Learn which cannabinoids have received FDA drug approval as of 2025, including what each one is, how it’s used, and what makes it special.
Cannabinoids are natural compounds found in the cannabis plant. They interact with the body in unique ways. There are many different cannabinoids, but only a few have received official approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
This guide will walk you through the cannabinoids that are currently approved as drugs by the FDA in 2025.
The FDA’s Role in Cannabinoid Approval
The FDA carefully checks all medicines before they can be sold in the United States. This process makes sure that medicines are safe and work well for their intended use. For cannabinoids, the FDA has only approved a small number of products. These are not the same as the cannabis products you might find in stores or online. The approved ones are used for specific medical reasons and have gone through lots of testing.
The FDA drug approval process is very strict. It requires extensive research and testing to make sure a product is safe and delivers the promised results. That is why only a few cannabinoids are FDA approved for drug products.
There are more than 100 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. Only a few have been studied enough to get FDA drug approval. The rest are not approved for medical use. Some people use them for other reasons, but there is not enough research to say they are safe or effective for medical use.
List of FDA Drug-Approved Cannabinoids (2025)
As of 2025, there are only three cannabinoids that have been cleared by the FDA for medical treatments. Here are the products that currently have this stamp of approval:
Epidiolex
Epidiolex is the only product that has been approved by the FDA as a drug that is made straight from a cannabinoid that is found in cannabis. It has a form of cannabidiol (CBD) that is very pure.
It helps people treat certain kinds of seizures, and can even be used for pediatric patients. It has been approved just for two rare types of seizures.
Epidiolex has very pure CBD in it. You won't find many CBD products in stores or online that are as pure as this one. You can only get Epidiolex with a prescription.
Dronabinol (Marinol, Syndros)
Dronabinol is not made directly from the cannabis plant. Instead, it is a man-made form of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). In its branded form, it may be known as Marinol or Syndros.
People who are sick and have trouble with appetite may be prescribed Dronabinol to regulate hunger as it is used to treat sickness and vomiting that come from some medical treatments.
Similar to Epidolex, Dronabinol is only available with a prescription.
Cesamet
Cesamet contains nabilone, which is a synthetic compound similar to THC. It’s used to help with nausea and vomiting caused by certain medical treatments. Like Dronabinol and Epidolex, Cesamet is only available with a prescription. It is not made from the cannabis plant but is designed to act like THC.
FDA-Approved Cannabis vs Other Products
Cannabinoids that have been cleared by the FDA can only be bought with a prescription from a doctor. You can't buy them at a dispensary.
The FDA-approved cannabinoids can have side effects, just like any other medicine.
Before you try any new cannabis product, you should always talk to your doctor. Anything that is sold in a store or online might not be safe or work for your condition.
FDA-Approved Cannabinoids in 2025
As of 2025, the FDA has approved only a few cannabinoids for medical use. These include Epidiolex (pure CBD), Dronabinol (synthetic THC), and Cesamet (synthetic THC-like compound).
These products are only available with a prescription and have gone through strict testing.
