Clinical Takeaway
Systematic reviews of cannabinoid use in children show evidence across multiple study types, with the strongest data coming from interventional trials in specific pediatric conditions like epilepsy. The evidence base is actively evolving, and current findings reflect a broad range of conditions and cannabinoid formulations studied in patients under 18. Clinicians should rely on the most current iteration of this living review when making treatment decisions, as new data are continuously incorporated.
#2 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 establishes a continuous evidence synthesis mechanism for cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap as clinical use expands without sufficient pediatric safety data. The systematic mapping of plant-derived and pharmaceutical cannabinoid interventions across diverse pediatric conditions provides clinicians with an evolving evidence base to inform treatment decisions and identify priority areas for rigorous clinical trials. Given the increasing off-label pediatric cannabinoid use and potential for adverse effects in developing populations, this dynamic review framework enables clinical practice to remain aligned with emerging evidence rather than relying on outdated literature snapshots.
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 provides a valuable framework for tracking cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, though clinicians should recognize that the evidence base remains limited and heterogeneous, with most studies consisting of case reports and small case series rather than rigorous randomized controlled trials. The continuous updating mechanism is particularly useful given the rapidly evolving regulatory and research landscape, but practitioners must exercise caution when interpreting findings, as pediatric cannabinoid studies often lack standardized dosing protocols, long-term follow-up data, and adequate controls for confounding variables such as concurrent medications and underlying disease severity. The absence of robust pediatric efficacy data contrasts sharply with growing parental interest and off-label use, creating a significant evidence-practice gap that warrants careful shared decision-making. Until higher-quality evidence emerges, consider cannabinoid interventions in children primarily for well-established indications like treatment-resistant epilepsy where mechanistic data and clinical benefit are strongest, while maintaining vigilance for