Is medical cannabis for children under 18 a good idea?

Ohio’s adult-use cannabis law makes clear that it does not allow anyone under the age of 21 to possess or use the drug. But the law governing the use of medical cannabis in Ohio — just like the medical cannabis law that will take effect in Kentucky in 2025 — does allow doctors to recommend cannabis for patients under 18.

While there is generally still more research needed on the use of medical cannabis for children, the University of Cincinnati's Michael Privitera, MD, said Epidiolex, a CBD medication for epilepsy, is currently the only Food and Drug Administration approved CBD treatment for both adults and children.

"Unlike medical marijuana...I write a prescription for Epidiolex, patients go to the pharmacy and they pick it up," said Privitera, professor and division chief for epilepsy in UC's Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine in UC's College of Medicine and director of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute Epilepsy Center. "And we know specifically what the doses are, what the titration is and exactly what people are getting when we give it to them."

Privitera noted because Epidiolex's formulation is CBD-based, there are ongoing trials to see if it is safe and effective to treat other conditions. But with THC products still being classified as a Schedule 1 drug, it will be difficult to expand clinical trials testing THC as treatments for both adults and children.

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Featured photo at top of CBD oil. Photo/CBD Infos/Unsplash.