Parents of children with sickle cell disease had similar concerns about medical marijuana as they did about opioids | Research

The takeaway

A survey of parents found they were concerned about marijuana's societal implications for their children with sickle cell disease, viewing it with similar wariness as opioids despite its potential as a safer pain alternative.

Pediatric hematologists, pain management specialists, medical marijuana advocates

Parental concerns about marijuana matched their concerns about opioids despite marijuana being potentially safer

What the researchers found

Parents had significant concerns about societal implications of medical marijuana use in their children; concerns about marijuana were similar to those about opioids despite marijuana being potentially safer; social consequences may impact treatment acceptability.

Why it matters

Even in conditions with severe pain where alternatives to opioids are desperately needed, parental concerns about marijuana's social stigma may prevent its consideration as a treatment option.

The numbers in context

Parental concerns about marijuana were comparable to opioid concerns; significant societal implication worries identified.

How the study worked

Survey study of parents of children with sickle cell disease assessing home pain management strategies and attitudes toward medical marijuana use.

What this study cannot tell us

Survey methodology details limited in abstract; sample size not specified; single-site study; parental attitudes may not reflect child preferences; specific sickle cell population may not generalize.

How to read the evidence

Survey provides insight into parental perspectives but limited methodological details and unknown sample size reduce confidence.

When this study was published

Published 2025

The bigger picture

Treatment acceptability depends on more than medical evidence; social stigma around marijuana may be a barrier to its use in pediatric populations even when medical benefits exist.

Questions still open

Would parental attitudes change with education about medical marijuana safety data? Do social concerns differ by race or socioeconomic status? What role does marijuana stigma play in pain undertreament?

Common questions

Are parents open to medical marijuana for their children's pain?

Parents had significant concerns, particularly about societal implications. Their wariness about marijuana was similar to their concerns about opioids.

What were the main barriers?

Beyond medical concerns, parents worried about the social consequences of their children using marijuana, suggesting stigma may prevent access to a potentially safer pain alternative.

Read the original research

Parental Perceptions and Practices Regarding Pain Management and Medical Marijuana Use in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.

Clinical pediatrics, 64(6), 824-829

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Cinquepalmi, Loretta; Ayeni, Adetunbi; Melville, Laura; Kelly, Christopher. (2025). Parental Perceptions and Practices Regarding Pain Management and Medical Marijuana Use in Patients With Sickle Cell Disease.. Clinical pediatrics, 64(6), 824-829. https://doi.org/10.1177/00099228241304464