Parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy face significant barriers accessing medical cannabis in Canada
Parents pursuing medical cannabis for their children with drug-resistant epilepsy encountered resistance from neurologists, lacked insurance coverage, and spent up to $2,000 per month out of pocket.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Most parents encountered resistance from their child's neurologist when seeking medical cannabis authorization, forcing many to seek authorization through cannabis clinics instead of their existing care team.
Key Numbers
Participants reported spending up to $2,000 per month on medical cannabis. Most parents were unable to get reimbursement through public or private insurance programs.
How They Did This
Qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 19 parents of children with drug-resistant epilepsy in Canada. Data was analyzed using a patient-centered access to care framework across five dimensions: approachability, acceptability, availability, affordability, and appropriateness.
Why This Research Matters
Even in Canada, where medical cannabis is legal, families of children with drug-resistant epilepsy face systemic barriers that can compromise care quality and create financial hardship.
The Bigger Picture
The disconnect between legal availability and practical access highlights the need for physician education on medical cannabis, insurance coverage policies, and integrated care pathways.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Small qualitative sample of 19 parents, which may not represent all experiences. The study was conducted in a specific Canadian policy context.
Questions This Raises
- ?Would physician training on cannabis-based epilepsy treatments reduce access barriers?
- ?How do these barriers compare in jurisdictions with different regulatory frameworks?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Up to $2,000/month out-of-pocket for medical cannabis
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: qualitative research with a structured framework, though limited by small sample size.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2020 in Epilepsy & Behavior.
- Original Title:
- Barriers in accessing medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy in Canada: A qualitative study.
- Published In:
- Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 111, 107120 (2020)
- Authors:
- Elliott, Jesse(3), DeJean, Deirdre(3), Potter, Beth K(3), Coyle, Doug, Clifford, Tammy, McCoy, Bláthnaid, Wells, George A
- Database ID:
- RTHC-02530
Evidence Hierarchy
Uses interviews or focus groups to understand experiences in depth.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Why did parents seek medical cannabis for their children?
Parents turned to medical cannabis after conventional antiepileptic drugs failed to control their children's seizures, viewing it as preferable to adding more pharmaceuticals.
What was the biggest barrier?
Most parents encountered resistance from their child's neurologist in discussing or authorizing medical cannabis, forcing them to seek authorization through separate cannabis clinics.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-02530APA
Elliott, Jesse; DeJean, Deirdre; Potter, Beth K; Coyle, Doug; Clifford, Tammy; McCoy, Bláthnaid; Wells, George A. (2020). Barriers in accessing medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy in Canada: A qualitative study.. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 111, 107120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107120
MLA
Elliott, Jesse, et al. "Barriers in accessing medical cannabis for children with drug-resistant epilepsy in Canada: A qualitative study.." Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107120
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Barriers in accessing medical cannabis for children with dru..." RTHC-02530. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/elliott-2020-barriers-in-accessing-medical
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.