# Living Systematic Review of Cannabinoids in Pediatric Care > **Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD (ABFM Board Certified, MA Lic. #240562, NPI: 1962722637) > **Publisher:** CED Clinic (https://cedclinic.com) > **Canonical URL:** https://cedclinic.com/living-systematic-review-cannabinoids-pediatric-evidence/ > **Published:** 2026-03-12T16:15:57-04:00 | **Last Modified / Clinically Audited:** 2026-09-28T11:59:13-04:00 > **Clinical Summary:** This living systematic review cannabinoids pediatric summarizes current evidence on safety and efficacy for pediatric use, focusing on treatment-resistant epilepsy. --- #### Clinical Takeaway Cannabinoids have been studied across a wide range of pediatric medical conditions, with the current evidence base drawing from hundreds of studies including [clinical trials](https://cedclinic.com/endocannabinoid-system-emotional-memory-ptsd-treatment/) and real-world observational data. The strongest and most consistent findings support the use of pharmaceutical cannabinoids, particularly CBD-based preparations, for certain treatment-resistant epilepsy syndromes in children. Safety monitoring remains essential, as adverse effects and drug interactions have been documented across multiple study types in this population. ### #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. **Study type:** Journal Article, Systematic Review  |  **Topic area:** Autism  |  **CED Score:** 13 Design: 5 Journal: 0 N: 2 Recency: 2 Pop: 3 Human: 1 Risk: 0 Why This Matters This living systematic review provides clinicians with continuously updated evidence on [cannabinoid safety](https://cedclinic.com/federal-hemp-thc-ban-delay-vote-next-week/) and efficacy in pediatric populations, addressing a critical evidence gap as cannabis-derived medications are increasingly prescribed off-label for pediatric conditions despite limited robust data. The systematic mapping of safety profiles and reported benefits establishes a foundational evidence base necessary for informed clinical decision-making and regulatory guidance in pediatric cannabinoid use. By employing a living review methodology, this work ensures that emerging clinical evidence on cannabinoid interventions in children is regularly synthesized and disseminated to inform evolving clinical practice standards. **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. Clinical Perspective This living systematic review represents an important effort to establish an evidence base for pediatric cannabinoid use, yet clinicians should recognize that the field remains characterized by limited high-quality randomized controlled trials, heterogeneous outcome measures, and sparse long-term safety data in developing brains. While cannabinoids show promise for specific indications like treatment-resistant epilepsy and chemotherapy-related nausea, extrapolation to other conditions remains problematic given the current evidence landscape. The absence of robust pharmacokinetic data in children, variable cannabinoid composition across products, and the challenge of distinguishing genuine therapeutic effects from placebo responses further complicate clinical decision-making. Until this living review and similar efforts accumulate more rigorous evidence, clinicians prescribing cannabinoids to children should do so only for conditions with established benefit, maintain detailed documentation of rationale and outcomes, and counsel families transparently about uncertainties regarding long-term neurodevelopmental effects.  |   |  Further Reading Research Digest[AM Policy Update: March 11, 2026](https://cedclinic.com/dea-rescheduling-marijuana-march-11-2026/) Cannabis Policy Wire[Policy Watch: 20 Regulatory Updates — March 12, 2026](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-regulatory-updates-march-2026/) CED Clinic Blog[Cannabis-Infused Beverages as Alcohol Alternatives: New York at Five Years](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-beverage-substitution-alcohol-new-york-five-years/) [View on PubMed ↗](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40437694/)[Full Text ↗](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12336964/)[DOI ↗](https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70140) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) Physician-Led, Whole-Person Care A doctor who takes the time to truly understand you. Personal care that starts with listening and is guided by experience and ingenuity. Health, Longevity, Wellness One-on-One Cannabis Guidance Metabolic Balance [Leave a Message](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) [Metabolic Care](https://cedclinic.com/metabolic/metabolic-how-it-works/) [Medical Consulting](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [Cannabis Care](https://cedclinic.com/book/) [https://cedclinic.com/contact/](https://cedclinic.com/contact/) RELATED READING AT CED CLINIC Continue exploring the evidence [Cannabinoids for Children: Medical Evidence Reviewed](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-for-children-medical-evidence/) A comprehensive review of medical evidence on cannabinoid use in children, highlighting clinical outcomes and safety considerations. [Read More](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-for-children-medical-evidence/) [Cannabinoids in Pediatric Medicine: Evidence-Based Care and Emerging Research](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pediatric-clinical-evidence-review/) Explore emerging research and evidence-based care practices for cannabinoids in pediatric medicine. [Explore Research](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pediatric-clinical-evidence-review/) [Cannabis Medicine in Pediatrics: Evidence-Based Care and Emerging Research](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pediatric-safety-evidence-based-care/) An evidence-based overview of [cannabis medicine](https://cedclinic.com/essential-oils-industrial-hemp-antimicrobial-benefits/) applications in pediatric care, focusing on [clinical research](https://cedclinic.com/cannabis-based-therapies-smoking-cessation/) and safety. [Learn More](https://cedclinic.com/cannabinoids-pediatric-safety-evidence-based-care/) Have thoughts on this? Share it: [X Share on X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Cannabinoids%20for%20Pediatric%20Care%3A%20Evidence-Based%20Clinical%20Review&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcannabinoids-pediatric-clinical-review%2F) [in Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcannabinoids-pediatric-clinical-review%2F) [Share on BlueSky](https://bsky.app/intent/compose?text=Cannabinoids%20for%20Pediatric%20Care%3A%20Evidence-Based%20Clinical%20Review%20https%3A%2F%2Fcedclinic.com%2Fcannabinoids-pediatric-clinical-review%2F) [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/drbenjamincaplan) [Read more on Substack](https://doctorapprovedcannabis.substack.com/) [Subscribe via RSS](https://cedclinic.com/feed/) ### Related --- ### Verification & Medical Governance - **Lead Clinical Author:** Benjamin Caplan, MD - **Credentials:** Board Certified in Family Medicine (ABFM), Former CMO Canna Care Docs (250,000+ patients supervised), Founder & CMO CED Clinic & CED Foundation, Author of *The Doctor-Approved Cannabis Handbook* (Penguin Random House). - **Clinical Scale:** 350,000+ lifetime evaluations overseen; 81,008-patient Real-World Evidence Registry (`~/.ced_rwe_vault.db`); 125,000+ peer-reviewed study literature observatory (`http://localhost:8768/api/explorer/terminal`). - **License Verification:** Commonwealth of Massachusetts License #240562 (https://checkahealthlicense.mass.gov/). - **NPI Registry:** 1962722637 (https://npiregistry.cms.hhs.gov/provider-view/1962722637). - **Ethics & Data Privacy:** Clinical registry observations adhere strictly to HIPAA Safe Harbor de-identification (45 CFR § 164.514(b)) and criteria for secondary research exemption under 45 CFR § 46.104(d)(4).