Anecdotal reports from some doctors, parents and autistic adults have long suggested that cannabis and cannabis-derived products can ease certain common autism traits, including anxiety and aggression. Though many of these claims remain untested, research over the past five years shows that cannabis can alleviate seizures in people with autism-linked syndromes and may also benefit other autistic people.

As drug regulators loosen restrictions on cannabis use, a new era of research has opened up. This special report surveys the growing body of evidence on cannabis’ therapeutic potential for autism, as well as Spectrum’s coverage of the evolving regulatory environment.