Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base including both interventional trials and real-world observational data. The strongest and most consistent findings support the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids, particularly cannabidiol, for certain treatment-resistant epilepsy syndromes in children. Parents, clinicians, and researchers should note that safety monitoring and long-term outcome data in pediatric populations remain ongoing priorities as this living review continues to be updated.
#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 clinicians with continuously updated evidence on cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap given the increasing clinical use of these agents in children with limited regulatory guidance. By systematically aggregating safety data across plant-derived and pharmaceutical cannabinoids, the review enables evidence-based prescribing decisions while identifying adverse event patterns that inform risk-benefit assessments for pediatric indications. The dynamic nature of this systematic review ensures that emerging clinical trial data are promptly incorporated, maintaining current evidence for practitioners managing pediatric patients where cannabinoid therapy is being considered.
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 on pediatric cannabinoid use identifies a sobering reality: despite increasing clinical interest, the evidence base remains sparse and heterogeneous, with most studies lacking adequate controls, standardized dosing protocols, and long-term safety data specific to the developing brain. While cannabinoids show promise for specific indications like treatment-resistant epilepsy, the review underscores critical confounders including publication bias toward positive outcomes, difficulty controlling for concurrent medications, and the challenge of meaningful outcome measurement in pediatric populations where parental expectations may amplify perceived benefit. Clinicians should recognize that current evidence does not support routine cannabinoid use in children outside of narrow, well-established applications, and that informed consent conversations must explicitly address unknown neurodevelopmental risks and the limited long-term safety profile. When considering cannabinoids for a pediatric patient, specialty consultation with a pediatric neurologist or developmental pediatrician is warranted, and families should be counseled that we are still in early stages