Marijuana as a Treatment for Autism?
The debate has been going on for years now: Should we or should we not legalize the use of Medical Cannabis (or marijuana)? Everyone has their own opinion on whether or not the legalization should occur. Some argue that legalizing the drug will only make it more easily obtained for recreational use. On the flip side, others say that the benefits outweigh the risks. How many benefits are there to this sometimes considered “miracle herb”? Are there even more diseases and conditions that can be treated by marijuana that haven’t been proven yet?
It has been documented that administering cannabis has been beneficial in eliminating nausea and vomiting, inducing appetite in AIDS and Chemotherapy patients, reducing eye pressure in those with Glaucoma, as well as in general pain reliving. Some individual studies have also shown medical cannabis to be beneficial in Multiple Sclerosis and depression cases.
The legality of this treatment varies by country. The issue often shows up in state elections throughout the United States. One could spend the entire day weighing the pros and cons of legalizing marijuana. What it boils down to is who and how does administering marijuana help. I discussed AIDS, Glaucoma, Cancer and Chronic Pain patients, but how about children? Or more specifically, Autistic children.
There was a letter published (via) from a mother in Florida who shared the story of her very large, autistic child who went from loving and caring son to angry and aggressive. She says in her letter that she often had to lock herself in the bathroom or else her son would attack her. They tried many different medications but nothing seemed to help. A friend of the family suggested something that the mother had never thought of; a brownie laced with marijuana. She weighed her options and decided to give it a try. As a result of giving her son marijuana, his symptoms subsided and the gentle, loving son that once was, was back again. The boy is now being given 1 marijuana brownie as well as several doses of Marinol, which contains the active ingredient in marijuana everyday. The boy’s mother says “He shows no signs of being under the influence of a drug…This has clearly saved my child’s life and my family’s life.”
Typically when such aggressive and assaultive behavior arises, medication is sought to calm the person down. Medications such as Risperdal are administered, but do have high levels of toxic effects including but not limited to rapid heart beat, muscle spasms, and severe anxiety. Granted, marijuana has its own associated side effects, but are seemingly not as severe as those of Risperdal and like medications.
Depending on where you live in the world, this may or may not be a possible route for you to explore. Because of the widely range of illegality, it’s not suggested that you try to obtain marijuana on your own and attempt to treat your child’s (or even your own) condition. It’s absolutely worth speaking to a doctor about - though since the studies and research are not nearly complete, chances are, he/she will not prescribe it. Yet.
Tags: Aggression and Austism, autism, Autism Symptoms, Autism treatment, Marijuana and Autism, Medication
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:59 pm
GABA (all natural) is an amino acid which relieves anxiety and helps stabilize mood swings. 5HTP is a precursor to serotonin which, also an amino acid, helps one to feel happy, content and peaceful. These are my safe, legal cures for my autistic son who also went from being affectionate and loving to being angry and sometimes violent. They can be purchases as supplements at many health food stores. You will need to check with your doctor (or your child’s doctor) before using them. Getting a blood work up is advised. I don’t need to be concerned about addiction or legality.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:40 pm
I have read another account of an adult who went through life with undiagnosed Asperger’s and claimed to be a successful professional while self-medicating with marijuana. I have seen an individual in a similar situation with my own eyes…but he smokes it and will not stop smoking it though he has serious and obvious respiratory problems! This is a paradox because he claims to have been successful in AA, and I would think alcohol would be the more difficult addiction to quit. (After all, alcohol is freely available, people offer it without thinking, etc.) The problem with marijuana being given society’s blessing as medication is that when smoked, the funny stuff is even worse for your lungs than regular cigarettes, and in a situation such as his, no, I would not consider marijuana brownies an improvement; it’s already been established that he’s killed enough brain cells.
December 7th, 2009 at 5:42 pm
Also, both my father and I have Asperger’s: pot has absolutely no effect on him, and very little effect on me. (This could be the result of other conditions and/or brain injuries, etc.)
April 24th, 2010 at 7:12 am
Hi Laura, I read you saying that you knew someone who had AS and smoked marijuana. If you’re still in contact with him, you could suggest to him to buy a vaporizer.
Vaporizers are devices which heat, but don’t burn the herb - to a temperature where the THC and other active oils evaporate and form an inhalable vapor. By falling short of actual combustion this method virtually eliminates all the nasty effects of the smoke, while producing the effects required. And besides vaporizing, there is always the option of cooking with cannabis.
I don’t believe you should be alarmed by this guy’s use of weed in itself, as there are many reports surfacing about surprisingly positive effects of it on those on the autistic spectrum. Do a search using the words autism, asperger’s, cannabis, marijuana, and you’ll find there’s loads out there emerging, both in the traditional media as well as blogs and forum posts.
And here’s one more - I’m an Aspie as well, and of course one who has found marijuana to be have been invaluable to his personal development over the last 17 years (I’m now 36).