Clinical Takeaway
Cannabinoids have been studied across a range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from 276 studies including both interventional and observational designs. The review captures real-world safety and efficacy signals but reflects the heterogeneity typical of early-stage clinical literature. Clinicians should interpret findings cautiously, as the evidence continues to evolve and this living review will 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 off-label cannabinoid prescribing in children increases without robust clinical data. The systematic mapping of adverse events and reported benefits across pediatric indications establishes an essential evidence base for informed clinical decision-making in pediatric cannabinoid therapy. By maintaining a living review format, this resource will help practitioners stay current with emerging safety signals and efficacy data as the pediatric cannabinoid literature evolves.
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 framework for tracking cannabinoid safety and efficacy in pediatric populations, an area where high-quality evidence remains sparse and clinical practice often outpaces the evidence base. The authors’ decision to employ a living review methodology is particularly apt given the rapidly evolving cannabinoid research landscape and the inherent lag in traditional systematic review updates. However, clinicians should note that the included studies likely reflect considerable heterogeneity in cannabinoid formulations, dosing regimens, patient populations, and outcome measures, which limits the ability to draw definitive conclusions about efficacy for specific pediatric conditions. Additionally, publication bias and short follow-up periods in many cannabinoid trials mean that long-term safety data in developing brains remains incomplete. For practitioners, this review underscores the importance of documenting baseline function and maintaining close clinical follow-up when considering cannabinoids for pediatric patients, particularly for off-label indications, while advocating for enrollment in prospective registries where available to build the evidence