Cannabis and its effects on the health of children and adolescents
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Abstract
Cannabis is a herbal medicine that contains two essential cannabinoids: Cannabidiol (CBD) and Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent, helps improve sleep quality, and provides antiepileptic effects while THC has psychoactive effects and inhibits brain growth, especially in children and adolescents with developing brains. Currently, only pure CBD and CBD-enriched cannabis extracts are used in children and adolescents only for treating uncontrolled severe epilepsy. On the other hand, children and adolescents who use cannabis and cannabis products containing a large amount of THC can experience physical, mental health, and cognitive problems. Physical symptoms of cannabis use include restlessness or lethargy, abdominal pain, and severe nausea and vomiting while mental health issues are depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and severe aggressive behavior. Additionally, the use of cannabis also has negative impacts on cognitive functions and learning processes which include decreased cognitive levels, poor memory, and impaired executive functions, leading to failure in future academic and work performances. Therefore, all healthcare professionals should provide accurate information about cannabis to parents, children, and adolescents to prevent the adverse effects of cannabis use in children and adolescents after the implementation of “cannabis legalization.”
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ฐานข้อมูลกระทรวงสาธารณสุข. อัตราป่วยรายใหม่และจำนวนสะสมของผู้ป่วยที่มีความผิดปกติทางจิตและพฤติกรรมที่เกิดจากการเสพกัญชา (F12.XX) ปีพ.ศ.2565 [updated 2022 November 16; cited 2022 November 16]. Available from: https://hdcservice.moph.go.th/hdc/reports/report.php?source=pformated/formatg.php&cat_id=22710ed5db1ed6b12aab540a7b0753b3&id=b8d9c7216a6422827792630e61828eb7.
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