Medical Cannabis for Pediatric Patients in Canada

When it comes to children’s health, parents want access to all possible treatments that might help their child thrive. For certain pediatric conditions that don’t respond adequately to conventional treatments, medical cannabis has emerged as a potential option worth considering under proper medical supervision.

Apollo is a ‘Family Friendly’ medical cannabis clinic, and one of the few who treats eligible children with medical cannabis. We understand that making decisions about your child’s healthcare requires careful consideration, thorough information, and guidance from experienced healthcare professionals.

With the growing popularity of cannabis use as a method to treat a wide range of physical ailments, special attention needs to be paid to pediatric patients. Cannabis has been shown to help treat or manage conditions such as seizures, epilepsy, ADD, ADHD, Autism and childhood cancer in the pediatric population, although these treatments should always be authorized and supervised by a licensed medical professional. Children are not “tiny adults” and should certainly be treated differently than adult patients.

Medical cannabis for pediatric patients requires a specialized approach that takes into account the unique physiological and developmental considerations of children. While research is still developing, there is growing evidence to support the cautious use of cannabis-based medicines for certain pediatric conditions that don’t respond to conventional treatments.

How Medical Cannabis Works in Children

The endocannabinoid system exists in children just as it does in adults, but developing brains may respond differently to cannabis compounds. Key considerations include:

• Age-appropriate dosing that is typically much lower than adult doses
• Preference for non-psychoactive or minimally psychoactive formulations
• Focus on CBD-dominant products in many cases
• Careful monitoring of developmental impacts
• Regular assessment of benefits versus potential risks

Conditions That May Benefit from Medical Cannabis

While research is ongoing, several pediatric conditions have shown promise in responding to cannabis-based treatments:

Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders

50 million people, worldwide, are affected by epilepsy and it is one of the most prominent neurological disorders in the pediatric population. Epileptic seizures result in convulsions, loss of consciousness, and sometimes severely altered senses. They are caused by errant electrical signals in the brain which can cause frequent seizures, neurodevelopmental delays and impaired quality of life.

Many parents are seeking alternatives to traditional therapies that don’t often work. Medical Cannabis has been reported to reduce the frequency and severity of epileptic seizures in children and improve their overall quality of life.

According to some research, Cannabis has anticonvulsant properties. These properties work on different targets, called calcium ion channels, glutamate receptor antagonists, sodium ion channels, and the GATA system and receptor agonists in the brain. Cannabis may affect the neurotransmitters responsible for sending messages by attaching themselves to the neurons. This may alter the activity of the cell by switching how ions flow in and out of the neurons.

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism is classified as a lifelong pervasive developmental disorder which affects normal mental development. Autism is particularly hard to treat because there is no one known cause of the disorder. A variety of factors, such as genetics and environmental exposure, play a role in the development of Autism. Autistic Disorder is characterized by poor communication skills, repetitive behaviors and impaired social interaction.

Cannabis has been shown to reduce the symptoms of Autism Disorder and may become a breakthrough treatment for children suffering from Autism. A recent study, completed on an animal population, stated that “treatment with CBD is beneficial for autistic-like social defects. CBD acts on the endocannabinoid system to inhibit neurotransmission of the lipid-activated G protein-coupled receptors GPR55.”

Research is promising and many parents have reported improvements in their autistic children with regular cannabis use, although further studies are needed to prove its effectiveness.

ADD/ADHD

ADD and ADHD are two of the most common mental health disorders suffered by children in Canada. ADD and ADHD may cause difficulty focusing, struggles in school and difficulty forming and maintaining relationships. It is also characterized by impulsivity and hyperactivity.

Common treatments for pediatric ADD and ADHD include pharmaceuticals such as Ritalin, Dexadrin, Cylert, and Adderall. The difficulty with some medications is that they are not intended for prolonged use as the child develops.

Parents have begun turning to alternative therapies, such as medical cannabis, to help manage their child’s disorder. When using the correct product, and dosed correctly, some parents report that medical cannabis can drastically improve their child’s ability to focus.

Medical Cannabis is not a cure for ADD and ADHD, rather it seems to work by calming nerves, reducing anxiety, and cutting through brain fog. Cannabis may help bring focus to a child suffering from ADD or ADHD.

