Cannabis and Kids

 Cannabis can be used by people of different ages and genders. It can also work on animals. Cannabis works by binding with specific receptors in the brain called endocannabinoid receptors. When these receptors interact with cannabis it can lead to different medicinal effects. But are these medicinal effects safe enough for kids? In this article, we will look more into how cannabis affects kids.

Health Conditions where cannabis can be useful for kids
Cannabis contains more than one hundred compounds known as phytocannabinoids. The most essential ones are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD). These compounds are usually extracted from the plant and administered to kids in the form of oral liquid or lozenges. While THC may not be good for kids due to its psychoactive effects, CBD’s medicinal properties are useful for kids.

Here are the primary conditions where cannabis can be valuable for children. But these are not approved by the US FDA.

Epilepsy
The primary cannabinoid CBD can help kids with refractory epilepsy. CBD is non-psychoactive which means it doesn’t cause the “high,” produced by THC. Some reports suggest that kids with severe and chronic epileptic seizures may gain relief from a controlled dosage of CBD. Some researchers also acknowledged a 50% reduction in seizure rate among kids who received a dose of cannabis-derived CBD as an epilepsy treatment. There also exist several CBD-based liquid medicines that may benefit kids with epileptic seizures.

Autism
A recent study on the use of CBD for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) showed that CBD was “well-tolerated, safe, and effective in relieving symptoms associated with ASD. CBD can decrease irritability and anxiety linked with ASD. According to the study, 30% of pediatric patients significantly improved, while 50% showed moderate improvement after six months of treatment. But 25% of them experienced side effects such as restlessness.

CBD can improve spasticity, dystonia, and sleep issues as well as decrease symptoms associated with Tourette syndrome.

Despite the need for more studies on the effectiveness of cannabis on kids with epilepsy and autism, it has worked for several other medical conditions. However, it has generic evidence not linked to children.

Multiple sclerosis
This is a condition where the immune system targets nerve cells. Using a controlled dosage of medicinal marijuana may reduce muscle stiffness in MS patients. But using medical marijuana as treatment comes with some side effects such as psychosis, cardiovascular diseases, and cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome.
Cancer
Cannabis can increase appetite and decrease anxiety among cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Cannabis compounds such as CBD and THC can be used in reducing cancer side effects. Some studies also suggest that medical marijuana may shrink cancer cells.

Bottom line- Should you give your kids cannabis
Cannabis is not prescribed by the American Academy of Pediatrics as a treatment for kids. Also, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t approve cannabis for kids. Ensure to talk to your local physician about the risks and possible safer alternatives before giving your kid
marijuana. Also, avoid using marijuana without the supervision of a doctor.