Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a wide range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from hundreds of studies including clinical trials and real-world observational data. The research captures both plant-derived and pharmaceutical cannabinoid products used in patients under 18 years old. Safety and efficacy data remain actively tracked through a living review format, meaning conclusions will continue to be updated as new evidence emerges.
#3 Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.
Citation: Chhabra Manik et al.. Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992). 2025. PMID: 40437694.
Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 2 Recency: 2 Pop: 3 Human: 1 Risk: 0
This living systematic review provides the first continuously updated synthesis of safety and efficacy data for cannabinoid use in the pediatric population, addressing a critical evidence gap as clinical applications expand despite limited high-quality data. The systematic mapping across multiple databases establishes a foundational knowledge base that can guide evidence-based prescribing decisions and identify priority areas for rigorous pediatric trials in cannabinoid therapeutics. By maintaining an evolving evidence synthesis, this LSR enables clinicians to remain informed of emerging safety signals and efficacy data as new pediatric cannabinoid research accumulates.
Methodological Considerations:
- Small sample — underpowered for subgroup analysis
Abstract: AIM: We developed a living systematic review (LSR) that will continuously map the safety and reported benefit data related to cannabinoid use for medical purposes in children. METHODS: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to April 2023. Studies involving at least one child 20% studies) in studies enrolling children were somnolence, diarrhoea, vomiting, and decreased appetite. CONCLUSION: These findings will continue to be updated to inform practice and reveal knowledge gaps for future research.
💊 This living systematic review represents an important effort to synthesize the evolving evidence on cannabinoids in pediatric populations, yet the findings underscore significant limitations in our current knowledge base. While the review identified studies across multiple databases through April 2023, the heterogeneity of pediatric cannabinoid research—varying cannabinoid formulations, dosing regimens, patient populations, and outcome measures—makes it challenging to draw firm conclusions about safety and efficacy for most conditions. Publication bias likely skews the literature toward positive outcomes, and long-term developmental effects remain poorly characterized given the critical neurodevelopmental window of childhood and adolescence. Clinicians should recognize that robust randomized controlled trials remain sparse in this population, with most evidence coming from case series, observational studies, or extrapolation from adult data. When considering cannabinoid therapy for pediatric patients with refractory seizure disorders or other severe conditions where conventional options have failed, informed shared decision-making should emphasize the current evidence gaps, document careful baseline and longitudinal