Researchers examine effects of medical cannabis on children

Medical cannabis is successful at reducing seizures and managing chemotherapy-induced nausea among pediatric patients – but not without its own side-effects.

Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) have completed the first-ever meta-analysis of pediatric medical cannabis patients, to better understand its risks and benefits in young people.

Medical cannabis is increasingly being used to treat children suffering from life-threatening illnesses, such as severe epilepsy and cancer.

But with research still in its infancy, there are relatively few studies examining what its side-effects might be.

The meta-review was led by Professor Ilan Matok at HU’s School of Pharmacy and the David R. Bloom Center for Pharmacy, along with and PhD candidate Nir Treves. 

The team looked at seven clinical studies involving approximately 500 young patients (under 18 years of age). 

Despite the limited number of participants, they were able to glean both positive and negative effects of medical cannabis use on kids’ mental and physical health. 

Medical cannabis was found to be particularly successful at treating severe epilepsy and proved very helpful for children undergoing chemotherapy, reducing the severity of the nausea and vomiting which often accompanies this treatment.

The team found that CBD is effective at decreasing the number of severe seizures in children, especially those with hard-to-treat epilepsy – but it also greatly suppresses their appetites. 

They also found that several cannabis plant ingredients used in medical treatments adversely affect children’s mental state, causing fatigue, apathy, dizziness, and lethargy.

“Medical cannabis affects kids differently, and doctors need to pay close attention to those differences,” said Matok.

“Whereas Pfizer and Moderna were able to conduct clinical trials for their COVID-19 vaccine on kids, few top-notch clinical trials exist for cannabis use in children. The goal of our meta-analysis is to shed light on this area and provide doctors and parents with a more informed view of the potential of cannabis to help or harm their young patients.”

Matok’s next research project will look specifically at whether medical cannabis raises rates of depression, cardiovascular incidents and involvement in car accidents in young patients.