Even after years of proven success, medical marijuana for adults remains controversial. For children, there’s a much deeper level of dispute. We’ve seen stories in the news about marijuana being a “miracle drug” for children with epilepsy or autism, so why the controversy? Below, we’ll outline the benefits and risks of medical marijuana for children, as well as what doctors should know about it. Read along as we tackle this controversial issue.
Pros and Cons of Medical Marijuana For Children
The Benefits
In pediatric medicine, there is a lot of interest in using cannabis and cannabinoids to treat children. There are several excellent benefits to this drug for kids, including:
- Cannabis is safe. There are very few, if any, medications that are as safe as cannabis when it comes to overdosing or addiction. Children with epilepsy, for example, are prescribed highly addictive medications to treat their seizures.
- It’s versatile. Cannabis can potentially be used for a wide range of childhood conditions, including epilepsy, autism, and cancer. Not many other drugs have such therapeutic potential for such a wide variety of different health conditions.
- Cannabis treats different types of pain. There is evidence that cannabis could be a total painkiller, even for children. From muscle pain to psychological pain, cannabis can help with pain that other medications cannot.
- It can be grown anywhere. Cannabis can be grown in an enclosed space almost anywhere, and it’s easy to grow. And, because it’s a plant, it will always be available.
The Risks
With any type of medication, risks accompany the benefits, and cannabis is no exception. Since cannabis is federally illegal, there is a limit to what kind of research can be done on it. However, there are certain risks to medical marijuana for children that we know:
- Not all cannabis-based products are the same. There are some products, like certain types of CBD oil, that are made with harsh chemicals and haven’t been tested for pollutants. This type of CBD could make seizures worse for children with epilepsy.
- There are titration issues. There’s much debate over how much and what type of cannabis children should use per day in order to receive therapeutic benefits. Due to lack of research and funding, it’s difficult to determine how much and how often children should use cannabis for their medical conditions.
- Method of ingestion. Currently, most cannabis-based medications for children are oil-based and come in the form of sprays or tinctures. However, some wonder if this is the best method of ingestion.
- Interactions with other medications. If a child is taking other medications in combination with cannabis, they could potentially experience adverse effects. For example, for children with ADD/ADHD taking stimulants, cannabis could potentially make symptoms worse and increase anxiety in kids.
- Lack of research. Simply put, there just isn’t enough research to determine cannabis’s safety and effectiveness for children. While nobody has ever died from a cannabis overdose, there’s no concrete information about how the drug affects a child’s brain.
What Should Doctors Know?
When caring for children, doctors practice take the highest level of safety. A parent asking about medical marijuana for children usually has one or more of the following questions:
- Is cannabis safe for children?
- How are cannabis-based medications made?
- Does it work?
- Where can my child get cannabis-based treatment and/or medicine?
- How do I obtain a medical marijuana card for my child?
As a healthcare professional, make sure you know how to answer these questions ahead of time. Be sure to know your state’s laws and regulations regarding marijuana, and know where to direct parents. If you don’t think cannabis is a good idea for a particular child, be upfront and honest with the parent.
What are your thoughts on medical marijuana for children? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
