Can Children Take CBD Gummies?

CBD gummies are the best way for children to harness the therapeutic effects of Cannabidiol. In this blog, you will understand CBD gummies, the legal age to buy them in the UK, and concerns about gummies for children.

CBD products have become popular in the UK, with people using them to improve their general health. The most common way to consume CBD is by buying CBD gummies. They are sweet and contain low doses of CBD oil, reducing the risk of overdosing. They are readily available in online platforms and over-the-counter stores, although there is an age limit. No law limits children from consuming CBD products, but most vendors avoid selling the commodities to minors without a guardian company.

What Are CBD Gummies?

CBD gummies are sweet edibles containing gelatin and CBD compounds as the main active ingredient. During the hardening stage of making CBD gummies, a well-diluted amount of CBD is infused with other ingredients. CBD gummies are mostly consumed to harness the therapeutic effects of the cannabinoid.

What Is CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is an active chemical compound extracted from the leaves and flowers of the hemp plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), it is non-psychoactive with health benefits such as relieving pain, inflammation, anxiety, stress, and memory loss. Upon extraction, the cannabinoid is highly diluted with carrier oils like hemp seed oil to form a concentrated solvent used in manufacturing products like topicals, edibles, and vapes. Gummies are the most commonly used CBD ediblesmasking the oily bitter taste of cannabis with a delicious flavor. Therefore, it is the best cannabis form for children to incorporate CBD into their bloodstream.

Legal Age to Buy CBD Gummies In the UK

According to McGregor et al. (2020), in 2018, the UK parliament legalized certain cannabis compounds like CBD, CBN (cannabinol), and CBG (Cannabigerol) for people of all ages. However, THC is illegal and only used for medical concerns under controlled circumstances. UK citizens of any age can purchase and consume CBD gummies if they contain less than 0.2% THC.The study above also showed that the parliament concluded that the law should prohibit children under 18 from buying CBD gummies delivered from marijuana strains without a medical program. Levinsohn et al. (2020) suggested that Children diagnosed with medical conditions seizures, epilepsy, hepatitis C, and post-traumatic and withdrawal symptoms may require THC therapeutic effects. CBD gummies containing a high level of THC can help sortout the above health issues.Most CBDmanufacturers providecertain guidelines and instructions to local sellers to follow some facts before selling CBD gummies to children;

THC Level

CBD gummies for minors, pregnant women, or lactating customers should be thoroughly checked to determine the THC level before selling.

CBD Type

The UK health act dictates that children purchaseproducts with CBD isolate because of its pureness and contain no contamination of other cannabis cannabinoids such as THC.

CBD Source

CBD gummies in the cannabis market are mostly sourced from the legal hemp plant. The plant contains a high concentration of the therapeutic compound and no or minimal amount of THC. Marijuana-derived CBD gummies should not be sold to children since they might have some intoxicating effects.

Medical Program

CBD gummies of ultrahigh CBD potency or containing High levels of THC should be sold to kids if only accompanied by a guardian. They should have an official prescription from an authorized physician.

Benefits of CBD Gummies to Children

The general use of CBD gummies for children is to tackle body imbalances like sleep, pain, inflammation, and mental issues. However, CBD has more advanced medical effects on children, as included below:

Treat Epilepsy Symptoms

Sholler et al. (2020) explained that the Food Standard Agency (FSA) had approved a medication derived from CBD oil to treat seizures associated with epilepsy in minors. The drug is called epidiolex, made from a purified CBD sourced from the hemp plant. Kwan Cheung et al. (2019) suggested that upon taking epidiolex, CBD molecules interact with the patient's endocannabinoid system ( ECS) to reduce certain neuron activities causing seizures.

Protect Against Neurological Disease

Cardoso (2019) opined that CBD gummies have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties providing significant neuroprotection for certain pathological disorders like Huntington's disease in kids. The study above suggested that CBD produces anandamide that binds with cannabinoid receptors in the peripheral nervous system to reduce pain and inflammation associated with neurological disorders.

Autism

CBD products like gummies have shown great power in reducing the symptoms of Autism. The common symptoms of the disorder are restlessness, seizures, and repetitive movements. According tobilge et al. (2021), CBD increases the production of 2-AG that binds with certain neurons to increase dopamine production and reduce cortisol releaseaffecting kids' mental health.

