Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a wide range of medical conditions in children under 18, with evidence drawn from interventional trials, observational studies, surveys, and qualitative research. The review is designed as a living document, meaning its findings will be updated continuously as new data emerge. Parents and clinicians should note that the evidence base is actively evolving and varies considerably in quality and scope across different conditions and cannabinoid formulations.
#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 the most current evidence synthesis on cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, addressing a critical knowledge gap as cannabinoid prescribing expands in clinical practice despite limited pediatric data. By continuously updating the evidence base across multiple databases, this approach enables practitioners to make informed decisions about cannabinoid use in children while identifying which pediatric indications have adequate safety documentation versus those requiring further investigation. The systematic cataloging of adverse events and reported benefits in this age group is essential for establishing evidence-based prescribing guidelines in a therapeutic area where regulatory clarity and clinical experience remain limited.
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 valuable attempt to synthesize an expanding but still limited evidence base for cannabinoid use in pediatric populations, though clinicians should note that the included studies likely reflect considerable heterogeneity in patient populations, cannabinoid formulations, dosing protocols, and outcome measures. The authors’ decision to create a continuously updated resource acknowledges that pediatric cannabinoid research is evolving rapidly, yet we must remain cautious about extrapolating findings across different conditions and age groups, particularly given the known neurodevelopmental sensitivity of the pediatric brain and the paucity of long-term safety data. Confounders such as publication bias toward positive outcomes, variable regulatory oversight of cannabinoid products, and the difficulty of conducting rigorous blinded trials in this space all warrant healthy skepticism about individual study claims. In clinical practice, this review can serve as a reference tool when families inquire about cannabinoids for pediatric conditions like intractable epilepsy or chemotherapy-related nausea, helping