Pediatrics group from Canada said that government should review the policy about the medical marijuana as they believed that the said treatment is not safe for children.
On Monday, the Canadian Paediatric Society issued a policy statement, giving warning about treating young individuals with medical marijuana. They stated that "anecdotal cases" suggest that the treatment help in rare instances but scientific data showed that there is dearth of evidence when it comes to safety and effectivity, Digital Journal reported.
Dr. Michael Rieder, the chair of the CPS's drug therapy and hazardous substances committee as well as author of the released statement said there is "little data to support either the efficacy or safety of cannabis use." He also strongly urged the government to review the rules governing the prescribing of marijuana treatment. He also said that the experts should continue on its research if the medical treatment can really be consider as a health product for children.
Dr Rieder called the cannabis treatment as "potent psychoactive drug." Further adding, "To imagine medical marijuana is risk-free is delusional. Is it an option for some children? Probably. But drug use should be guided by best principles of use and risk."
The CPS issued the warning in part of numerous stories of parents crediting the medical marijuana for temporarily easing their child's pain, primarily young patients suffering from epilepsy.
For instance, the story of Sandra Wilkinson and her eight year old daughter, Mia. In 2013, Sandra bought marijuana leaves from a licensed marijuana grower in Alberta after she received a prescription from a doctor. She said the treatment stopped her daughter from having seizures. But the doctor won't give her any prescription anymore due to Alberta Health Services policy.
So, Wilkinson went to Canadian Cannabis Clinic after she managed to get a prescription and continued administering cannabis oil to Mia as she believes that the treatment serves her daughter well.
But CPS called the case "anecdotal" and said that it doesn't mean that the drug treatment is safe for children.
