Metadata
Title
Removing barriers to accessing medical cannabis for paediatric patients.
Authors
Huntsman RJ; Elliott J; Lewis E; Moore-Hepburn C; Alcorn J; Mansell H; Appendino JP; Belanger RE; Corley S; Crooks B; Denny AMM; Finkelstein Y; Finley A; Fung R; Gilpin A; Litalien C; Jacobs J; Oberlander TF; Palm A; Palm J; Polewicz M; Quinn D; Rassekh SR Repetski A; Rieder MJ; Robson-McKay A; Seifert B; Shackelford A; Siden H; Szafron M; ‘t Jong G; Vaillancourt R; Kelly LE
Year
2024
Publication
Paediatrics and Child Health
Abstract
Medical cannabis (MC) may offer therapeutic benefits for children with complex neurological conditions and chronic diseases. In Canada, parents, and caregivers frequently report encountering barriers when accessing MC for their children. These include negative preconceived notions about risks and benefits, challenges connecting with a knowledgeable healthcare provider (HCP), the high cost of MC products, and navigating MC product shortages. In this manuscript, we explore several of these barriers and provide recommendations to decision-makers to enable a family-centered and evidence-based approach to MC medicine and research for children. Copyright The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Canadian Paediatric Society.