For Member Inquiries or Same Day Sicks Visits Text (651) 758-3184s  · For Member Inquiries or Same Day Sicks Visits Text (651) 758-3184 · For Member Inquiries or Same Day Sicks Visits Text (651) 758-3184 · For Member Inquiries or Same Day Sicks Visits Text (651) 758-3184 · For Member Inquiries or Same Day Sicks Visits Text (651) 758-3184

Pediatric cannabinoid care, grounded in evidence and guided by the endocannabinoid system.

For families considering cannabinoid therapies as part of their child's care, you deserve a provider who can educate you thoroughly, evaluate carefully, and guide you without bias. At Balanced Kids, cannabinoid consultations are available for children and young adults ages 0–21 across Minnesota.

Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist · Ages 0–21 · Virtual consultations available statewide ·Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist · Ages 0–21 · Virtual consultations available statewide ·Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist · Ages 0–21 · Virtual consultations available statewide ·Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist · Ages 0–21 · Virtual consultations available statewide ·Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist · Ages 0–21 · Virtual consultations available statewide ·

why it  matters 

What the endocannabinoid system actually is & 

A quiet regulatory network, active from birth.

The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is one of the body's most important regulatory networks. It's active from birth and works quietly in the background to help the body stay in balance. It plays a role in how your child sleeps, manages pain, regulates mood, responds to stress, processes inflammation, and maintains overall stability across nearly every major body system.

Still rarely taught, even to medical providers.

Despite being discovered more than thirty years ago, the ECS is still rarely taught in medical training, which means most families have never heard it mentioned in a pediatric visit. That's a gap. When the ECS is functioning well, your child's body has a better chance of staying regulated through the ordinary stresses of growth and development. When it's not, symptoms that feel unrelated on the surface, like sleep trouble, anxiety, chronic pain, or mood swings, can start to cluster.

Why cannabinoids can help.

Cannabinoids, including the naturally occurring ones your body makes on its own and the plant-based ones found in hemp and cannabis, interact directly with the ECS. That's why cannabinoid therapies can be helpful for some children, especially those with conditions where conventional options haven't fully worked.

Cannabinoid care, thoughtfully integrated into your child's health.

Evidence-informed, not experimental.

Training that goes beyond the pediatric standard.

Part of a whole-child approach.

Cannabinoid care at Balanced Kids is practiced the same way the rest of my pediatric care is practiced. Evidence-informed, carefully evaluated, and centered on your individual child.

I'm a Certified Endocannabinoid System Specialist through Goldstein Wellness, an advanced training program focused specifically on the clinical application of cannabinoid therapies. I also hold the Integrative Health and Lifestyle Certification through the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine, which grounds my cannabinoid work in a broader whole-child approach. This training is alongside my conventional credentials as a Doctor of Nursing Practice and a Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner.

Cannabinoid care is rarely the first thing we consider, and it's almost never the only thing. Most of my consultations include conversations about sleep, nutrition, stress, gut health, environmental exposures, and the other lifestyle pieces that either support or undermine how your child's body regulates itself.

Individualized Care Planning

A tailored plan built around your child's specific needs. Cannabinoid options, when appropriate, are one component of a broader, integrative approach.

Guidance on Non-Intoxicating Cannabinoid

Education on commonly used non-intoxicating cannabinoids, including CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN, and how each may support specific symptoms.


Dosing, Timing, and Delivery Methods

Individualized guidance on how cannabinoid products may be used, including starting doses, timing, and which delivery methods tend to work best for different situations.


Education on the Endocannabinoid System

A clear, science-based explanation of how the ECS works and its role in regulating sleep, mood, pain, inflammation, and overall balance. This is the foundation every consultation builds from.

Context and History of Cannabis in Medicine

A brief review of how cannabis has been used in medicine historically, how public perception has shifted, and where clinical use sits today. Understanding the context helps families move past stigma and make decisions from a place of information.

Comprehensive Health Review

A detailed look at your child's medical history, current symptoms, medications, and overall health goals, so that any guidance is personalized rather than one-size-fits-all.


What's included in a Cannabinoid Consultation

Every cannabinoid consultation is designed to give you a complete picture, not just a quick answer. Whether this is your first conversation about cannabinoid care or you've been researching for a while, the goal is the same. You leave informed, equipped, and ready to make a decision that's right for your child.

Here's what's included:

Product Safety and Quality Education 

How to evaluate a product before you buy it. This includes how to read and interpret a Certificate of Analysis, what to look for in labeling, and what red flags should steer you away.

Care Coordination

When appropriate, I coordinate with your child's existing healthcare team to support safe, connected care. You don't have to choose between your current providers and this work.

Consultations are typically 60 minutes for an initial visit, with follow-up appointments available as needed to refine the plan and track progress.

Symptom Tracking and Outcome Monitoring

A framework for tracking your child's response over time, so you can see what's working, what isn't, and what needs adjusting.

Balanced Kids does offer professional-grade supplements through Fullscript, a separate platform used for general wellness supplements. This platform does not include medical cannabis products. Fullscript and cannabinoid care are two distinct services, and they're kept that way intentionally.

