Even though there have been studies that have shown just how effect cannabis can be in treating conditions that some children have, caution is still urged.
According to a new study that was published in the journal Pediatrics, medical marijuana is effective in treating seizures in young patients as well as the nausea that is induced by chemotherapy.
The researchers did a meta-analysis that looked at 22 relevant studies on the use of the drug in children and adolescents.
Researchers concluded that tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the most abundant cannabinoid found in the plant, improved nausea and vomiting for young chemotherapy patients.
The cannabinoid Cannabidiol (CBD) was concluded to have an effort on seizures.
“The real-world results of these programs indicate that cannabinoids can play a role in pediatric care, particularly in the treatment of life-threatening seizures, and that they can do so in a manner that is sometimes safer and more effective than conventional treatments,” said Paul Armentano to Healtline. He is the deputy director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
“Our research supports the AAP’s concerns that cannabis can be harmful to children’s brains,” said Dr. Shane Shucheng Wong of Harvard’s department of psychiatry. Wong was the lead study author. “Studies of children and adolescents who use recreational cannabis, particularly frequent use of high potency cannabis over longer periods of time, suggest negative effects on learning, memory, attention, and problem-solving ability.”
