Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a wide range of pediatric medical conditions, with existing evidence drawing from hundreds of studies including clinical trials and observational data. The research base is actively growing, and this living systematic review is designed to update continuously as new findings emerge. Parents and clinicians should rely on current evidence summaries rather than anecdotal reports when considering cannabinoid therapies 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 addresses a critical gap in pediatric evidence by continuously synthesizing safety and efficacy data on cannabinoid interventions in children, where clinical knowledge remains fragmented across rapidly expanding literature. The structured, ongoing approach enables clinicians to base pediatric cannabinoid prescribing decisions on systematically appraised evidence rather than anecdotal reports, particularly important given the developmental vulnerabilities of the pediatric population and current regulatory uncertainty. By identifying and cataloging adverse events alongside reported benefits across multiple medical indications, this review provides the robust safety profile data necessary for informed clinical decision-making in pediatric populations where cannabinoids are increasingly requested but inadequately studied.
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 provides a valuable initial map of cannabinoid safety and efficacy data in pediatric populations, a notably understudied area given increasing clinical interest and regulatory approvals for conditions like severe epilepsy. However, the heterogeneity of included studies, varying cannabinoid formulations, dosing regimens, and outcome measures—combined with the predominance of case reports and small observational series rather than randomized controlled trials—substantially limits our ability to draw firm conclusions about efficacy or establish robust safety profiles across pediatric age groups and indications. Additionally, publication bias toward positive outcomes, limited long-term follow-up data, and the challenge of isolating cannabinoid effects from comorbid conditions or concurrent therapies represent important confounders that clinicians should weigh carefully. While this systematic review usefully consolidates existing evidence and will continue to be updated, the current evidence base for most pediatric cannabinoid applications remains preliminary, making shared decision-making with families—grounded in realistic expectations about what we do