What does the research actually say about cannabis for autism?
Evidence for cannabis as an autism treatment is extremely thin, with only five small studies and mixed results for most symptoms except epilepsy.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Only five small studies have specifically examined cannabis use in autism spectrum disorders. Results were mixed and inconclusive for most conditions, with epilepsy being the sole exception showing clearer benefit.
Key Numbers
Only 5 small studies specifically examined cannabis in ASD. 3 large-scale clinical trials were in progress. Adverse outcomes reported included severe psychosis, increased agitation, somnolence, decreased appetite, and irritability.
How They Did This
Literature review analyzing peer-reviewed studies on cannabis use in ASD populations, including systematic reviews, reports, and experimental studies.
Why This Research Matters
Families of children with ASD are increasingly turning to cannabis despite a near-total absence of rigorous evidence. Three large clinical trials were underway at the time of this review, but conclusions remained far ahead of the data.
The Bigger Picture
The gap between anecdotal enthusiasm and clinical evidence for cannabis in autism is wider than in almost any other condition. This review highlights just how little controlled research exists to guide families making real-time treatment decisions.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
The review identified very few ASD-specific cannabis studies, so it relied heavily on extrapolating from research on shared symptoms like anxiety and sleep disorders. The wide range of cannabis compositions and dosages across studies limits generalizability.
Questions This Raises
- ?Will the three large-scale trials produce clearer answers?
- ?How much of the reported benefit is driven by specific cannabinoids versus entourage effects?
- ?What are the long-term risks of cannabis use in developing brains of children with ASD?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Only 5 small studies
- Evidence Grade:
- Rated preliminary because the review found extremely limited direct evidence for cannabis in ASD, with most findings extrapolated from other conditions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2019. Several large clinical trials referenced were still in progress and may have since reported results.
- Original Title:
- Current state of evidence of cannabis utilization for treatment of autism spectrum disorders.
- Published In:
- BMC psychiatry, 19(1), 328 (2019)
- Authors:
- Agarwal, Rumi, Burke, Shanna L, Maddux, Marlaina
- Database ID:
- RTHC-01898
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis help with autism symptoms?
As of this review, the evidence is extremely limited. Only five small studies had examined cannabis specifically in autism, and results were mixed for everything except epilepsy.
Were there any risks found?
Yes. Adverse outcomes reported in the literature included severe psychosis, increased agitation, somnolence, decreased appetite, and irritability.
What about CBD specifically for autism?
The review did not find strong evidence distinguishing CBD from other cannabinoids for ASD. The overall evidence base was too small to draw firm conclusions about any specific compound.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-01898APA
Agarwal, Rumi; Burke, Shanna L; Maddux, Marlaina. (2019). Current state of evidence of cannabis utilization for treatment of autism spectrum disorders.. BMC psychiatry, 19(1), 328. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2259-4
MLA
Agarwal, Rumi, et al. "Current state of evidence of cannabis utilization for treatment of autism spectrum disorders.." BMC psychiatry, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-019-2259-4
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Current state of evidence of cannabis utilization for treatm..." RTHC-01898. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/agarwal-2019-current-state-of-evidence
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.