Researchers at the Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research just completed the first-ever controlled clinical trial of CBD in autistic children.
Specifically, they tested Epidiolex, a plant-derived, pharmaceutical-grade CBD, in boys aged 7–14 with severe behavioural problems.
And they found that 2/3 of the kids improved on CBD. Some of the non-speaking children even began to use words for the first time.
Let’s break it down.
What They Did
The study used a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover design – basically the gold standard. Each child took CBD for eight weeks and placebo for eight weeks, with a washout period in between.
No one knew which was which, not even the clinicians.
They tracked changes in repetitive behaviours, emotional outbursts, aggression, and communication – all areas where some parents have reported success using CBD anecdotally.
What They Found
🔹 Safety: CBD was well tolerated. No serious side effects.
🔹 Behaviour: Both the CBD and placebo groups improved on standard behaviour scales, including moderate improvements in social responsiveness, disruptive behaviour, while also reducing anxiety and improving sleep quality
🔹 Clinician impressions: 30% showed noticeable behavioural improvements on CBD.
So… Did It Work?
Here’s where it gets interesting.
The objective scores (on standardised tests) didn’t show a clear statistical difference between CBD and placebo.
However, the group taking CBD showed slightly greater improvements than the group taking the placebo, and these changes were noticed by the clinicians and parents.
Reductions in aggressive behaviours and hyperactivity were observed most frequently, with improvements in communication being seen in almost 30%.
Since many of the participants were non-speaking at the onset of the study, this was a notable change, with several of the children beginning to use words for the first time.
Still, the authors are right to urge caution. The study was small (30 kids), only tested boys, and didn’t fully control for other meds that might mess with how CBD is processed.
Why This Matters
For years, desperate parents have been DIY-ing their own CBD protocols some out of hope, some out of sheer exhaustion. And while the anecdotal evidence has been piling up, the lack of proper trials left everyone guessing.
Now, we’ve got some real data. Not perfect or definitive, but pointing in the right direction.
CBD seems to help some autistic kids, especially with severe behaviour issues. And unlike most prescription meds thrown at these families, CBD is safe, well-tolerated, and natural.
Don’t Overhype It, But Don’t Ignore It Either
This study doesn’t mean CBD is a miracle cure for autism. But it also doesn’t mean we should shrug it off.
We’re talking about a non-intoxicating, plant-derived compound with minimal side effects that helped 2 out of 3 severely autistic boys show real improvements.
Now we need larger, more diverse groups, better controls, and refined dosing strategies.
CBD might not be the answer. But for some families, it might just be an answer.
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