Parents pursued medical cannabis for seriously ill children despite obstacles and lack of medical guidance

Five themes emerged: 1) parents sought cannabis as a last resort for severely ill children; 2) information came from social media, industry, and other families rather than healthcare providers; 3) cannabis was viewed ambiguously as both a serious drug needing medical oversight and a safe natural product; 4) parents perceived medical benefits with few adverse effect concerns; 5) high costs and uncertain legality were barriers but did not stop use.

Qualitative study with semistructured interviews of 10 parents (9 mothers, 1 couple) of children at BC Children's Hospital oncology or palliative care clinics who used medical cannabis. Children ranged from 22 months to 16 years. Thematic analysis using qualitative description.

Parents of seriously ill children are making medical cannabis decisions largely without professional guidance. Their reliance on social media, industry, and peer networks for information creates risks of misinformation and inappropriate use.

The gap between parental desperation and medical knowledge creates a situation where families make complex pharmacological decisions with minimal professional support. Developing pediatric medical cannabis guidelines would help bridge this gap.

Small qualitative sample (10 interviews) at one hospital. Self-selected parents willing to discuss cannabis use. Cannot generalize to all families using medical cannabis for children. Social desirability bias possible.