As increasing numbers of cannabis-derived products become available for people, veterinarians are often asked whether they are safe for pets.

When state laws legalize marijuana for people, those laws don’t apply to animals. Also, any product claiming to be therapeutic must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration before it can be legally manufactured and distributed.

So far, no cannabis-derived products have received FDA approval for therapeutic use in animals. Although some cannabinoids [cah-NAB-in-oids], like CBD, may have potential in treating epilepsy or osteoarthritis, there’s scant scientific evidence for their use in animals. That’s the main reason why the American Veterinary Medical Association does not recommend them.