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Medical Cannabis Use in Youth Under
21: Medcardsnow Study

Transformative changes in medical cannabis use for children may be on the horizon in the U.S. Recent research from Medcardsnow provides an insightful initial analysis of medical cannabis usage among individuals under 21, detailing the demographics, locations, and medical conditions of pediatric patients.

Key Findings

  • Medcardsnow evaluated 11,845 minor patients
  • The most prevalent qualifying conditions being anxiety, chronic pain, and PTSD.
  • Cancer was a more prevalent qualifying condition for individuals under 18 compared to those aged 18 to 20.
  • A higher number of young adults indicated experiencing depression compared to minors.
  • The majority of pediatric patients were diagnosed with two or more medical conditions.
  • Since the early 2010s, various news articles have highlighted how medical cannabis has provided parents with solutions for their children’s difficult medical challenges. Although numerous studies continue to advocate for further investigation in this field, a recent report from the Canadian Pediatric Society—following Canada’s legalization of cannabis in 2018—affirms the ‘consistent tolerability and effectiveness’ of medical cannabis for certain conditions.
  • Medcardsnow stands as the foremost integrative cannabis clinic and health tech platform, linking patients with healthcare providers across 34 states and Washington D.C. They aimed to gain deeper insights into their younger patient demographic.

Demographics

  • Under the guidance of Dr. Mitchell L. Doucette, PhD, MS, Senior Director of Research, the team utilized their own data to identify patients under the age of 20 and analyze their characteristics. They discovered a total of 13,855 patients, with the majority being white and non-Hispanic (63.2%), followed by Hispanic (19.4%) and black non-Hispanic (6.78%). Additionally, a significant portion of the patients were male (57.2%) and resided in states where both medical and recreational cannabis use is permitted (75.5%).
  • The study also examined differences between patients under 18 (minors) and those aged 18-20 (young adults). They found California had the largest number of minor and young adult patients. However, Maine and Montana had high rates of minor-aged medical cannabis patients when considering state population size. Minors must have a parent or guardian present at the time of consultation.

Medical Conditions

  • In terms of medical conditions, a higher number of minors were diagnosed with cancer than young adults, who more frequently experienced depression and insomnia. Interestingly, both age groups reported similar rates of insomnia.
  • Dr. Doucette noted that it is not surprising to find that minors report cancer as their main reason for using medical cannabis more often than young adults. For these children, particularly those dealing with nausea and vomiting from chemotherapy, numerous studies have shown that medical cannabis can be beneficial. Additionally, various research efforts, apart from Medcardsnow, have recognized medical cannabis as an effective treatment for nausea and vomiting symptoms overall.

Why Research Cannabis?

  • The recent study by Medcardsnow is groundbreaking as it is the first to focus on pediatric patients using medical cannabis in the U.S. This marks the team’s initial attempt to carry out rigorous, peer-reviewed research on the demographics of medical cannabis users and the results of its use. Further investigation is essential to grasp the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis, particularly for children. Gaining insights into the impact of medical cannabis on patients is crucial for enhancing patient care and informing regulatory frameworks. By merging clinical studies with population-based research, we can more effectively align medical cannabis practices with established medical protocols and pinpoint situations where its use may be inappropriate.

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