Early reports on medicinal cannabis for childhood autism look positive but evidence is very limited | Research

The takeaway

A scoping review found that 61% to 93% of children and adolescents with autism showed symptom improvement with medicinal cannabis, and up to 80% reduced other medications, but the evidence is limited to small observational studies.

Parents of children with autism, pediatricians, and researchers studying cannabis for neurodevelopmental conditions.

61-93% of pediatric ASD subjects showed improvement; up to 80% reduced other meds

What the researchers found

Eight completed studies (five ongoing) showed substantial behavior and symptom improvement with medicinal cannabis in pediatric ASD, with 61-93% of subjects showing benefit. Up to 80% of participants in studies tracking medication changes reduced their concurrent psychotropic medication use. Adverse events were reported in up to 27%, including two psychotic events.

Why it matters

Parents of children with autism increasingly seek medicinal cannabis guidance from clinicians, but evidence to support these decisions has been limited to small, uncontrolled studies.

The numbers in context

8 completed studies, 5 ongoing. 61-93% showed benefit. Up to 80% reduced concurrent medications. Up to 27% had adverse events. 2 participants experienced psychotic events.

How the study worked

Scoping review searching six databases and grey literature through January 2020 for studies where at least 50% of participants had ASD and at least 50% were under 18. Any study design was eligible.

What this study cannot tell us

All completed studies were retrospective cohort or observational. No randomized controlled trials. High variability in cannabis products used. Potential reporting bias toward positive outcomes.

How to read the evidence

Limited to retrospective and observational studies without controls. Promising but very early-stage evidence.

When this study was published

Published in 2022 with studies searched through January 2020.

The bigger picture

The high response rates and medication reduction potential are promising, but the absence of controlled trials means these results could reflect placebo effects, natural symptom fluctuation, or reporting bias.

Questions still open

Will ongoing clinical trials confirm the observational findings? Which cannabis formulations and doses are safest for children with ASD?

Common questions

What symptoms improved with cannabis?

Studies reported improvements in behavioral disturbances and ASD-related symptoms broadly, with 61-93% of participants showing some benefit.

Were there safety concerns?

Adverse events occurred in up to 27% of participants, and two participants experienced psychotic events. However, the majority of side effects were not severe, and many participants were able to reduce their other medications.

Read the original research

Medicinal cannabis in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review.

Child: care, health and development, 48(1), 33-44

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Fletcher, Sarah; Pawliuk, Colleen; Ip, Angie; Huh, Linda; Rassekh, S Rod; Oberlander, Tim F; Siden, Harold. (2022). Medicinal cannabis in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A scoping review.. Child: care, health and development, 48(1), 33-44. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.12909