Cannabis for Autism: A Comprehensive Guide
Explore the potential benefits of cannabis for autism, including studies and expert opinions.
Short answer
CBD is safer than THC for autism. CBD does not cause intoxication. THC does, and THC carries risks that matter more for children and teens: psychosis, memory problems, and dependence. Neither compound is FDA approved to treat autism. CBD is not risk free.
What the evidence shows
The CDC counted 1 in 31 children aged 8 with autism in its 2022 surveillance year. That is up from 1 in 36 in the 2020 data. No drug cures autism. Clinicians treat co-occurring conditions: seizures, anxiety, sleep problems, and aggression.
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CBD trials in autism
A 2023 randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in Israel gave 150 autistic children a 20:1 CBD to THC oral solution for 12 weeks. The primary endpoint, change on the Clinical Global Impressions scale, did not differ from placebo. A secondary measure, social communication, improved in the CBD group. Trial sizes stay small. Follow-up runs 12 to 26 weeks. Data on long-term brain development do not exist.
THC risks
- Psychosis. A 2019 Lancet Psychiatry study across 11 sites found the highest odds of psychotic disorder among people who used high-potency cannabis every day. Potency matters: THC above 10% carries more risk than low-potency flower.
- Cognition. Heavy use that starts in the teen years is linked to lower scores on memory and attention tests. Studies disagree on how much of that comes from cannabis and how much from other factors.
- Dependence. About 1 in 6 people who start cannabis in their teens develop cannabis use disorder, per NIDA.
- Potency. Average THC in seized cannabis flower rose from about 4% in 1995 to about 15% in 2021. Concentrates test at 60% to 90% THC.
CBD side effects
The FDA-approved CBD drug Epidiolex lists ALT liver enzyme increases in about 13% of patients at 20 mg/kg per day. CBD blocks CYP3A4 and CYP2C19. It raises blood levels of clobazam, valproate, and other drugs. Sedation, diarrhea, and appetite loss are common. Epidiolex is approved for three conditions: Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, and tuberous sclerosis complex. Autism is not on the list.
Epilepsy co-occurs with autism at higher rates than in the general population. Estimates range from 10% to 30%. For that group, CBD is a topic for a neurologist.
Legal status in the US
Hemp CBD with less than 0.3% THC is legal at the federal level under the 2018 Farm Bill. State rules differ. THC stays a Schedule I drug under federal law. 24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult-use cannabis. Some state medical programs list autism as a qualifying condition. Check your own state.
Bottom line
CBD has the lower risk profile for autism. THC has more documented harms for a developing brain. The evidence for both compounds in autism is early and mixed. Talk to a clinician who treats autism before you start any cannabis product. Ask about drug interactions, liver tests, and seizure history.