According to a new study, medical cannabis could possibly be effective in treating symptoms related to autism.

The study investigated cannabis extracts as a possible treatment for autism symptoms including difficulties with social interaction, repetitive behavior and language. 

Twenty-one patients with a median age of 9 years were treated over a 12-week period and were given tests such as EEG, neuropsychological analysis, metabolism and genetic tests. The EEG measured electrical activity in the brain, while the neuropsychological analysis tracked psychological functions linked to particular brain pathways.

In 71.4 percent of patients treated with cannabis extracts, their condition demonstrated improvements in at least one core symptom. Researchers also found 66.7 percent of patients treated with the same extracts showed significant general improvement.

The study was conducted by Zelda Therapeutics in collaboration with a Chilean medical cannabis non-profit called Fundación Daya.

“Zelda will use this baseline data to design its clinical trials and generate rigorous scientific data that validates the clinical benefit of medicinal cannabis,” said Harry Karelis, executive chairman of Zelda. “We hope that in the near future Zelda Therapeutics can provide an alternative treatment for sufferers of this condition which is of major global significance.”