Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoid treatments in children have been studied across a wide range of medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from over 270 studies including both controlled trials and real-world observational data. The research shows variability in both reported benefits and safety profiles depending on condition, cannabinoid type, and dose. Clinicians should weigh existing evidence carefully, as this living review will continue to update as new data emerge.
#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 provides clinicians with continuously updated evidence on cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap as cannabis-based therapeutics gain regulatory approval for childhood conditions. By systematically synthesizing data across multiple databases, the review establishes an evidence-based foundation for clinical decision-making regarding cannabinoid use in children, where pharmacological data remain limited compared to adult populations. The dynamic nature of this review ensures that emerging safety signals and efficacy data are promptly integrated into clinical practice guidance for pediatric practitioners.
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 a commendable effort to synthesize the pediatric cannabinoid evidence base, which remains sparse and heterogeneous across conditions. While the authors identified studies spanning multiple medical applications in children under 18, readers should note that most existing evidence derives from small case series, observational studies, or trials focused on specific indications like epilepsy and chemotherapy-related nausea, limiting generalizability to broader pediatric populations. Critical confounders include variable cannabinoid formulations and ratios, inconsistent dosing protocols, short follow-up periods, and the challenge of isolating cannabinoid effects from concurrent treatments or underlying disease progression. The lack of long-term safety data in developing brains remains a significant gap, particularly regarding potential effects on neurodevelopment, cognition, and psychiatric outcomes. Clinicians considering cannabinoids in pediatric patients should recognize that current evidence supports use primarily for refractory epilepsy and select oncology-related symptoms, while routine application to other pediatric conditions remains
| |