Literature review supports benefits, safety of medical cannabis for pediatric patients
Article written by
April AcernoContent Writer
Content reviewed by
Dr. Mitchell L. DoucetteSenior Director of Research
Featured experts
Key findings
- A review of ten studies analyzed research on non-pharmaceutical, high-cannabidiol (CBD) products in pediatric patients.
- Cannabis-based treatments significantly improved quality of life in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and treatment-resistant epilepsy.
- High-CBD, low-THC cannabis products helped to reduce symptoms of several conditions, with only mild, manageable side effects.
Examining the efficacy and safety of cannabis in pediatric patients
As medical marijuana expands across the United States, more parents are seeking out cannabis as a legal treatment for their children’s health conditions.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has already approved the medication Epidiolex, a highly purified form of plant-derived CBD, for the treatment of seizure disorders in children, and an increasing number of studies support cannabis as a treatment for certain pediatric conditions.
Despite this growing interest in cannabis as pediatric medicine, there have been few comprehensive reviews examining evidence of cannabis’s efficacy and safety in minors.
Authors of a literature review published in the journal Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids aimed to fill this gap. Researchers from Leafwell and Duke University examined recent studies on cannabis use among pediatric patients.
The review focused on ten studies that explored the effects of cannabis on pediatric patients with conditions including ASD, treatment-resistant epilepsy, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer.
The studies included also centered on cannabis products containing phytocannabinoids, like CBD and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), rather than synthetic cannabinoids. Most of the studies analyzed involved the administration of high-CBD, low-THC products orally or sublingually (under the tongue).
Cannabis was effective and generally well tolerated in children
Overall, the review authors found that medical cannabis was an effective alternative to commonly prescribed pharmaceuticals such as opioids and sedatives, and with fewer risks of side effects.
After receiving cannabis treatment, pediatric patients with epilepsy saw symptom reductions with the potential to transform daily life, especially for those with treatment-resistant epilepsy.
Patients with ASD also saw improvements in symptom management and quality of life. In one study included in the review, nearly 50% of patients receiving cannabis treatment had improvements in disruptive behavior, compared with 21% who received a placebo.
In addition to successfully alleviating patient symptoms, studies indicated generally mild and minimal side effects following cannabis use, with drowsiness and appetite changes among the most commonly reported. No major adverse effects were reported as a result of consuming cannabis.
Despite these promising results, all of the studies analyzed had relatively small sample sizes.
Larger clinical studies are needed to provide a more well-rounded understanding of cannabis’s efficacy and safety in pediatric patients.
The takeaway: Medical cannabis shows promise for pediatric populations
Research continues to demonstrate the potential of medical cannabis in the treatment of numerous pediatric conditions.
High-CBD, low-THC cannabis products might also offer a safer alternative to commonly prescribed medications, causing minimal adverse side effects in minors.
The literature review by Leafwell and Duke University illustrates the need for more research into medical cannabis use in young patients. Despite an increase in studies over recent years, knowledge gaps exist around ideal dosing, efficacy of specific product types, and other aspects of treatment.
Resources
- Cannabinoid treatment for autism: A proof-of-concept randomized trial. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/S13229-021-00420-2
- Use of cannabis-based medical products for pediatric health conditions: A systematic review of the recent literature. https://karger.com/mca/article/7/1/257/917351/Use-of-Cannabis-Based-Medical-Products-for
