RED FLAGS AND COMMON USES

RESEARCH

Research into CBD is limited, especially when it comes to children. There have been a few studies in the past year, but these were mostly small studies that don’t meet the requirements for large clinical trials.

Due to greater interest in CBD, larger, more serious trials are underway globally.

But there’s a lot of research on CBD’s “cousin”, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), says Andy Gray, a senior lecturer at the University of Kwa Zulu-Natal’s pharmacology department.

THC is the intoxicating compound in the cannabis plant that causes a buzz or high. By SA law, all CBD products must contain no more than 0.001% THC, but some CBD products do contain higher dosages.

“There are concerns about the effects of THC in adolescents, with some evidence for increased risk of psychotic episodes, for instance,” Gray warns.

“The usual approach is to err on the side of caution and restrict use until evidence has been gathered.”

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

No one knows what the longterm effects of CBD are in children who’ve been using it from a young age because there are no studies to track the effects, says Lani Butler from the South African Cannabis Research Institute.

But in 2019 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) did warn that CBD might affect children’s developing brains as well as their livers.

DOSAGE

Experts don’t know what dosage is safe for children to use and that’s why they’re hesitant to administer it to kids. “We don’t even know what the correct dosage of pure CBD in adults is,” Dr Levin says.

It’s also hard to know how much CBD is in an over-the-counter product because CBD isn’t subjected to prescribed regulatory processes, warns Professor Natalie Schellack, head of pharmacology at the University of Pretoria.

Unregulated products might even contain dangerous ingredients that can make your child ill.

WHAT IS CBD USED FOR?

At present, there’s no officially registered CBD product specially for children in SA. There are indications – but still little proof – CBD might help children with epilepsy, autism and anxiety.

All the experts agree that parents shouldn’t even consider giving it to their child without first consulting a medical doctor.

Here are the most common reasons why some parents consider giving their children CBD – but also what they should bear in mind when doing so.

Pain: There’s little research on the effects of CBD on children’s pain. But there are indications it might relieve discomfort caused by arthritis and “growing pains” in children, says Jacqui Ramage, a Cape Town pharmacologist who’s completing her master’s degree in medicinal cannabis.

Behavioural issues: A recent study of children aged eight to 16 years indicated that CBD could decrease certain behavioural issues in kids, Professor Schellack says.

“But the study wasn’t large enough to make any indisputable claims. The team will now be testing their findings in a followup study.” In an Israeli study of 155 children with autism under 18 years of age, 80% of parents noted an improvement in their kids. But this study relied solely on parents’ perceptions rather than on scientific trials, so it’s regarded as inconclusive.

While there is increased research, Gray points out there’s no conclusive evidence CBD can aid the behavioural issues of children on the autism spectrum.

ADHD: There’s been no official research results on the use of CBD in children with ADHD, but several such studies are underway, Ramage says. “The biggest claim is CBD helps provide natural calm and focus for children who suffer from ADHD.”

It’s recommended you consult your medical doctor before giving your child any CBD supplements.

Anxiety: The calming effects of CBD make it an excellent anxiety remedy for adults, says Ziona Venter, a clinical technologist from Cape Town. “An American study has shown that a single drop of CBD can improve social anxiety.”

Anxiety is a typical symptom of autism. In a 2019 study of the effects of CBD on autism, more than 60% of the participants reported reduced anxiety.

But there’s still no conclusive evidence proving CBD reduces anxiety in children, Gray says. There’s also no clarity about what type of anxiety CBD can treat.

If your child suffers from anxiety, it’s best to consult a doctor, therapist or child psychologist.

Epilepsy and seizures: This is the one area where there’s substantial evidence in favour of the use of CBD, Gray says. “But not for all types of epilepsy,” he warns. “CBD treats two rare types of epilepsy – Lennox-Gastaut (LGS) and Dravet syndrome – that are generally tough to manage.”

The drug Epidiolex, which contains a pure form of CBD, has been registered in the US and Europe for the treatment of these conditions. “This registration was based on clinical trials, but that’s not enough reason to recommend CBD just yet for use on all types of epilepsy."

However, the way CBD works in the brain does make it a potential treatment for other types of epilepsy and several trials are ongoing. They aim to establish if, how and why CBD can help prevent epileptic episodes and seizures in adults and children.

The experts all agree: you must always consult your doctor first before giving your kids any CBD.

‘CHILDREN WHO USE CBD MIGHT STRUGGLE TO UNDERSTAND

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CBD AND CANNABIS’

– Professor Renata Schoeman, psychiatrist