Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a wide range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from over 270 studies including both interventional and observational designs. The data suggest potential reported benefits in certain conditions, but safety and efficacy findings vary considerably depending on the condition, cannabinoid type, and population studied. Families and clinicians should rely on the strongest available evidence and ongoing review updates when making treatment decisions for children.
#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 continuously updated evidence base for cannabinoid efficacy and safety in pediatric populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap given the increasing clinical use of these agents in children without robust systematic data synthesis. The inclusion of diverse cannabinoid formulations and medical indications across multiple databases provides clinicians with a comprehensive reference for informed decision-making regarding cannabinoid therapy in their pediatric patients. The living review methodology ensures that evidence remains current as new pediatric cannabinoid studies emerge, supporting evidence-based practice in a rapidly evolving therapeutic area.
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 step toward evidence synthesis on pediatric cannabinoid use, yet clinicians should recognize several significant limitations before applying findings to practice. The included studies likely reflect heterogeneous populations, dosing regimens, outcome measures, and publication bias, which complicates the derivation of generalizable safety or efficacy conclusions. Most pediatric cannabinoid research remains concentrated in narrow indications like refractory epilepsy, leaving substantial uncertainty about risk-benefit profiles for other conditions commonly discussed with families. Critical confounders include the variable regulatory status of cannabinoid products across jurisdictions, the lack of standardized dosing protocols, and the relative paucity of long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up data in children. Given these constraints, practitioners should view cannabinoid therapy in pediatric patients as a consideration primarily for conditions with the strongest evidence base, maintain vigilance for emerging safety signals, and continue to counsel families about the preliminary nature of much current evidence.
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