Most evidence for medical cannabis in children is for epilepsy, with CBD reducing seizures by 30-50%
A living systematic review of 276 studies found purified CBD is the most studied cannabinoid in children, primarily for epilepsy, with RCTs showing 30-50% seizure reduction and common side effects of drowsiness and GI symptoms.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
276 studies included; most common indication was refractory epilepsy (146 studies); purified CBD was most studied (78.6% of interventional); RCTs showed 30-50% seizure reduction; common adverse events were somnolence, diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased appetite.
Key Numbers
276 studies from 37,189 citations; epilepsy (146 studies, 188,726 participants), cancer (30 studies, 208,753 participants), autism (18 studies, 1,285 participants); CBD doses 2-50 mg/kg/day.
How They Did This
Living systematic review searching MEDLINE, Embase, PsycInfo, and Cochrane Library from inception to April 2023; included studies with at least one child under 18 receiving cannabinoids.
Why This Research Matters
This provides the most comprehensive map of what is and is not known about cannabinoid use in children, revealing evidence concentrated in epilepsy with large gaps elsewhere.
The Bigger Picture
While CBD for pediatric epilepsy has substantial evidence, cannabinoid use in children for other conditions remains largely unsupported by high-quality evidence.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Living review with data through April 2023; heterogeneous study quality; most evidence for CBD/epilepsy; publication bias possible.
Questions This Raises
- ?When will sufficient evidence exist for non-epilepsy pediatric uses?
- ?Are the adverse effects dose-dependent?
- ?How do children metabolize cannabinoids differently?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 276 studies mapped, with 146 focused on epilepsy and CBD doses of 2-50 mg/kg/day
- Evidence Grade:
- Comprehensive living systematic review revealing both the depth of epilepsy evidence and breadth of gaps elsewhere.
- Study Age:
- Published 2025, search through April 2023
- Original Title:
- Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.
- Published In:
- Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 114(9), 2148-2159 (2025)
- Authors:
- Chhabra, Manik(3), Paul, Arun(2), Abulannaz, Omaymah, Lê, Mê-Linh, Mansell, Holly, Finkelstein, Yaron, Huntsman, Richard J, Kelly, Lauren E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06211
Evidence Hierarchy
Analyzes all available research on a topic using a structured method.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
What is medical cannabis most used for in children?
Refractory epilepsy, by far. Of 276 included studies, 146 focused on epilepsy. Cancer symptoms and autism were distant second and third.
How effective is CBD for childhood seizures?
In randomized controlled trials, purified CBD reduced seizure frequency by 30-50%. Common side effects included drowsiness, diarrhea, vomiting, and decreased appetite.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06211APA
Chhabra, Manik; Paul, Arun; Abulannaz, Omaymah; Lê, Mê-Linh; Mansell, Holly; Finkelstein, Yaron; Huntsman, Richard J; Kelly, Lauren E. (2025). Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.. Acta paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992), 114(9), 2148-2159. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70140
MLA
Chhabra, Manik, et al. "Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Systematic Review.." Acta paediatrica (Oslo, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.70140
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabinoids for Medical Purposes in Children: A Living Syst..." RTHC-06211. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/chhabra-2025-cannabinoids-for-medical-purposes
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.