After witnessing marijuana’s progression with treating epilepsy, an Israeli pediatrician has started a clinical test to analyze the effects of medical cannabis on children with autism as well as adults. According to Haaretz, Dr. Adi Eran, head of the pediatrics neurology department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, who will be heading up the endeavor, which is in the process of acquiring permits from the Health Ministry. The research will reportedly involve 120 people with autism, male and female, ages ranging between 4 to 30, who are defined as low to medium functioning. Participants will be given cannabis oils free of THC but strong in CBD.
“Per the norm in proper clinical research, participants will be divided into two groups: the test group that actually ingests the oil, and the control subjects who will be given placebos,” Haaretz reported. “After a test period during which the effects on the patients will be recorded, treatment will be halted for a month, then the groups will be reversed—the test group will become the control group and vice versa. Again, as is typical in such research, at no point will subjects or their families know whether the patient is receiving CBD or a placebo.”
According to the Jewish News Service, the research will focus on behavioral manifestations such as physical aggression and attacks stemming from acute anxiety. However cannabis oil is not a distinguished treatment for autism, Eran explained that several dozen Israelis suffering from disorder have received approved prescriptions due to the severity of their symptoms, and anecdotal evidence has shown cannabis oil to be effective.
“It isn’t that they’re stoned because the oil has no psycho-active component,” said pediatric nurse Naama Saban. “Their parents say the quality of life has completely changed. That for the first time, their little kids can have friends over and the big brother doesn’t go wild.”
Records state that a subcommittee of the Health Ministry is currently examining rules that would establish guidelines for using medical marijuana to treat autism.
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