Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

[Slimprofits]

very interesting.

http://www.doublex.com/print/7746

I don’t consider marijuana a miracle cure for autism. But as an amateur herbalist, I do consider it a wonderful, safe botanical that allows J. to participate more fully in life without the dangers and sometimes permanent side effects of pharmaceutical drugs; now that we have a good dose and a good strain. (“White Russian”—a favorite of cancer patients, who also need relief from extreme pain). Free from pain, J. can go to school and learn. And his violent behavior won’t put him in the local children’s psychiatric hospital—a scenario all too common among his peers.

[Serge_Tomiko]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

I was under the impression that best working theory for Autism is that the pain/pleasure system mediated by opioid peptides does not work properly for such persons. Many seem impervious to pain, and normal human socializing that typically results in elevated levels of opioid agonists does not occur with them.

I seem to recall reading an article that various opioid antagonist drugs, like naltrexone, improve a significant proportion of autistic patients.

[Spartacus]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

Until it's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, who knows?

dismissing experiences like this[*] sets the world up to waste 30 years on a bad theory, like has happened already with autism several times, and for example, the virus theory of cancer, on which the bulk of funding was spent to the exclusion of other theories for at least 20 years.

I was under the impression that best working theory for Autism is that the pain/pleasure system mediated by opioid peptides does not work properly for such persons. Many seem impervious to pain, and normal human socializing that typically results in elevated levels of opioid agonists does not occur with them.

I seem to recall reading an article that various opioid antagonist drugs, like naltrexone, improve a significant proportion of autistic patients.

[*] and the bureaucrats already have reason enough to suppress this type of thing in support their brothers in DEA & FBI & the Justice Dept. This kind of thing happens all the time. For example, if you have the time read some of the pro marijuana testimony of the AMA in front of Congress, and against Anslinger. Compare with the AMA's anti- stance of around 2005 (last time I read it). Despite a larger body of evidence speaking to the benefits, the bureacracy has been subverted.

[lsa420]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

[*] and the bureaucrats already have reason enough to suppress this type of thing in support their brothers in DEA & FBI & the Justice Dept. This kind of thing happens all the time. For example, if you have the time read some of the pro marijuana testimony of the AMA in front of Congress, and against Anslinger. Compare with the AMA's anti- stance of around 2005 (last time I read it). Despite a larger body of evidence speaking to the benefits, the bureacracy has been subverted.

Exactly Spartacus.

This is not a war on drugs. It's a war on personal freedom....and that is a war that we can't afford to lose.

[Serge_Tomiko]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

Until it's proven beyond a shadow of a doubt, who knows?

dismissing experiences like this[*] sets the world up to waste 30 years on a bad theory, like has happened already with autism several times, and for example, the virus theory of cancer, on which the bulk of funding was spent to the exclusion of other theories for at least 20 years.

I don't think you read the article.

" While the cannabis has eased J.’s most overwhelming problem, his autism has become more distinct."

The problem which marijuana was intended to solve was not autistic behavior traits per se, but "gut pain" and anxiety.

Anyway, whatever else this article purports, it was not a legitimate scientific experiment (1 child, the child of the person conducting the experiment, does not a study make). There is nothing to be gained from this article except for the very weak suggestion further research is indicated.

[Spartacus]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

I don't think you read the article.

guilty as charged. I went purely on the extract & my prejudices - thanks for setting me straight. This is what happens when I check the board when I have to get back to work in 5 minutes.

Anyway, whatever else this article purports, it was not a legitimate scientific experiment

And here we agree. This is why I wrote "experience" instead of "scientific evidence"

[Slimprofits]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

The point of the extract was to draw you in... Yes and seriously I try to stick to them as much possible. Serge_tomko summed it up well.

[Mango]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

I don't think you read the article.

" While the cannabis has eased J.’s most overwhelming problem, his autism has become more distinct."

So that suggests that the autism is now more visible because cannabis relieved other problems which camouflaged it.

[Starving Steve]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

My problems with pot and pot-people:

1.) Pot when smoked causes lung cancer, just as much as cigarrette smoke, and maybe even more so;

2.) Pot when driving causes accidents and is illegal everywhere;

3.) Pot-people have trouble reasoning clearly and logically;

4.) The pot culture helps the criminal element in society get rich, including gangsters such as the Hell's Angels, the Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, etc;

5.) Pot-people produce little or nothing of value for the world.

This does not mean that I oppose pot legalization, but it does mean that I oppose the pot-culture and the use of pot by people of all ages. Giving children pot to smoke is a terrible idea.

[Serge_Tomiko]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

So that suggests that the autism is now more visible because cannabis relieved other problems which camouflaged it.

Is that what it means?

Regardless, the article doesn't indicate the purpose was to diminish the behavioral-cognitive attributes that broadly qualify autism.

[Serge_Tomiko]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

This does not mean that I oppose pot legalization, but it does mean that I oppose the pot-culture and the use of pot by people of all ages. Giving children pot to smoke is a terrible idea.

Glad we agree on something finally Steve.

[Mango]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

It's good to back up and read the first article, published last May
http://www.doublex.com/section/healt...9-year-old-pot

The child has several other medical problems which the autism makes impossible for him to communicate about. Consequently he was prescribed Risperdal, apparently to sedate his extreme frustration. The MMJ relieved the other symptoms, allowing him to avoid Risperdal which

"has never been tested for long-term safety in children and carries a severe warning of side effects. From 2000 to 2004, 45 pediatric deaths were attributed to Risperdal and five other popular drugs also classified as 'atypical antipsychotics,' according to a review of FDA data by USA Today. ...
A 2002 study specifically looking at the use of Risperdal for autism, in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed moderate improvements in 'autistic irritation'...

We met with J's doctor, who’d read the studies and agreed: No Risperdal or its kin."

So Risperdal is prescribed for "autistic irritation" and the author here substituted MMJ and is happy with the results.

[Slimprofits]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

1-5 odds Starving Steve didn't read the article.

[Raz]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

My problems with pot and pot-people:

1.) Pot when smoked causes lung cancer, just as much as cigarrette smoke, and maybe even more so;

2.) Pot when driving causes accidents and is illegal everywhere;

3.) Pot-people have trouble reasoning clearly and logically;

4.) The pot culture helps the criminal element in society get rich, including gangsters such as the Hell's Angels, the Mexican Mafia, Nortenos, Surenos, etc;

5.) Pot-people produce little or nothing of value for the world.

This does not mean that I oppose pot legalization, but it does mean that I oppose the pot-culture and the use of pot by people of all ages. Giving children pot to smoke is a terrible idea.

I agree 100% with numbers 1), 2), 3) and 4); especially #3) since it was my personal experience from having abused cannabis for a period of three+ years.

I'm in approximately 90% agreement with number 5), the reason my agreement isn't 100% is because I actually DID produce something of real, tangible value during my mostly wasted Mary Jane years!

[Slimprofits]

Re: Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot - He has autism and terrible pain. Marijuana is taming his demons

I think Raz and Starving Steve should start up a different thread for this conversation.

Here is a good starting point: