A growing body of research is beginning to highlight what many medical cannabis patients have reported for years: cannabis may offer meaningful and fast acting relief for adults living with autism spectrum disorder. A recent study published in Nature Scientific Reports adds new weight to that conversation, suggesting that inhaled cannabis could significantly ease several common symptoms associated with autism.
Large Scale Real World Data from Adults with Autism
The study, conducted by researchers from Washington State University and the University of New Orleans, analyzed real world data from one hundred eleven adults between ages nineteen and seventy who identified as having autism spectrum disorder. Instead of relying on memory based surveys, the participants documented their experiences in real time using the Strainprint mobile app, logging nearly six thousand cannabis use entries over more than six years.
This approach gave researchers an unusually detailed look at how adults with autism self medicate with cannabis day to day and what kinds of effects they feel immediately after inhalation.
Reported Symptom Relief Was Significant
Across the dataset, participants consistently reported sharp drops in several common symptoms shortly after consuming cannabis. On average, users experienced:
• A 75% reduction in negative emotional states such as anxiety and irritability
• A 70% decrease in repetitive or compulsive behaviors
• A nearly 69% improvement in mental control including reduced difficulty concentrating
• A 68% reduction in sensory sensitivity including sound and touch sending or feelings of overload
What stood out even more was that more than ninety eight percent of logged sessions showed improvement rather than stability or worsening of symptoms. This suggests that cannabis consistently provided beneficial effects across nearly all entries regardless of potency or cannabinoid ratios.
Why This Study Matters
Although scientific interest in cannabis and autism has grown in recent years, controlled clinical trials remain limited. The authors of the study argue that their findings highlight a need for more rigorous placebo controlled research to better understand how cannabinoids and the broader endocannabinoid system may help manage autism related symptoms.
Their work also aligns with observational data from the United Kingdom Medical Cannabis Registry where many adults with autism have reported better symptom control and reduced reliance on prescription medications after beginning medical cannabis treatment.
Looking Ahead
As cannabis policy continues to evolve, research like this adds important context to the conversation around therapeutic use. While self reported data is not a replacement for controlled trials, it provides valuable insight into how people are already using cannabis in daily life and what types of relief they are actually experiencing.
For individuals with autism, families, and clinicians seeking alternative or supplemental approaches to symptom management, this research may represent a promising direction for future treatment exploration.
Stay in the loop with all things Illinois Cannabis by joining the Couch Lock’d Newsletter here!
Follow our NEW Instagram here!
Become a Couch Lock’d Member.
Want to meet more people in the community and see what everyone’s smoking on? Join our Telegram channel here.
Find our latest reviews here.
Hosting an event & need a consumption bar? Hit us up here.
Save money with our affiliate links here.
Get your Illinois Medical Card for $75 now with our link here or code “CouchLockd”!
COUCH LOCK’D 