Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from over 270 studies including both interventional and observational designs. The available data suggest some reported benefits in specific conditions, but safety and efficacy conclusions remain limited by study quality and heterogeneity. Clinicians should rely on the strongest available evidence when considering cannabinoid therapies in patients under 18.
#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 the pediatric population, addressing a critical gap given the increasing off-label use of these agents in children with limited robust data. The systematic mapping of adverse events and therapeutic outcomes enables evidence-based prescribing decisions in pediatric conditions where cannabinoids are being considered, particularly for intractable seizures and other treatment-resistant disorders. By maintaining a dynamic review format, this resource allows practitioners to stay current with emerging evidence as the cannabinoid literature in children rapidly expands.
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 represents a necessary step toward evidence mapping in a therapeutically promising but understudied population, though the field remains constrained by heterogeneous study designs, small sample sizes, and the predominance of case reports and open-label trials that limit causal inference. The authors appropriately highlight that while cannabinoids show some evidence for seizure disorders and chemotherapy-related symptoms in children, data on long-term neurodevelopmental effects, optimal dosing, and comparative effectiveness against standard therapies remain sparse. Clinicians should recognize that most pediatric cannabinoid use currently occurs outside robust trial settings, creating a gap between clinical practice and high-quality evidence. Until more rigorous randomized controlled trials emerge, practitioners considering cannabinoids for pediatric patients should do so selectively for conditions with the strongest preliminary evidence (particularly epilepsy), ensure informed consent regarding unknown risks, and maintain close monitoring for adverse effects and developmental outcomes. This systematic review underscores the importance of participating in or referring eligible