For the first time, a federal advisory committee has recommended that the Food and Drug Association (FDA) vote to approve a prescription cannabidiol medicine. The medication, known as Epidiolex, is a form of cannabidiol (CBD), which is a cannabis derivative. According to a report by NBC News, approval of the medication would be limited to treating seizures caused by Lennox-Gastaut syndrome and Dravet syndrome in patients aged 2 and older. Although the FDA has indicated that it would vote in favor or approval, the medication has only received such a recommendation from the aforementioned federal advisory committee after a unanimous vote. The FDA is expected to make a final decision by June.

As previously reported in December, Dravet syndrome has already been treated in legal states by cannabis-oil derivatives. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine indicated that out of 120 children, half experienced reduction of the frequency of seizures when treated with medicinal cannabis-based products.