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Acute effects of cannabis on core and co-occurring features associated with autism spectrum disorder in adults

Debra S. Karhson,Emily M. LaFrance,Carrie Cuttler

Published 2025 in Scientific Reports

ABSTRACT

Pharmacological interventions that treat core and co-occurring features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are a persistent unmet need. As such, use of cannabis to manage ASD features is common in the autistic community. Yet, few studies have examined the acute effects of cannabis on symptoms associated with ASD. Therefore, we measured changes in symptom ratings from before to after cannabis use in a sample of 111 self-identified autistic adults. Anonymized archival data sourced from the Strainprint® app were analyzed. A subset of tracked information that reflected changes in core and co-occurring symptoms associated with ASD (i.e., Sensory Sensitivity, Repetitive Behaviors, Mental Control, and Negative Affect) were used to assess the impacts of cannabis on symptom severity. Overall, symptom severity ratings were reduced by 73.09% from before to after cannabis use. More severe symptoms were associated with greater reductions in severity ratings after use. Higher doses predicted greater reductions in severity of Repetitive Behaviors, Mental Control, and Negative Affect but dose of cannabis used to manage all symptoms remained static across time. Results from this first empirical examination of the perceived acute effects of cannabis in autistic adults suggest that cannabis provides temporary relief from symptoms associated with ASD.

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