CBD-Rich Marijuana Eases Anxiety and Repetitive Behaviors in Autistic Children, Finds Study

OG article by Anthony Martinelli

November 21, 2025

A new Israeli study involving 65 children aged 5-12 with autism spectrum disorder found that CBD-rich cannabis significantly reduced anxiety symptoms and restricted/repetitive behaviors over six months. Parents rated improvements in general, social, panic, and separation anxiety, as well as decreases in compulsive, ritualistic, and sameness-related behaviors that interfere with daily life. Stronger anxiety reductions correlated with greater declines in sameness-driven actions. Published in the Journal of Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research, the open-label trial from Tel-Aviv University and University of Haifa suggests CBD-rich strains may offer therapeutic benefits for autism-related challenges. While promising, the lack of blinding or placebo control means results could be influenced by expectations. Researchers call for larger, double-blind studies using standardized assessments to confirm efficacy and explore how anxiety relief impacts broader behavioral outcomes in autistic children.