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Risks of Unregulated Home-Made Cannabis Products Used by Parents to Treat Refractory Epilepsy in Their Children

Neubauer, D.; Zigon, D.; Perkovic Benedik, M.; Bizjak, N.; Kovac, J.; Vehovc, M.; Osredkar, D.

2025-04-28 pediatrics
10.1101/2025.04.25.25326163 medRxiv
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IntroductionSome parents initiate treatment with non-prescription, home-made (unlabeled and unregulated) cannabis products for their children with refractory epilepsy without consulting their physicians. This study aimed to analyze the composition of these products in a pediatric cohort. MethodsHome-made cannabis samples were analyzed for cannabinoid content, cannabidiol (CBD):{Delta}9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ratio, and potential contaminants. ResultsSixty home-made cannabis samples from 31 patients were analyzed. The most frequently detected cannabinoids were CBD, THC, and their acidic forms. The CBD:THC ratio varied significantly, with the most common ratio ranging from 1:1 to 10:1 (25.0%). Approximately 11.7% of the samples contained mainly CBD, 38.3% contained more THC than CBD, and 18.3% contained primarily THC with undetectable CBD levels. ConclusionsHealth professionals should strongly discourage the use of unregulated home-made cannabis products, as undisclosed and highly variable cannabinoid content with often elevated THC levels and potential contaminants present serious health risks for children with refractory epilepsy.

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