Cannabidiol (CBD) Update for Pediatric Nurses

Edwards, Jennifer Johnson
Stone, Misty
Edwards, Phillip M.

Jennifer Johnson Edwards, DNP, RN, WHNP, CNE,is an Associate Professor and Graduate Program Director, Fayetteville State University, School of Nursing, Fayetteville, NC.
Misty Stone, PhD, RN,is an Assistant Professor, Fayetteville State University, School of Nursing, Fayetteville, NC.
Phillip M. Edwards, BS,is a Drop Out Prevention Coordinator, Columbus County Schools, Whiteville, NC.

Pediatric Nursing 49(1):p 40-44, January-February 2023.

Edwards, J.J., Stone, M., & Edwards, P.M. (2023). Cannabidiol (CBD) update for pediatric nurses. Pediatric Nursing, 49(1), 40-44.

This article focuses on the use of non-intoxicating, over-the-counter (OTC) cannabidiol (CBD) preparations in children. Evidence of therapeutic benefits of OTC CBD is minimal and evolving. Much of what is available to review regarding OTC CBD use in pediatric patients is anecdotal based on real-world utilization, which creates a challenge for the pediatric nurse when defining best practices. The use of OTC hemp products containing CBD with less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is increasingly common in adults. Many adults use these non-hallucinogenic CBD products regularly. The use of these readily available CBD products in children is more controversial, with conflicting evidence regarding safety and efficacy. Federally, use of OTC CBD products with less than 0.3% THC is legal; however, state laws vary. Commonly, pediatric nurses encounter patients who have an interest in or are currently using CBD. Legal implications coupled with the lack of U.S. Federal Drug Administration approval of these OTC products may lead to difficulty educating patients about CBD. This fact also complicates development of associated policies or procedures for usage. Pediatric nurses should know about OTC CBD, the endocannabinoid system’s physiology, and legal implications of CBD in the pediatric population, and provide education to patients and families who consider CBD as part of a treatment plan.