HEALTH
Israeli Pediatrician Turns to Cannabis as a Treatment for Autism
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Dr. Adi Eran has launched a clinical trial to study the effect of cannabis oils on children and adults with autism.
Published on August 24, 2016

There’s no denying the immense medicinal value that cannabis has for certain disorders and diseases, from post-traumatic stress disorder to glaucoma, but, the benefits that cannabis may or may not provide to someone suffering from autism is one area that has remained quite gray. Earlier this year, we took an in-depth look at a handful of studies to try and determine if cannabis was a legitimate option for autism treatment, which left us optimistic, yet still a bit uncertain.

 

Now, an Israeli pediatrician is launching a clinical trial to help get to the bottom of this lengthy debate about the effects that cannabis has on autistic children and adults. Dr Adi Eran, who is the head of the pediatric neurology department at Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem, will soon obtain permits from Israel’s Ministry of Health that will enable him to conduct a clinical trial on 120 autistic individuals with different ranges of social functionality.

Dr. Eran will provide these participating patients with cannabidiol-enriched oil, one of more prominent active chemicals found in the cannabis plant, and one that is specifically non-hallucinogenic. The pediatrician’s research will primarily focus on behavioral symptoms such as physical aggression and acute anxiety attacks, both of which are debilitating effects of autism.

According to Dr. Eran, although cannabis oil is not currently recognized as a viable treatment for autism, and number of Israelis suffering from the condition have already been given prescriptions for medicinal marijuana to help treat their symptoms.

A Health Ministry subcommittee is in the midst of reviewing the rules that would be used to regulate the use of medicinal cannabis to treat autism.

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Tyler Koslow
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Tyler Koslow is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer with an intensive focus on technology, music, pop culture, and of course, cannabis and its impending legalization.
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