Preliminary evidence from open-label studies suggests medical cannabis may help some symptoms in children with autism, and synthetic CBD gel shows promise for Fragile X syndrome, but high-quality controlled trial data is largely absent.
Read this if you are a parent or clinician considering medical cannabis for a child with autism, ADHD, or other developmental conditions.
1 controlled trialOnly one double-blind placebo-controlled trial exists for cannabis in pediatric ASD
What the researchers found
The review found that open-label studies suggest potential for medical cannabis to improve some symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder, but only one double-blind placebo-controlled trial exists, with inconclusive findings. Synthetic transdermal CBD gel demonstrated efficacy for reducing social avoidance in a subgroup of children with Fragile X syndrome. Studies are planned or underway for children with autism, intellectual disability, Tourette syndrome, anxiety, psychosis, anorexia nervosa, and specific neurodevelopmental syndromes.
Why it matters
Parents are increasingly asking about medical cannabis for their children with developmental conditions. This review helps clinicians navigate a landscape where parental demand far outpaces the evidence base.
The numbers in context
- Only 1 double-blind placebo-controlled trial in pediatric ASD (inconclusive)
- Synthetic CBD gel showed efficacy in Fragile X subgroup
- Studies planned/underway for: ASD, intellectual disability, Tourette's, anxiety, psychosis, anorexia nervosa
How the study worked
Narrative review of current evidence for medical cannabis in pediatric developmental, behavioral, and mental health disorders.
Who was studied
Children with developmental, behavioral, and mental health disorders
What this study cannot tell us
Narrative review, not a systematic review. The evidence base is extremely limited — mostly open-label studies and case series. Pediatric dosing, safety, and long-term developmental effects are poorly understood.
How to read the evidence
Narrative review of a very limited evidence base. Most underlying studies are open-label without controls.
When this study was published
Published in 2023. Reflects the current state of a rapidly evolving but evidence-poor field.
The bigger picture
The pediatric medical cannabis space illustrates a common tension: desperate families seeking any potential treatment vs. the medical establishment's need for rigorous evidence before recommending therapies for developing brains.
Questions still open
- What are the long-term effects of cannabinoid exposure on developing brains?
- Which specific ASD symptoms are most likely to respond to cannabinoid treatment?
- Should pediatric medical cannabis research prioritize CBD-only or CBD/THC formulations?
Read the original research
Medicinal Cannabis for Paediatric Developmental, Behavioural and Mental Health Disorders.
International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(8)
Citation
Efron, Daryl; Taylor, Kaitlyn. (2023). Medicinal Cannabis for Paediatric Developmental, Behavioural and Mental Health Disorders.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(8). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20085430