Is medical cannabis safe and effective as a treatment for children?
This week, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shared results of a first-ever meta-analysis of pediatric patients treated with medical cannabis.
Medical marijuana is being studied to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, from cancer to epilepsy to controlling pain.
They presented their findings at the 31st Annual International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium held at the university’s Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research.
Lead researcher Prof. Ilan Matok of Hebrew University’s School of Pharmacy explained, “Since medical cannabis isn’t widely recognized as an accepted or regulated drug, there simply haven’t been enough studies to know whether it’s appropriate for children.”
The team, headed by PhD candidate Nir Treves, analyzed seven clinical studies involving approximately 500 patients under 18.
They discovered both positive and negative effects of medical cannabis on kids’ mental and physical health.
For example, the team found that medical cannabis treatment reduced the severity of nausea and vomiting in children undergoing chemotherapy.
They also discovered that cannabis component CBD (cannabidiol) is effective at decreasing the number of severe seizures in children, especially those with hard-to-treat epilepsy. However, CBD also greatly suppresses their appetites.
In addition, they found that several medical cannabis compounds can cause…
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Is medical cannabis safe and effective as a treatment for children?
This week, researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem shared results of a first-ever meta-analysis of pediatric patients treated with medical cannabis.
Medical marijuana is being studied to treat a variety of diseases and conditions, from cancer to epilepsy to controlling pain.
They presented their findings at the 31st Annual International Cannabinoid Research Society Symposium held at the university’s Multidisciplinary Center for Cannabinoid Research.
Lead researcher Prof. Ilan Matok of Hebrew University’s School of Pharmacy explained, “Since medical cannabis isn’t widely recognized as an accepted or regulated drug, there simply haven’t been enough studies to know whether it’s appropriate for children.”
The team, headed by PhD candidate Nir Treves, analyzed seven clinical studies involving approximately 500 patients under 18.
They discovered both positive and negative effects of medical cannabis on kids’ mental and physical health.
For example, the team found that medical cannabis treatment reduced the severity of nausea and vomiting in children undergoing chemotherapy.
They also discovered that cannabis component CBD (cannabidiol) is effective at decreasing the number of severe seizures in children, especially those with hard-to-treat epilepsy. However, CBD also greatly suppresses their appetites.
In addition, they found that several medical cannabis compounds can cause…
