Kansas Senator Discusses Using CBD, Calls For More Research

CBD has been a hot-button issue this year that both Democrats and Republicans have plenty to say it. Kansas Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) is raised the stakes by admitting to using CBD in the past and urging more research on it.

The Senator spoke on Wednesday during a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee confirmation hearing. He admits having a “personal interest in CBD,” despite not achieving desired benefits when using it.

“I don’t know why I’m bringing this up, but I have football knees,” Roberts said. “My wife insists this bottle of CBD… you can put that on your knees and it’s going to work. Well, at least for me, it doesn’t. But this being used for everything.

(Editor’s Note: CBD is not approved by the FDA as a treatment for knee pain. There are also no approved research studies which endorse CBD as an effective treatment for this medical issue).

However, Roberts supports more studies on the benefit of CBD. He notes that hemp farmers are urging the FDA to create a regulatory framework around CBD products.

“There are unanswered questions that need to be filled in by data and science and research,” he states. “[CBD] can be an effective medical product. I think we [need] a clear and transparent framework for assessing them.”

Roberts points out proven medical benefits of CBD with Epidiolex, the only cannabis-derived drug that’s FDA-approved.  However, he adds that scientists struggle to access cannabis for research purposes and believes this needs to change.

“It’s really important for all innovators as they try to bring new medical products to patients,” he says. “CBD… is  an active ingredient in this drug that was approved for a very serious childhood seizure disorder. I think that tells us that there is a pathway for medical products. “There are also some indications… where CBD might be of benefit. There are some open and unanswered questions that have to be filled with research.”