Episode 481: Cannabis and Kids with Dr. Bonni Goldstein

 Goldstein's frustration with the medical system included long patient wait times of four to eight hours in emergency rooms and having to argue with insurance companies about necessary patient transfers to higher acuity facilities.A friend's breast cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy struggles prompted Goldstein to research cannabis in 2008, leading her to discover the endocannabinoid system and eventually work part-time in a medical cannabis practice in Los Angeles.Epilepsy and autism represent the top two conditions treated in Goldstein's pediatric cannabis practice, with one-third of pediatric epilepsy patients not responding to any pharmaceutical medications.Treatment protocols utilize primarily non-impairing cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBDA, with THC used in medicinal doses that allow 70 to 80 percent of children to function without impairment.A remarkable case involved a nine-year-old patient with hundreds of daily seizures who progressed from being non-responsive in a stroller to saying "mama" at age 12-13, learning to crawl, feed herself, and use an iPad after years of cannabinoid treatment.Research demonstrates that longer treatment duration with CBD correlates with better outcomes, with patients showing optimal response rates at the two-year mark compared to one month or one year of treatment.CBD's effectiveness stems from its promiscuous nature, targeting over 75 different receptors including trip channels, adenosine enhancement, anandamide boosting, and GPR55 receptor blocking to reduce neuroexcitation and neuroinflammation.Different cannabis strains or chemovars contain varying amounts of similar compounds, requiring some patients to try 8, 10, or 15 different products before finding effective treatment, while others respond to any variety.Parents approach cannabis treatment with varying levels of apprehension, from immediate research after diagnosis to last-resort consideration after years of failed conventional treatments.Scientific literature now considers CBD an acceptable treatment for intractable pediatric seizures, with published research showing an 86% response rate for seizure reduction across multiple clinical studies.Environmental factors including increased chemical exposure, pesticide-laden foods like Cheerios, and processed foods contribute to the rising prevalence of childhood ailments compared to previous generations.Goldstein launched Goldstein Wellness in 2024, offering free comprehensive cannabis education to US licensed healthcare practitioners through 50+ videos and providing a free referral service connecting patients with educated clinicians in their states.Schedule 3 rescheduling will primarily benefit research opportunities and allow patients to cross state lines with their medicine, addressing the current problem where well children cannot travel to visit family members in other states.Research on autism patients revealed that children have lower levels of anandamide, an inner cannabis compound, and cannabinoid treatment can normalize biomarkers related to aggression, inflammation, and neuronal functioning while improving behaviors and family functioning. Visit our website: CannabisHealthRadio.comDiscover products and get expert advice from Swan ApothecaryFollow us on Facebook.Follow us on Instagram.Find us on Rumble.Keep your privacy! Buy NixT420 Odor Remover Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.