What Pharmacists Need to Know About Medical Marijuana's Effects on Developing Brains

The review covers cannabis's established therapeutic applications (chronic pain, epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced nausea, MS spasticity, IBD) while highlighting evidence that cannabis exposure during brain development can affect cognition, memory, and executive function, underscoring the need for pharmacist education and patient counseling.

Narrative review published in the Journal of Pediatric Pharmacology and Therapeutics, synthesizing the history of medical marijuana, current pharmacological evidence, and neurodevelopmental impact literature, with a focus on the pharmacist's clinical role.

As more states legalize medical marijuana and pediatric indications expand (especially CBD for epilepsy), pharmacists are on the front line of patient education. This review equips them with evidence-based talking points about both benefits and developmental risks.

Pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare professionals and play a crucial role in cannabis education. As the gap between legal access and clinical knowledge widens, reviews like this help ensure healthcare providers can offer balanced, evidence-based guidance.

Narrative review — not systematic. Broad scope may sacrifice depth on individual topics. Pharmacist-focused perspective may not address physician or patient needs. Rapid changes in the field may outpace published reviews.