First trial of medicinal cannabis for tics in teenagers with Tourette syndrome | Research

The takeaway

An open-label trial found medicinal cannabis was feasible and showed potential benefits for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome, with no serious adverse events.

Families and clinicians managing Tourette syndrome in adolescents, and researchers studying cannabinoid therapies for movement disorders.

Tic improvement significant at p = 0.003

What the researchers found

Statistically significant improvements were observed in parent and clinician reports on tics, behavioral and emotional issues, and quality of life in adolescents treated with a THC:CBD formulation.

Why it matters

While medicinal cannabis has been studied in adults with Tourette syndrome, this is the first study in adolescents, a population where tics often cause the most distress and social difficulty.

The numbers in context

Tic improvement was significant (p = 0.003). Quality of life improved per parent report (p = 0.027) and youth self-report (p = 0.032). Behavioral/emotional issues improved (p = 0.048). Most common side effects: tiredness and drowsiness.

How the study worked

Open-label, single-arm trial in adolescents aged 12-18 years using a THC:CBD ratio of 10:15 mg/mL, with doses ranging from 5 to 20 mg/day based on body weight and response.

What this study cannot tell us

Open-label design with no placebo control means improvement could reflect placebo effects or natural symptom fluctuation. Very small sample size limits statistical power.

How to read the evidence

Open-label pilot with no placebo arm and small sample. Demonstrates feasibility but cannot establish efficacy.

When this study was published

Published in 2025.

The bigger picture

Tourette syndrome treatments for adolescents remain limited, and many existing medications carry significant side effect profiles. If confirmed in larger trials, cannabis-based treatments could offer another option.

Questions still open

Would a placebo-controlled design confirm these benefits? What is the optimal THC:CBD ratio for tic management in young people?

Common questions

Can cannabis help with Tourette syndrome tics in teenagers?

This small pilot study found significant improvements, but it lacked a placebo control. A larger randomized trial is needed to confirm whether the benefits are from the medication itself.

What side effects did the teenagers experience?

The most common were tiredness and drowsiness, followed by dry mouth. No serious adverse events were reported.

Read the original research

Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome.

BJPsych open, 11(4), e145

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Eapen, Valsamma; Lin, Ping-I; Taylor, Kaitlyn; Chan, Eunice; Chay, Paul; Cranswick, Noel; Ka, Amy; Khan, Feroza; Payne, Jonathan M; Prakash, Chidambaram; Velalagan, Ramya; Efron, Daryl. (2025). Medicinal cannabis for tics in adolescents with Tourette syndrome.. BJPsych open, 11(4), e145. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2025.35