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Updated: Aug 1, 2025
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Preclinical Model of Prenatal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure to Assess Its Impact on Neurodevelopmental Outcomes
Published on: February 28, 2025
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Medicinal Cannabis for Paediatric Developmental, Behavioural and Mental Health Disorders
Daryl Efron1,2,3, Kaitlyn Taylor1
1Murdoch Children's Research Institute, 50 Flemington Rd, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia.
Summary
Medicinal cannabis shows potential for some symptoms in children with autism spectrum disorder, but more research is needed. Early studies suggest benefits for Fragile X syndrome, though conclusive evidence is lacking.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Child psychiatry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Growing parental interest in medicinal cannabis for children with developmental, behavioral, and mental health disorders.
- Limited high-quality evidence currently guides clinical practice.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing evidence on medicinal cannabis use in children with developmental, behavioral, and mental health disorders.
- To identify areas where further research is needed.
Main Methods:
- Review of preliminary open-label studies and one double-blind placebo-controlled trial.
- Examination of ongoing and planned studies for various pediatric conditions.
Main Results:
- Preliminary evidence suggests potential benefits of medicinal cannabis for some autism spectrum disorder symptoms.
- Synthetic, transdermal cannabidiol gel showed efficacy in reducing social avoidance in a subset of children with Fragile X syndrome.
- One double-blind placebo-controlled trial yielded inconclusive findings.
Conclusions:
- Medicinal cannabis may offer therapeutic potential for specific symptoms in certain pediatric populations.
- High-quality, double-blind placebo-controlled trials are essential to establish efficacy and guide clinical decisions.
- Further research is warranted for conditions including autism, intellectual disability, Tourette's syndrome, anxiety, and psychosis.
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