What if I told you that the mistletoe and poinsettias in your home were actually more toxic than Cannabis is in any form? Many parents are finding it hard to decide when a Cannabis regimen for their child is necessary. Within the heated medical Cannabis debate, there is remarkable advocacy for the treatment of children with Cannabis. Many parents have several ethical concerns when addressing this plant due to the legislation that ties it falsely to being a harmful plant.However, there are five times you should seriously consider Cannabis as treatment for your child:
1. Pediatric Cancer
Recently, we published an argument that for cancer, Cannabis was the most ethical choice for patients. We not only stand behind that statement, but also are inclusive of pediatric cancer for the same reasons and more (if you missed this article, you can find it here: 3 Reasons Cancer Patients Should Try Cannabis Oil Before Surgery, Chemotherapy or Radiation). Following the same logic, we see that chemo and radiation cause mutations and thus, for children this is even more alarming. Whether or not the child survives their cancer, which is notably more likely, based on statistics, they will forever wear the scars of a person who has been irradiated. Meaning, their liver, kidneys and other organs will age prematurely, if not completely sickened by the chemo or radiation, itself. For the rest of their lives, these children will be affected by these toxic substances, due to the very biochemical mechanism by which they operate. There is a no evidence that there is no long term, serious side effect from taking even high doses of edible Cannabisoil for a few months. None. The articles which have been published, have either been retracted or were done without good mathematical substance. The reality facing parents is the legal status of the plant, not the science or medical efficacy. Furthermore, children should not be given any toxic substances in these cases and should be arranged to have a healthy diet and herbal remedies rather than these toxic, disease-nursing compounds. The argument for Cannabis oil for pediatric cancer patients holds even more true, and more urgent for their care and their future.
2. Pediatric Epilepsy
Epilepsy has been a poster child for the Cannabis medicine activists, but how much is really being heard? The CBD-only laws are merely a funneling of cash to suited investors seeking to supply your child with a tincture priced 3x of what a normal Cannabis tincture costs. We have seen up to $200 per fluid ounce versus $25-50 for THC or THC-A tinctures. CBD is great for many epileptic patients, no wrong there, but most also need some THC and/or THC-A to really relieve the child of all to most of the seizing activity. For some parents of Dravet’s syndrome children, this means a daily balancing act of cannabinoids and without research being funded, they are left to try everything under the sun to help their child. The pharmaceutical pill list for these kids is simply amazing. Toxic chemical, after nauseous agent is pumped into these young minds and hearts without regard, it seems. We all want the seizures to end- but at what cost? Cannabis is a safe and effective way to end the seizures and with all the cannabinoids we can get, we may be able to stop the seizures, until then we have a bunch of politicians playing God … over a plant.
3. Cerebral Palsy (CP)
This one is a pretty personal note, so I will try to not get emotional. When I had the muscle spasms and leg braces as a child, I remember being in so much pain as I grew with tendons literally stretched to their max, luckily my parents were not into so many pharmaceuticals, but I remember muscle relaxers being patiently handed to me with tea once in a while, when it got unbearable. Cannabis is a great plant because its composition relieves muscle tension, protects against muscle spasms and allows people with CP to operate as those without CP in some cases. Through its interplay with TRP (transient-receptor potentiated) channels, at the cellular level, Cannabis is able to attenuate spasticity and pain, even at very low doses. If my parents weren’t under the delusion that Cannabis might hurt me as a child and it was legal, I am sure they would have given it to me at that young age.
4. Autism Spectrum (AS)
Another condition, very close to home and eagerly needing representation is the Autism Spectrum category. I truly believe this medicine not only helps our minds be more inclusive of the world around us, but integrates us into socialization. There is much thought on the mechanism that underlies this and I hope to one day find out the exact pathway, but until then I can say there are many children who have relief from AS attributed symptoms (including seizures). A bright, autistic mind is often kept hidden within the confines of a personal world we grapple to understand- a world only we see, a private existence, if you will. When AS children are occupied with their passions they can forget the “other/outside world” exists completely and this is where Cannabis seems to integrate the “outside worlds” with the other people in i, to make the world palpable to a very sensitive child. When I say sensitive, I mean sensory-sensitive, not just emotionally sensitive. It seems that Cannabis possibly restricts the input from both “worlds” and puts it into a “common world” where the AS child can enjoy their existence with the “outside world” and other people. That is an amazing feat for any drug, let alone a cute little shrub, like Cannabis.
5. Other Pediatric Disease/Disorders
I would take the stance that is its a rare, not-well-understood affliction your child has, try Cannabis. Afflictions such as Crohn’s disease have been put into remission with no side effects in humans with the use of Cannabis. In the case of unusual and chronic autoimmune disorders, Cananbis seems to be able to modulate systemic overload by diminishing the overactivity of the immune system. It may seem free-wheeling but I am not saying this to parents of pretty normal children, I am saying this as a friend to the parents like mine, who just wanted a relatively “normal” life for their kid(s). This essay is for parents who are curious and do not know what to do. The ones who are questioning their own ethics and Cannabis is ethical from the viewpoint of toxicity and side-effects. It is not going to pose any long-term harm in its natural organic state and, of course its not about giving children smokable Cannabis (unless in an emergency which is sometimes the case- Cannabis smoke acts hundreds of times faster than oral preps or infused foods when smoked).
There are so many conditions our precious children can be born with for a multitude of reasons. I just think that in these serious cases, turning to nature is the correct thing to do, anymore. Cannabis has been used for thousands of years to treat many conditions in adults and in children as well as teens. Side effects may include: drowsiness, hunger and happiness; Please tell me what dangers these other agents, used for these afflictions have? For many of the pharmaceutical agents, death and permanent disability are on the list and in my professional opinion, that is just not safe for children.
Dr. Brandie M. Cross, PhD
Founder
The Pot Lab, California
Ph.D in Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology
The Johns Hopkins Medical Institute Class of 2013
