a senior lecturer in pharmacology and pharmacy director of research at the School of Pharmacy of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom and a member of the U.K. Epilepsy Research Network. Since 2003, Whalley has written and co-written scientific, peer-reviewed papers on the potential effect of cannabis in relieving seizure disorders and investigating the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of these disorders.

“We must bear in mind that the use of any new treatment, particularly in the critically ill, carries inherent risks," Whalley said. "Releasing this section of the monograph into the public domain at this time provides clinicians, patients, and their caregivers with a single document that comprehensively summarizes the scientific knowledge to date regarding cannabis and epilepsy and so fully support informed, evidence based decision making."

AHP’s Cannabis Therapeutic Compendium is a companion to AHP’s Cannabis Quality Control Monograph, released in December 2013. The Quality Control Monograph and Therapeutic Compendium were developed in collaboration with Americans for Safe Access (ASA), a medical marijuana advocacy group in Washington, DC. Visit the AHP website to download and read the review for free.