Can medical marijuana effectively treat childhood epilepsy?

Written By : Hina Zahid

Medically Reviewed By : Dr. Kamal Kant Kohli

Published On 2021-09-15 03:30 GMT | Update On 2021-09-15 03:55 GMT

Following media reports of children with epilepsies reportedly deriving benefits from medical marijuana (or cannabis-based medicinal products) accessed abroad, the UK government allowed clinicians to prescribe these products. A review published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology explores the science behind cannabis-based medicinal products in pediatric epilepsies and highlights areas that warrant additional research.

The authors also examined the prescribing environment surrounding these products. They found that a lack of quality evidence for efficacy and safety is the major obstacle to prescribing.

They stress that unlicensed cannabis-based medicinal products should not circumvent usual regulatory requirements before being prescribed. And they worry that children with epilepsy are at risk of being used as a "Trojan horse" for the cannabis industry, with widespread acceptance of medicinal cannabis accelerating the wider legalization of marijuana and opening up a highly lucrative commercial market.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/dmcn.15032

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Hina Zahid

Hina Zahid Joined Medical Dialogue in 2017 with a passion to work as a Reporter. She coordinates with various national and international journals and association and covers all the stories related to Medical guidelines, Medical Journals, rare medical surgeries as well as all the updates in the medical field. Email: editorial@medicaldialogues.in. Contact no. 011-43720751

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Can medical marijuana effectively treat childhood epilepsy?

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