CANNABIS + KIDS
Let’s clarify; no one advocates for the recreational use of cannabis for children. I think everyone would agree that it is not a good idea to use any brain-altering substance in a growing and developing brain, including nicotine, alcohol, and high fat and sugar foods. However, if a child has a condition that needs medical intervention, then all the tools in the toolbox should be considered, and a parent/caregiver must assess each of the risks and the benefits before choosing any intervention. That includes every medication, not just cannabis medicine. We will also agree that there is no such thing as a panacea. We are all individuals, and everyone responds differently to the same treatments. In order to make an informed decision, we need to understand what science and research provides. With the understanding that cannabis is medicine, the results of its use are quickly evolving.
WHAT DO WE KNOW? Tetrahydocannabinol (THC) is the most well-known molecule of over 400 molecules in the cannabis plant. Its popularity is mostly based on its ability to be intoxicating or cause a “high.” That does not mean that THC is not an important medicine, nor does it mean that all amounts of THC cause that intoxicating feeling. Synthetic THC—called dronabinol—has been FDA approved and available in all 50 states since 1986. In 2003, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended transferring THC from a schedule I or II drug to schedule IV, citing its beneficial medical uses and low abuse potential when used for medical conditions. As the cannabis plant grows in nature, it actually makes THCA— the acid form of THC. Parents of children with epilepsy discovered that this non-intoxicating cannabinoid could help reduce their child’s seizures, along with traditional anti-seizure medications, when they found CBD to be ineffective. THC and THCA have been found to reduce pain and inflammation and decrease chemotherapy-related nausea and vomiting. In 2017, the National Academy of Science, Engineering and Medicine found that cannabis is very effective for these indications. The question is if a child is being treated with chemotherapy does it make sense to use cannabis to reduce nausea and vomiting and improve appetite? The National
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