Provide direct purchasing pathways for cannabis products

Sell or dispense cannabinoid products

Recommend specific brands or products

WHAT I DO NOT DO

Walk you through what to look for (and what to avoid) in labeling and ingredients

Help you assess product quality, purity, and potency

Show you how to read and interpret a Certificate of Analysis

Teach you how to confidently and safely choose high-quality cannabinoid products

What I do, and what I don't.

WHAT I DO

A note on supplements:

Most cannabinoid providers blur the line between educator and seller. At Balanced Kids, the line is clear. I provide education and guidance. I do not sell or recommend specific products. The goal of every consultation is to leave you equipped to choose safely on your own, without pressure, bias, or sales influence.

Who a cannabinoid consultation can help

AGE RANGE

Cannabinoid care isn't right for every child, and it isn't the first option for most. But for some families, especially those with children whose symptoms haven't responded to conventional approaches, the endocannabinoid system can be a meaningful piece of the care plan.

Every consultation is individualized, but these are some of the conditions I most often discuss with families:
  • ADHD
  • Autism
  • PANS and PANDAS
  • IBS and other chronic gut conditions, including Crohn's and ulcerative colitis
  • Chronic anxiety and mood regulation challenges
  • Chronic pain and inflammation
  • Sleep difficulties that haven't resolved with other approaches
  • Treatment-resistant symptoms where conventional options have been exhausted or insufficient

If your child's situation isn't on this list, that doesn't mean cannabinoid care isn't relevant. Reach out with your specific concern, and I'll tell you honestly whether a consultation is the right fit.

CONDITIONS I COMMONLY SUPPORT

Consultations are available for children and young adults ages 0–21.

There are situations where I'll recommend a different path, including:
  • When conventional treatments haven't yet been adequately tried
  • When a child is taking medications with known cannabinoid interactions that outweigh potential benefit
  • When the underlying concern points more clearly toward another type of care
  • When the family is looking for cannabinoid use that falls outside evidence-informed pediatric practice

Every consultation begins with an assessment of whether this is the right next step, and I'll tell you if it isn't.

WHEN CANNABINOID CARE MAY NOT BE RIGHT

MINNESOTA MEDICAL CANNABIS CERTIFICATION

Certified to participate in Minnesota's medical cannabis program

For some children, a cannabinoid consultation identifies medical cannabis as a clinically appropriate option. When that's the case, I'm certified to participate in Minnesota's medical cannabis program, which means I can help families move forward through the appropriate state pathway. 

A note on access: Minnesota's medical cannabis program is separate from Balanced Kids and operates through state-registered cannabis patient centers. I do not sell, dispense, or distribute cannabis products at any point in this process. My role is to evaluate, certify when clinically appropriate, and provide ongoing clinical support.

Transparent pricing, no surprises

Consultation pricing:

If you're considering both a membership and a cannabinoid consultation, the Meet & Greet is a good place to talk through which combination makes the most sense for your family.

Plan Cost
À la carte (non-member) $200
Sick Kids Membership $150 (reduced rate)
Balanced Kids Comprehensive Membership Fully included

Ready for a thoughtful conversation about cannabinoid care?

now's your time

If you've been searching for a pediatric provider who can guide you through cannabinoid care thoroughly, and without bias, I'd love to talk with your family. Schedule a consultation directly, or start with a free Meet & Greet to see if this is the right next step.

See our cannabinoid disclosures

Common questions

What parents often ask about cannabinoid care

A few of the questions that come up most often. If yours isn't answered here, the Meet & Greet is a good place to work through it together.

Send me a text at (651) 758-3184 anytime.

Book a Meet & Greet
Yes, within the right framework. Non-intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids like CBD are federally legal and widely available, and I can provide guidance on their safe, appropriate use at any consultation. Minnesota also has a state medical cannabis program that allows qualifying minors access to medical cannabis with provider certification. I'm certified to participate in that program when it's clinically appropriate.
Not when used as guided in my consultations. The cannabinoids most commonly discussed for pediatric care, including CBD, CBG, CBC, and CBN, are non-intoxicating. They interact with the endocannabinoid system without producing the psychoactive effects associated with THC. For families exploring care that does include THC through Minnesota's medical cannabis program, we discuss safety, dosing, and monitoring in detail so there are no surprises.
With your permission, I can coordinate directly with your child's existing healthcare team, provide a summary of our consultation, and share the care plan. Many pediatricians appreciate being kept in the loop even if cannabinoid care isn't something they personally provide, and coordination keeps your child's care team connected and informed.
It depends on the condition, the cannabinoid, and the delivery method, but most families see initial responses within two to six weeks of starting a plan. Part of every consultation is teaching you how to track symptoms and outcomes over time, so we have real data to refine the plan if needed.
Every consultation starts with a thorough review of your child's current medications. Some cannabinoids can interact with other medications, and those interactions are evaluated carefully before any recommendations are made. If an interaction makes cannabinoid care inappropriate for your child, I'll tell you directly and we'll discuss alternatives.