Caregiver experiences of children living with a diagnosed neurological disability and using medical cannabis.
Florriann Fehr, Nan Stevens, Jane Hailey and 3 others
PMID 40539408WHAT IT FOUND
Caregivers of 12 children using medical cannabis described little physician guidance, caregiver-led trial-and-error dosing, and relief when they reported symptoms improved.
Two families saw no benefit. These are experiences, not proof cannabis works.
Key findings
01All 12 caregivers described uncertain support for medical cannabis, most healthcare practitioners had limited knowledge, and five families were refused authorization by their original physician or pediatrician.
02Caregivers managed dosing through observation and trial and error, and some stopped medical cannabis because there was no clear dose.
03Most caregivers reported positive effects such as lower seizure intensity, reduced anxiety, improved communication, and better social functioning, but two families saw no benefit.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The study included only 12 caregivers who volunteered, so it does not represent families who had negative experiences or could not access medical cannabis. Recruitment through caregiver databases, social media, agencies, and snowballing may have favored families already motivated to discuss cannabis use. Children were not interviewed, so the paper reports caregiver views rather than patient outcomes. Families involved with the Ministry of Children and Family Development could not be recruited without extra permissions, narrowing the sample. A qualitative study cannot establish whether medical cannabis caused the reported improvements.
Declared interests
FF, NS, JN, LL, and CP declared no conflicts of interest. CM is Medical Director of Greenleaf Medical Clinic and Chief Medical Officer for Translational Life Sciences, on the Board of Directors for The Green Organic Dutchman, an advisor to PreveCeutical, Pinnacle Care, Africana, EO Care, Andira Medicine, Active Patch Technologies, Syqe Medical, and Dosist, and has provided medical consultation or received support for industry-sponsored continuing medical education from Aleafia, Aurora, Canopy, Tilray, and Emerald Health.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read caregiver reports of improved seizures, anxiety, communication, or behavior as proof medical cannabis works. This was a small qualitative study of caregiver experiences, not a controlled treatment trial, and two families saw no benefit.