Medical Cannabis for Autism in the UK: What Does the Research Say?
Medical Cannabis for Autism in the UK: What Does the Research Say?
If you search for medical cannabis for autism, you’ll find plenty of claims about CBD, THC and cannabis helping autistic people. The reality is more nuanced. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference, not an illness that medical cannabis can “cure”, and research into cannabinoids and autism is still developing.
Some studies have investigated whether cannabinoids could help with particular difficulties experienced by some autistic people, including anxiety, sleep problems and behaviour that challenges. However, the evidence remains limited and medical cannabis is not an established treatment for the core features of autism. In this guide, we look at what the research actually tells us, how medical cannabis is prescribed in the UK and what autistic adults considering treatment should know.
Contents
What Is Autism?
Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference that affects how someone experiences and interacts with the world.
The NHS describes autism as a difference in how the brain develops. Being autistic can affect communication, learning, attention, sensory processing and how someone responds to their environment.
Autism affects people differently. Some autistic people require substantial day-to-day support, while others live independently. There is no single experience of being autistic.
Autistic people are also more likely to experience certain coexisting physical and mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD and epilepsy.
Importantly, autism is not an illness and there is no treatment designed to “cure” autism. Healthcare instead focuses on appropriate support and, where necessary, treating specific coexisting health problems.
Can Medical Cannabis Treat Autism?
Medical cannabis is not a cure for autism and is not currently an established treatment for the core features of autism.
This distinction matters because some online discussions describe cannabis as an “autism treatment”. That can give a misleading impression of the evidence.
Research has instead investigated whether cannabinoids might influence particular symptoms or difficulties experienced by some autistic people.
NICE guidance for autistic adults recommends identifying and appropriately treating coexisting physical and mental health conditions rather than routinely using medicines to manage the core features of autism.
An autistic person considering medical cannabis therefore requires an individual clinical assessment. Their diagnosis, symptoms, coexisting conditions, previous treatments, current medication and potential risks all need to be considered.
Why Are Cannabis and Autism Being Studied?
Much of the scientific interest centres on cannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
These compounds interact with biological signalling systems in the body, including the endocannabinoid system. This system is involved in several physiological processes, including mood, sleep, appetite, memory and pain signalling.
Researchers have investigated whether cannabinoid signalling may be relevant to autism and some of the difficulties associated with it.
That biological rationale is interesting, but a plausible mechanism does not prove that cannabis is an effective treatment. Clinical trials involving autistic people are needed to establish whether potential benefits outweigh the risks.
What Does the Research Say About Cannabis and Autism?
Research into cannabinoids and autism has produced some interesting findings, but the evidence remains limited.
A systematic review of cannabis and cannabinoids in autism spectrum disorder examined the available evidence and reported potential changes in areas including hyperactivity, anxiety, sleep, behaviour and social interaction. However, the researchers also highlighted important limitations across the available studies and the need for stronger clinical evidence.
One important randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involved 150 autistic participants aged 5 to 21. Researchers compared two oral cannabinoid preparations containing CBD and THC in a 20:1 ratio with placebo.
The results were mixed. One measure of disruptive behaviour showed improvement with the whole-plant cannabinoid extract, while another primary outcome did not show a statistically significant difference.
The researchers concluded that the evidence for efficacy was mixed and that further clinical trials were needed.
This is an important distinction. There are signals within the research that justify further investigation, but the current evidence does not establish medical cannabis as a proven treatment for autism.
CBD and Autism: What Do We Know?
A significant proportion of autism research has focused on preparations containing relatively high levels of CBD alongside much smaller quantities of THC.
CBD does not produce the characteristic intoxicating effects associated with THC, but that does not mean CBD is automatically effective or risk-free.
Some small clinical studies have reported improvements in outcomes such as anxiety, social interaction, disruptive behaviour or sleep following CBD-rich cannabinoid treatment.
However, these studies have important limitations. Sample sizes have generally been small, formulations and doses vary considerably, and many studies have involved children and young people rather than autistic adults.
It is therefore too early to conclude that CBD is an effective treatment for autism itself. It should also not be assumed that over-the-counter CBD products are equivalent to cannabis-based medicines prescribed and monitored by a clinician.
What Symptoms Are Researchers Investigating?
Rather than thinking of medical cannabis as something that “treats autism”, it is more useful to understand the individual outcomes researchers have investigated.
Studies have explored areas including:
- Anxiety.
- Sleep difficulties.
- Irritability.
- Restlessness and hyperactivity.
- Behaviour that challenges.
