Autism - This paper needs to be addressed. It improperly equates THC use to “cannabinoids” in their discussion of cannabis and autism. It is a biased paper creating confusion and misinformation. Of note one of the authors has advised for GW pharma. THC is never the main cannabinoid we use for autism. In Canada our products I use are CBD dominant full spectrum with very low THC content. One great example is Charlottes web, hemp based with very low THC. These kids struggle with no real treatment options except off label antipsychotics like Risperadone and Abilify. Parents are often concerned about the long term effects of these antipsychotics and get zero answers from their doctor. They only get the typical answer of “there’s not enough research” and “there’s a risk of psychosis “ when asking about CBD. This has to stop. Research on cannabis has to be better. We need to specify which cannabinoid and what is in the products being researched. In Canada we know the content of our products as they are third party tested as per Health Canada regulations. Other Countries such as the USA do not have this and studies need to be aware of this. We also need to specify the route of administration as well as other factors related to the patient. This includes other medications and other substance use. Without these key components the research really says nothing valuable. It can’t be extrapolated well and we would never accept less if we were studying any other pharma. Bottom line: oral Cannabinoids change lives in Autism often at very low amounts. THC content is very low and this paper adds to the stigma surrounding cannabis.

Posted by Dr. Jennifer Anderson MD at 2024-05-30 22:06:06 UTC