Researchers from Hannover Medical School and the Medical University of Warsaw have published a study in Frontiers in Psychiatry detailing two rare long-term cases of cannabis-based medicine (CBM) used to treat Tourette syndrome (TS) in children.

The report follows two male adolescents who began CBM treatment at the ages of 8 and 12. Both were treatment-resistant to conventional therapies. One patient transitioned from pure THC to an oral THC-dominant extract, while the other was treated by his physician parents with vaporized THC-dominant cannabis flowers. Over five to six years, both patients experienced consistent reductions in tic severity and psychiatric comorbidities such as ADHD, OCD, and depression, with no severe adverse effects reported.

Academic performance in both cases was strong, with one boy excelling to the point of becoming class president. Cognitive testing showed average results in working memory and average to above average results in processing speed. Importantly, no signs of psychosis, addiction, or cannabis use disorder emerged throughout years of treatment.

While previous research has shown CBM can reduce tics in adults with TS, evidence in children has been limited to a handful of short-term reports. This study marks the first long-term follow-up, showing sustained benefits without cognitive or academic decline.

The authors caution that these are only two cases and broader studies are needed, but suggest CBM may be worth considering for children with severe, treatment-resistant Tourette syndrome before surgical options such as deep brain stimulation are pursued.