Treat Anxiety Disorders

Wright et al. (2020) showed that CBD might have a place in treating anxiety in children with conditions like social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PSTD), and panic attacks. These disorders are characterized by a lack of sleep, stressed thought, and high tension in normal events. The study above claimed that after consuming CBD gummies, the cannabinoid produces stress-relieving hormones like serotonin, changing how the affected child perceives stressful thoughts and social events.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

ADHD is a common mental disorder in children. It makes the affected lack concentration and focus on the activities such as studies, daily chores, exams, etc. According to Mansell et al. (2022), CBD products can help reduce the symptoms of ADHD by relaxing the mind to boost focus, concentration, and memory formation.

Concerns about CBD Gummies for Children

CBD gummies may exhibit many health benefits to children, but sometimes they might have short-lived or long-term side effects. It depends on the supervision of the guardian and the honesty of cannabis vendors. The following are risk concerns of CBND gummies for kids:

• Some CBD gummies may have higher CBD potency than advertised, resulting in overdosing.
• CBD gummies may contain chemical residues harmful to minors besides the high THC level.
• CBD is an active compound; therefore, it can easily react with other kid's medications resulting in unwanted side effects
• There is a risk of adding CBD gummies containing a high level of THC. in cases of using CBD gummies for sleep children; the problem can worsen if they withdraw from taking the product.
• Taking too many CBD gummies due to their delicious taste, children may experience some potential side effects like dry mouth, fatigue, loss of appetite, and diarrhea.

Conclusion

CBD gummies are among the best CBD consumption method covering the oily bitter taste of cannabis with a delicious flavor. However, buying products for children can have some downtime. In the UK, no law prohibits kids from taking pure CBD products: cannabis products containing THC levels above 0.2% are illegal. Only children with a verified medical claim can consume CBD gummies derived from marijuana or containing high THC levels. They provide health benefits to children if taken correctly. These benefits include treating seizures, anxiety disorders, and ADHD and reducing the effects of Autism.

References

Bilge, S., &Ekici, B. (2021). CBD-Enriched Cannabis For Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Experience Of A Single Center In Turkey And Reviews Of The Literature. Journal Of Cannabis Research, 3(1), 1-11.

Cardoso, K. D. (2019). Cannabis Sativa: Legalização, Comercialização E UsoTerapêutico (Doctoral Dissertation, Universidade De Lisboa (Portugal)).

Kwan Cheung, K. A., Peiris, H., Wallace, G., Holland, O. J., & Mitchell, M. D. (2019). The Interplay Between The Endocannabinoid System, Epilepsy, And Cannabinoids. International Journal Of Molecular Sciences, 20(23), 6079.

Levinsohn, E. A., & Hill, K. P. (2020). Clinical Uses Of Cannabis And Cannabinoids In The United States. Journal Of The Neurological Sciences, 411, 116717.

Mansell, H., Quinn, D., Kelly, L. E., & Alcorn, J. (2022). Cannabis For The Treatment Of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Report Of 3 Cases. Medical Cannabis And Cannabinoids, 5(1), 1-6.

Mcgregor, I. S., Cairns, E. A., Abelev, S., Cohen, R., Henderson, M., Couch, D., ... &Gauld, N. (2020). Access To Cannabidiol Without A Prescription: A Cross-Country Comparison And Analysis. International Journal Of Drug Policy, 85, 102935.

Mcgregor, I. S., Cairns, E. A., Abelev, S., Cohen, R., Henderson, M., Couch, D., ... &Gauld, N. (2020). Access To Cannabidiol Without A Prescription: A Cross-Country Comparison And Analysis. International Journal Of Drug Policy, 85, 102935.

Sholler, D. J., Schoene, L., & Spindle, T. R. (2020). Therapeutic Efficacy Of Cannabidiol (CBD): A Review Of The Evidence From Clinical Trials And Human Laboratory Studies. Current Addiction Reports, 7(3), 405-412.

Wright, M., Di Ciano, P., & Brands, B. (2020). Use Of Cannabidiol For The Treatment Of Anxiety: A Short Synthesis Of Pre-Clinical And Clinical Evidence. Cannabis And Cannabinoid Research, 5(3), 191-196.