Other Conditions

• • Certain treatment-resistant cancers
  • Severe chronic pain conditions
  • Specific genetic disorders
  • Inflammatory conditions
  • Severe nausea from treatments like chemotherapy

When conventional treatments fail to provide adequate relief, medical cannabis may offer several potential benefits for pediatric patients:

Potential Advantages

• Reduced seizure frequency and intensity
• Improved focus and attention in attention disorders
• Decreased anxiety and agitation in autism
• Better sleep quality
• Reduced self-injurious behaviors
• Improved appetite, particularly important for children on treatments like chemotherapy
• Potential for reduced pharmaceutical side effects
• Overall improvement in quality of life

Complementary Therapy

Medical cannabis is typically considered when:

• First-line treatments haven’t provided adequate relief
• Traditional medications cause intolerable side effects
• Multiple medications have failed to control symptoms
• The condition significantly impacts quality of life
• The potential benefits outweigh possible risks

Apollo Cannabis Clinics offers several distinct advantages for families considering medical cannabis for their children:

Pediatric Experience

Apollo treats a wide range of pediatric patients and understands the sensitive nature of the pediatric population. We are one of the few clinics in Canada who work with pediatric patients and consider ourselves a family clinic.

Our team includes doctors and patient educators who are familiar with pediatric patients and how to treat each child individually. This specialized experience means your child’s unique developmental considerations will be taken into account when developing a treatment plan.

No Referral Needed

Apollo Cannabis Clinics provides a service and does not charge their patients for appointments, education sessions or ongoing care. Patients do not require a referral to utilize our services regardless of their age, or where they are located.

Patients Across Canada

Apollo Cannabis services patients all over Canada through our unique Digital Patient Network (DPN). Patients meet with a doctor via secure video conference and have access to a patient educator once the prescription has been written.

Research-Based Care

Apollo Cannabis Clinics is an evidence-based clinic that has been conducting observational research on medical cannabis and conditions since 2014. We have over 10 prescribing healthcare professionals as well as patient educators to assist patients on an ongoing basis.

Our commitment to research means your child’s treatment will be based on the latest scientific understanding of cannabis medicine, not anecdotal evidence or trial and error.

Ongoing Care

Apollo Cannabis Clinics provide each patient with a personalized treatment plan and offers a support line that is open 7 days a week, should a patient require assistance or have questions about their medication.

This continuous support is particularly important for pediatric patients, whose response to treatment may change as they grow and develop.

If you’re considering medical cannabis for your child in Canada, here’s how to begin the process:

1. Consider if medical cannabis may be right for your child

To determine if medical cannabis may be appropriate for your child’s situation:

• Your child has been diagnosed with a condition that may benefit from cannabis
• They may have tried conventional treatments with inadequate results or experienced significant side effects
• You must reside in Canada
• You are willing to provide informed consent and be actively involved in your child’s treatment

2. Book an online consultation

Our streamlined process makes it easy:

• Schedule a video consultation with a healthcare provider experienced in pediatric cannabis medicine
• Complete a brief questionnaire about your child’s medical history and current treatments
• Gather any relevant medical records or documentation about previous treatments
• Both parent/guardian and child (when appropriate) participate in the consultation

3. Receive your child’s online prescription

If approved, you’ll receive:

• A personalized treatment plan designed specifically for your child’s needs
• A legal medical cannabis prescription
• Detailed guidance on product selection and age-appropriate dosing
• Registration assistance with licensed producers who offer suitable pediatric products
• Education on safe storage and administration

4. Ongoing support

Our care doesn’t end with your child’s prescription:

• Regular follow-up consultations to monitor progress and development
• 7 day a week support by phone and email
• Dosage adjustments as your child grows or their condition changes
• Access to healthcare professionals for questions or concerns
• Educational resources about cannabis and your child’s specific condition

Starting medical cannabis treatment for your child is a significant decision. Our team of healthcare professionals specializes in pediatric cannabis medicine and can help you navigate this process safely and effectively through online prescription services across Canada.

Finding the right cannabis dosing for pediatric patients requires extreme care and precision. While we always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized advice, here are some general principles that guide pediatric cannabis medicine:

Starting Treatment:

• Begin with micro-doses that are significantly lower than adult doses
• Start with CBD-dominant or CBD-only products in most cases
• Establish clear baseline measurements of symptoms before starting
• Consider timing doses around symptom patterns or medication schedules
• Maintain consistent administration times

Gradual Adjustments:

• Use very small incremental increases
• Allow longer adjustment periods than for adults (1-2 weeks between changes)
• Focus on finding the minimal effective dose
• Consider weight-based dosing adjusted as the child grows
• Monitor for both physical and behavioral responses

Close Monitoring:

• Document dosage, timing, and effects in detail
• Track specific symptom improvements
• Monitor development milestones
• Observe changes in behavior, mood, cognition, and sleep
• Report any concerning changes immediately

These general guidelines are applied on an individual basis for each child, with regular reassessment as part of the treatment plan.