How Can Cannabis Help People With Autism?

People are born with autism. And for years now, only palliative management is offered to autistic patients. There is no known treatment for it yet. However, the experts continue their research in finding the best management for autism and help them lead normal lives. And we don’t even have to look far.

The legalization of medical cannabis is a hot topic in and out of the Congress. Legislations are being passed or not by various state legislators as to whether or not medical marijuana will be legalized in their respective states. But many already resort to cannabis use under the radar especially to those patients who are desperate for a cure with or without the go signal of their doctors. And now, autistic patients can benefit from it too.

Preventable injuries often lead to death among people with autism, a new study says. They are three times more likely than the general population to die because of injuries, according to the study, published Tuesday in the American Journal of Public Health.

For children and young teens with this developmental disability, the numbers are more striking: They are 40 times more likely to die from injury than the general child population, researchers said. Drowning is the most common fatal injury among children with autism.

People diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, which causes challenges with social skills and communication, die at an average age of just 36, noted the researchers. For the general population, life expectancy is 72.

(Via: http://edition.cnn.com/2017/03/21/health/autism-injury-deaths-study/)

We can never tell which pregnancy can lead to autism. Autistic people require more intensive caring as most have a hard time doing activities of daily living such as self-care, which makes living with one even more challenging. So, you can’t blame families caring for an autistic child/ person to explore their options – even that of the uncharted path.

Just after noon on Thursday, the Georgia General Assembly gave final passage to a bill expanding the conditions that can be legally treated with a medicine derived from marijuana. 

The Georgia Senate voted 45-6 to approve the final version of Senate Bill 16. Now SB 16 goes to Gov. Nathan Deal for his signature. It was the last day of the 2017 General Assembly session. 

The bill passed before the Senate recessed for lunch – instead of being down to the wire in the final minutes of the session. 

Under the bill, treatment with medication containing cannabidiol, a component of marijuana, as well as small amounts of THC, the main psychoactive component of marijuana, and a THC acid, is allowed for five new conditions: severe autism in children and any form of autism in those over 18, the skin disease epidermolysis bullosa, and severe or end-state AIDS, Tourette’s Syndrome and peripheral neuropathy. The bill also allows CBD oil to be used by anyone under hospice care.

Critics have argued more scientific testing of medical efficacy was needed first. 

“Georgia has decided to lead the way in autism treatment,” said advocate and parent Dale Jackson in a Facebook video Thursday afternoon. Jackson, a Troup County resident, has been advocating to have autism as an approved condition since 2015. His son, Colin, has severe autism. 

(Via: http://times-herald.com/news/2017/03/cannabis-oil-expansion-approved-in-legislature)

Although still lacking in sufficient trials and studies, the use of medical cannabis show some promise in treating people diagnosed with autism.

Many Christian conservatives are pushing to get their autistic children on marijuana. Parents with children with autism know the heartache that often accompanies the disorder. It can be particularly stressful when an autistic child exhibits violent outbursts that put everyone in danger, including the child.

With nothing to lose, a growing number of these parents allowed their autistic children to try marijuana, usually not smoking it, but in other forms, such as a time-released patch. Surprisingly, they learned the drug helps stabilize their autistic child's behavior in a way nothing else can.

(Via: https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/health/2017/march/see-why-these-christian-moms-want-their-kids-on-pot)

Desperate times call for desperate measures. Families with autistic children will move mountains to help them overcome their autistic tendencies and give them a chance to live like a normal person. And you can’t blame them if they try novel concepts like medical marijuana because most conservative autism treatments failed.

All the circumstantial evidence that prove medical cannabis can help with autism is enough for many to give it a shot. After all, they won’t lose anything. And if they get lucky, medical cannabis might also work for them as it did for many other people who vouch for it.

The post How Can Cannabis Help People With Autism? is republished from SoulVisual

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