Minnesota patients with autism reported reduced presence and severity of anxiety and depression symptoms after starting with the medical cannabis program, according to a study published last week by the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).
The study utilized data collected from 1,811 Minnesota adult and pediatric patients with autism from August 1, 2018, through July 31, 2024. At enrollment in the state medical cannabis program, just over 88% of the patients reported experiencing moderate to severe anxiety, while about 60% reported moderate to severe symptoms of depression.
Among the patients who reported moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety, 57% saw significant reductions in those symptoms — and of those who reported a reduction, over 67% maintained that improvement for at least four months of program participation. Additionally, over 63% of those with moderate to severe depression symptoms reported an improvement, and nearly 74% were able to maintain the improvement for at least four months.
“This study demonstrates the value of listening to patients and using real-world data to better understand how medical cannabis may improve their quality of life. The findings are encouraging, particularly for patients experiencing anxiety, depression, sleep difficulties and other conditions that can accompany autism. As Minnesota’s cannabis market continues to evolve, research like this helps us build a stronger evidence base and make informed decisions that put patients and public health first.” — OCM Executive Director Eric Taubel, in a press release
Minnesota legalized medical cannabis for patients with qualifying conditions in 2014, and added autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to the program in 2018.
“There are very few clinical trials using cannabis as a therapeutic agent in patients with autism spectrum disorder, so this report provides important data for future studies on medical cannabis and ASD,” Grace Christensen, OCM senior research analyst, said in the release.
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