The FDA’s approval of the first clinical trial of medical cannabis for autism is a significant milestone, as it represents the first time that the FDA has recognized the potential of medical cannabis to treat a neurodevelopmental disorder.

The trial will be conducted by researchers at the University of California, Davis, and will involve 120 children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) who are between the ages of 6 and 17. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either a medical cannabis extract or a placebo for 12 weeks. The researchers will assess the participants’ symptoms of anxiety, hyperactivity, and irritability before and after treatment to determine the efficacy of medical cannabis.

The trial is expected to begin in early 2024 and is expected to last for two years. The results of the trial could have a major impact on the treatment of ASD, as they could provide the first scientific evidence that medical cannabis is safe and effective for treating the symptoms of this disorder.

In addition to the trial at UC Davis, there are a number of other clinical trials of medical cannabis for ASD underway around the world. For example, a trial in Israel is investigating the use of medical cannabis to treat the core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication and repetitive behaviors. Another trial in Australia is investigating the use of medical cannabis to treat anxiety and sleep problems in children with ASD.

The growing body of research on medical cannabis for ASD is promising, and the FDA’s approval of the first clinical trial in the US is a major step forward. The results of these trials could lead to new and effective treatment options for children and adults with ASD.

Here are some additional details about the UC Davis clinical trial:

• The trial will be funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
• The medical cannabis extract that will be used in the trial is a whole-plant extract that contains both THC and CBD.
• The researchers will carefully monitor the participants for any adverse events.
• The results of the trial will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The outcome of this and other clinical trials will be eagerly awaited by families of children with ASD and by the medical community as a whole.

The researchers will assess the participants’ symptoms of anxiety, hyperactivity, and irritability before and after treatment to determine the efficacy of medical cannabis ¹.

The trial is expected to begin in early 2024 and is expected to last for two years. The results of the trial could have a major impact on the treatment of ASD, as they could provide the first scientific evidence that medical cannabis is safe and effective for treating the symptoms of this disorder ¹.

In addition to the trial at UC Davis, there are a number of other clinical trials of medical cannabis for ASD underway around the world. For example, a trial in Israel is investigating the use of medical cannabis to treat the core symptoms of ASD, such as social communication and repetitive behaviors. Another trial in Australia is investigating the use of medical cannabis to treat anxiety and sleep problems in children with ASD ¹.

The growing body of research on medical cannabis for ASD is promising, and the FDA’s approval of the first clinical trial in the US is a major step forward. The results of these trials could lead to new and effective treatment options for children and adults with ASD.

Learn more:

1. molecularautism.biomedcentral.com2. cannamd.com3. n.neurology.org4. spectrumnews.org5. health.ucsd.edu6. 7news.com.au7. thinkingautism.org.uk8. jcannabisresearch.biomedcentral.com9. thinkingautism.org.uk10. hightimes.com11. clinicaltrials.ucsd.edu12. clinicaltrials.gov