Short answer
Start with a referral from your child's pediatrician, then confirm the doctor holds an active license in your state and is registered with the state medical cannabis program. Most physicians who treat minors with cannabis-based medicines are pediatric neurologists, pediatric palliative care doctors, or pain specialists working inside hospital systems or state-licensed clinics.
Prerequisites
- Proof of residency in your state
- Your child's medical records, including diagnosis, imaging, and prior treatments
- A current medication and supplement list
- State medical cannabis program card or application, if your state requires one
- A designated caregiver, if state rules require one for minors
Steps to find a specialist
- Ask your child's pediatrician for a referral to a pediatric subspecialist who has experience with cannabis-based medicines.
- Open your state medical cannabis program website and use its registered physician lookup. Filter the list for pediatrics.
- Call the pediatric neurology or pediatric palliative care department at the nearest academic medical center. Ask if the department accepts pediatric cannabis referrals.
- Check the doctor's license and board status on your state medical board website.
- Ask the clinic three questions before you book: Do you treat patients under 18? Do you certify minors for the state program? What caregiver paperwork do you require?
- Send your child's records to the clinic ahead of the visit.
- At the consult, ask about dosing, product source, lab testing, side effects, and drug interactions with current prescriptions.
- Set a follow-up date and keep a daily symptom and side effect log.
How to verify a specialist
Confirm four items: an active state medical license, board certification in pediatrics or a pediatric subspecialty, registration with the state cannabis program, and a practice address where the doctor sees patients in person. A clinic that cannot show these items is a reason to keep looking.
pediatric medical cannabis eligibility requirements
Questions to ask at the consult
- Which diagnosis are you treating, and what evidence supports this product for my child?
- What dose do you recommend, and how will we adjust it?
- How is the product tested for potency and contaminants?
- What side effects should we watch for at home?
- How will this interact with my child's other medicines?
- Who handles refills, school paperwork, and caregiver forms?
What to expect
The FDA has approved one cannabis-derived medicine, Epidiolex, for certain severe seizure disorders in patients 1 year and older. Other cannabis products sold in dispensaries are not FDA approved. The American Academy of Pediatrics advises against cannabis use in children outside research or carefully monitored medical use. A specialist should document the diagnosis, explain the evidence, and set a monitoring plan before any product is used.