Cannabis and Autism

Autism Spectrum Disorder is thought to be due, at least in part, to an imbalance in the endocannabinoid system, which plays a key role in regulating mood, sleep, and social behavior.  Two ground-breaking studies found altered levels of endocannabinoids and differences in the function of this system in children diagnosed with autism compared to children without this diagnosis. Clinical research, including randomized, controlled trials, show that CBD and other cannabinoids can help reduce anxiety, aggression, sleep difficulties while also improving communication, hyperactivity and overall quality of life. Dr. Goldstein has published three studies looking at the impact of medical cannabis in children with autism using saliva biomarkers and found that cannabinoids corrected underlying abnormalities in pathways that were seen before medical cannabis treatment. Importantly, these studies consistently report an acceptable safety profile with no serious side effects.