Walgreens, the largest drugstore chain in the United States, is setting aside shelf space for a range of cannabis products.
In its announcement, Walgreens said that they will be selling CBD-infused sprays, patches, creams, and balms in around 1,500 stores throughout nine states. These select states have already legalized medical cannabis, and they are Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Vermont, Indiana, and Illinois.
Walgreens, however, did not specify which CBD brands and items they will carry.
This move by Walgreens shows that they won’t allow to be outdone by rival drugstore chain CVS Pharmacy. Earlier this month, CVS already introduced CBD topicals in around 800 of its stores across eight states.
Walgreens explained in an official blog post that marijuana has been used to relieve pain, digestive problems, and psychological disorders for more than 3,000 years, but that the safety, legality, and efficacy of medical cannabis are still debated. They further noted that research pertaining to the drug’s therapeutic benefits is ongoing, but current studies have shown that cannabinoid receptors play an important part in many body processes, including pain, metabolic regulation, cravings, anxiety, immune function, and bone growth.
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid in hemp and cannabis plants that is known for its many therapeutic properties. CBD, however, is non-psychoactive and non-intoxicating, and it does not give users a high.
CBD has been known to relieve pain and treat certain medical conditions and symptoms, including inflammation, anxiety, epilepsy, mood disorders, and even cancer.
CBD that is derived from hemp has been legalized at a federal level since late last year, thanks to the Farm Bill.