- Social responsiveness.
Some autistic people also live with separate diagnosed conditions that may themselves be considered during a medical cannabis assessment.
For example, an autistic adult may also experience a diagnosed anxiety disorder or persistent sleep difficulties.
The important distinction is that treatment should be based on the person’s individual clinical circumstances rather than an assumption that every autistic person experiences the same difficulties.
Can You Get Medical Cannabis for Autism in the UK?
Cannabis-based medicines have been legally available on specialist prescription in the UK since November 2018.
There is not a simple government list stating that every person with a particular diagnosis automatically qualifies. A specialist clinician must decide whether prescribing is clinically appropriate for the individual patient.
At CB1 Medical, patients will generally need to have tried at least two recognised treatments for the condition or symptoms being assessed.
These treatments may not necessarily have failed completely. They may have:
- Provided insufficient benefit.
- Caused unacceptable side effects.
- Stopped working effectively.
- Been unsuitable for a documented clinical reason.
Your clinician will consider your diagnosis, medical history, previous treatments, current medication, symptoms you want to manage and any factors that could make medical cannabis unsuitable.
You can read our complete guide to what conditions can qualify for medical cannabis in the UK for more information about the assessment process.
What Are the Risks and Side Effects?
Medical cannabis is not suitable for everyone, and potential benefits need to be considered alongside potential risks.
Depending on the cannabinoid, dose and individual patient, possible unwanted effects can include:
- Drowsiness or fatigue.
- Dizziness.
- Changes in appetite.
- Changes in mood or anxiety.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Intoxicating effects from THC-containing medicines.
THC requires particular consideration because it is intoxicating and can affect cognition, coordination and anxiety in some people.
Medical history, mental health history and other medications therefore form an important part of a specialist assessment.
You can learn more about treatment and the different cannabinoids involved in our guide to what medical cannabis is.
Medical Cannabis and Autism FAQs
Can Medical Cannabis Cure Autism?
No. Autism is a lifelong neurodevelopmental difference rather than an illness that needs to be cured. Medical cannabis should not be presented as a cure for autism.
Can Medical Cannabis Help With Autism?
Research has investigated whether cannabinoids could affect particular difficulties experienced by some autistic people, including anxiety, sleep, irritability and behaviour that challenges. Some studies have produced encouraging findings, but the overall evidence remains limited and medical cannabis is not an established treatment for the core features of autism.
Can Autistic Adults Get Medical Cannabis in the UK?
Potentially, but eligibility is individual rather than automatic. A specialist clinician needs to assess the condition or symptoms being considered, previous treatments, medical history, current medicines and potential risks before deciding whether medical cannabis is clinically appropriate.
Is CBD Good for Autism?
Some clinical studies of CBD-rich cannabinoid preparations have reported potentially beneficial changes in particular outcomes, but the evidence is not strong enough to say that CBD is an established treatment for autism. More high-quality clinical research is required.
What Is the Difference Between CBD and THC?
CBD and THC are both cannabinoids found in cannabis, but they have different effects. THC can produce intoxicating effects, whereas CBD is generally considered non-intoxicating. Medical cannabis products can contain different concentrations and ratios of cannabinoids depending on the prescription.
Is Medical Cannabis for Autism Available on the NHS?
NHS prescribing of cannabis-based medicines remains very limited. Medical cannabis can also be prescribed privately by an appropriately qualified specialist doctor when they consider it clinically appropriate.
Do I Need to Have Tried Other Treatments First?
At CB1 Medical, patients will generally need evidence that at least two recognised treatments have previously been tried for the condition or symptoms being assessed. Your medical records help the clinician determine what has already been attempted and whether a medical cannabis assessment is appropriate.
Final Thoughts
The relationship between medical cannabis and autism is an interesting area of research, but it is important not to move faster than the evidence.
Cannabinoid studies have reported some potentially encouraging findings around particular outcomes, but trials remain relatively small and results are mixed. Medical cannabis is not a cure for autism, nor is it currently an established treatment for autism’s core features.
For an autistic person considering medical cannabis, the more useful question is whether there are specific symptoms or coexisting health problems that could appropriately be considered as part of an individual specialist assessment.
At CB1 Medical, treatment decisions are made individually based on your medical history, previous treatments, current symptoms and potential risks rather than diagnosis alone.
Could Medical Cannabis Be an Option for You?
If you’re an adult with a diagnosed condition and have already tried recognised treatments without sufficient benefit, use our free eligibility checker to see whether you may be suitable for an assessment with CB1 Medical.
