Pubdate: Mon, 14 Dec 2015
Source: Globe and Mail (Canada)
Copyright: 2015 The Globe and Mail Company
Contact:  http://www.theglobeandmail.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/168
Author: Carly Weeks
Page: L5
Referenced: Is the medical use of cannabis a therapeutic option for 
children? http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/medical-use-of-cannabis

PEDIATRICIANS SAY EVIDENCE DOESN'T SUPPORT CANNABIS PRESCRIPTIONS

There is little evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis in 
children and most front-line doctors should not be prescribing the 
drug to young people, the Canadian Pediatric Society ( CPS) warns in 
a new policy statement.

Michael Rieder, chair of the society's drug therapy and hazardous 
substances committee and author of the new statement, says the 
federal government should "revisit" the status of medical marijuana 
to improve how it is prescribed and research what regulatory system 
would work best.

The CPS decided to publish a statement because of the growing 
interest in the potential of medical cannabis and the discussions 
surrounding the legalization of marijuana. Although some anecdotal 
evidence paints a rosy picture of cannabis's ability to treat 
epilepsy or other serious conditions in children, the drug can also 
cause serious side effects. For that reason, the CPS is urging 
caution until more research can be used to make informed decisions 
around what cannabis can effectively treat, who should get it and 
what the dosing should be like.

"To imagine that medical marijuana is risk-free is delusional," 
Rieder said. "Is it an option for some children? Probably. But drug 
use should be guided by best principles of use and risk."

"The number of kids who are going to benefit ... is probably very 
small," Rieder said.

Cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol are the compounds in 
cannabis that are believed to have therapeutic effects. The 
cannabinoids work by acting on receptors in the body. Yet, there is 
little comprehensive scientific data on the effects of cannabis as a 
therapeutic agent with the potential to treat many diseases.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom