Is marijuana safe to use to treat childrens pain?
No. Cannabis use alters neurodevelopment, with most alterations documented in the frontal lobe. Adolescent initiation of cannabis use has long been known as a significant risk factor for subsequent addiction. With increased legalization of marijuana for medical or recreational use, the number of marijuana poisonings has increased each year. The most common age groups poisoned were ≤5 years and 13 to 19 years. Symptoms included drowsiness/lethargy (43%), tachycardia (31%), agitated/irritable (14%), and confusion (14%). While most clinical effects are minor, ventilatory support has been necessary, and deaths reported.
