Medical marijuana patients with autism spectrum disorder reported meaningful and sustained reductions in anxiety, depression, sleep problems and other symptoms after beginning treatment, according to a new report released today by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
The report examined the first six years that autism spectrum disorder was a qualifying condition in Minnesota’s medical marijuana program. Researchers analyzed 1,811 first-time patients who enrolled between August 2018 and July 2024, including 1,645 who went on to purchase medical marijuana.
Anxiety was the most commonly reported symptom, with 88.3% of patients reporting moderate-to-severe anxiety when they entered the program.
Among patients with moderate-to-severe anxiety, 57% reported at least a 30% reduction in symptoms within four months of their first medical marijuana purchase. Overall, 34.3% both achieved that level of improvement and maintained it for at least another four months.
Depression showed similarly notable results. Among patients with moderate-to-severe depression, 63.4% reported at least a 30% reduction within four months, while 41.3% achieved and maintained a reduction of at least 30%.
Sustained improvements were also reported by 37.3% of patients with moderate-to-severe disturbed sleep and 34.4% of those experiencing moderate-to-severe fatigue.
The findings were drawn from patient self-evaluations that participants were required to complete before medical marijuana purchases. Patients rated eight symptoms on a scale from zero to 10, with researchers considering a reduction of at least 30% to be clinically significant.
Researchers also examined behavioral changes using the Aberrant Behavior Checklist Second Edition, or ABC-2, among a much smaller group of 46 patients under age 26 who completed questionnaires both before treatment and during follow-up.
Scores decreased significantly across all five behavioral categories measured, including irritability, social withdrawal, stereotypic behavior, hyperactivity and inappropriate speech. Median irritability scores fell from 21 to 14.5, while median hyperactivity and noncompliance scores declined from 27.5 to 19.
OCM cautioned that the behavioral analysis involved just 3.9% of eligible patients and may be affected by response bias. The study also lacked a placebo or untreated control group and did not account for other medications or treatments patients may have been receiving.
Product preferences differed substantially by age. Among patients under 18, 85.3% of products purchased were taken orally, including capsules, gummies and oral solutions, with CBD-dominant and balanced THC-to-CBD products most common. Adults were much more likely to purchase inhaled products and products containing relatively high levels of THC.
Adverse effects were reported by 19.5% of patients during their first year. Nearly 73% of reported side effects were classified as mild, with dry mouth the most common. Just 5.8% of reported side effects were classified as severe.
The agency concluded the report by stating:
Medical cannabis patients qualified for ASD reported reduced anxiety and a sub-set of patients reported reduced presence/severity of behavioral symptoms after starting medical cannabis. However, since all patients utilized medical cannabis, this report cannot compare the effectiveness in symptom relief to a control or placebo group. More research is needed to further elucidate this relationship.
