Medical Marijuana for Autism
Cannabis is prescribed as a treatment for autism in 14 states. Is it the wonder drug patients and families have been waiting for?
CLINICAL REFLECTIONS
Although the research on cannabis and autism spectrum disorders is in its infancy, there has been much controversy and confusion. Over the years, more patients and their families are seeking guidance from doctors on using cannabis to alleviate symptoms. From preventing seizures to calming aggression, a slow trickle of research is suggesting that cannabidiol (CBD), a component of cannabis, may be the wonder drug families have been searching for. But does it hold up to this standard? Should we be recommending it to patients? How do we weigh the benefits and the risks?
Unfortunately, many clinicians lack adequate training on the subject, making them unprepared to have a meaningful discussion with patients and families. Efforts to advance research have been limited for technical and logistical reasons, often leaving doctors with just as many questions as patients.
Cannabis: An Overview
Cannabis is a genus of flowering plants belonging to the family Cannabaceae that includes 3 species: cannabis sativa, indica, and ruderalis. Marijuana specifically refers to the parts of the cannabis plant that contains high amounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Medicinal use of the cannabis plant dates back thousands of years in cultures all around the world. Today, it is used to treat an assortment of conditions, such as arthritis, cancer, HIV/AIDS, glaucoma, seizures, and more.
Used recreationally, it produces a high or mind-altering effect when smoked or consumed. It is also used therapeutically. The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines medical cannabis as “using the whole, unprocessed marijuana plant or its basic extracts to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions.”1
The plant produces more than 500 different chemical substances. These include 100 unique cannabinoids, which bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system. CB1 receptors are more common in the central and peripheral neurons, while CB2 receptors are expressed only in peripheral tissues, predominating the immune system.2
THC and CBD are 2 cannabinoids found in cannabis that have particular clinical importance.3
In medical applications, THC is typically used to relieve pain, nausea, insomnia, and poor appetite. THC is a partial agonist of the CB1 and CB2 receptors.4 It produces the high, which is why it is included in so many recreational marijuana products.
CBD is less controversial than THC because it does not produce mind-altering or euphoric effects. It has low affinity for CB1/CB2, acting as an antagonist.5 It affects various receptor systems in the body (TRPV1, GPR55, PPAR.) Of note is its agonism on the 5HT1A (serotonin) receptor at high concentrations to help with anxiety, sleep, pain perception, and nausea.6 It also appears to be a partial dopamine receptor agonist, pointing toward its possible antipsychotic properties. Additionally, CBD appears to influence the glutamate-GABA system.7
Endocannabinoids are naturally occurring lipid mediators in the body that bind to the cannabinoid receptors. Unlike other neurotransmitters, they are produced on demand in the body and are quickly inactivated. The most common ones include: N-arachidonoylethanolamine (anandamide), 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), and 2-arachidonylglyceryl ether.
Anandamide, also known as the “bliss molecule,” is currently one of the most-studied endocannabinoids.8 The cannabinoid receptor system has a very complex role in the body, which includes regulation of cell function, maintenance of homeostasis, motor coordination (basal ganglia), brain reward system, stress response, memory function (hippocampus), appetite, modulation of pain, and reduction of inflammation.
Anandamide causes inhibition of the release of neurotransmitters such as glutamate and gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA). It also affects norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin, histamine, prostaglandins and opioids.9 An imbalance in the GABA and glutamate system is often linked with autism.
Reference:
https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/medical-marijuana-for-autism