Via Facebook:
“Severe Autism with physical aggressive behavior in children has been recommended and approved by the board of cannabidiol to be added as a qualifying condition in Iowa for medical cannabis. December 14th is next meeting for final approval with Iowa board of medicine. Letters of supports can be sent to the email listed.”
FAACT.Iowa@gmail.com
— Cory-Linds Obreigh-Piper Gaunt
Email FAACT.Iowa@gmail.com for letters of support. Below are some studies courtesy of NORML.
https://blog.norml.org/2013/01/29/marijuana-childhood-autism-and-prohibition/
Marijuana, Childhood Autism and Prohibition
- January 29, 2013
I was on a radio show this past weekend debating a prohibitionist who still believes that medical cannabis is little more than a hoax…a ‘camel’s nose under the tent’ to trick the American public into legalizing cannabis for recreational purposes. I’ve heard this individual exclaim numerous times over the years that he would not give cannabis to a loved one who needed it, because, he still clings to the myth that cannabis in its natural form is a ‘dangerous narcotic’…he even claims cannabis is toxic to humans (despite the drug having a lethal dose rating of fifty…the safest indicator measurement of a drug’s lack of toxicity).
Someone who was listening to the show but could not get on the air to address the prohibitionist’s anti-pot prevarications forwarded me an email and link to a recent CNN video of a young boy in Oregon lawfully using medical cannabis for his autism. Now this is not the first time NORML’s seen credible information about how cannabis can help children with autism, to wit:
In 2009 Brown University writing instructor Marie Myung-Ok Lee’s essay on her successfully treating her autistic son J. with cannabis broke this new ground for parents trying to raise children during both the era of cannabis prohibition and the re-discovery of cannabis as a valuable, affordable, safe and non-toxic medicine.
In fact, Marie’s frank and daring essay about children, autism and cannabis has spawned numerous other related articles, TV interviews and videos. Many of them archived by NORML here.
The KMVT video below will be added to this growing archive…it is hard to watch, it made me cry thinking about 1) how truly difficult life must be for Alexander Echols, 2) how enduring and loving his parents are, 3) how ignorant (and at times extreme) prohibitionists are in trying to ban all human interface with the quite wonderful cannabis plant and 4) how blessed we are as humans to know of and have a relationship with this remarkable plant species.
Whether one has an evolutionary or ‘intelligent design’ point of view regarding the origins of life, the relationship between cannabis and humans is an indisputably ancient one, and for many humans today a genuine ‘quality of life’ issue that is not at all served well under a prohibition regime.
Study: CBD-Rich Cannabis Mitigates Symptoms In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Study: CBD-Rich Cannabis Mitigates Symptoms In Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder
Jerusalem, Israel: The daily administration of CBD-dominant cannabis extracts is associated with improved outcomes in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and severe behavioral problems, according to clinical data published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Israeli researchers assessed the efficacy of whole-plant cannabis extracts in a cohort of children with ASD. Participants were administered extracts containing a 20 to 1 ratio of CBD to THC for periods of 7 to 13 months.
Patients demonstrated “overall improvement in behavior, anxiety, and communication” following daily cannabis dosing. Just over half of the participants either reduced or ceased taking prescription medications during the trial period.
Authors concluded: “Following the cannabis treatment, behavioral outbreaks were much improved or very much improved in 61% of patients. … [T]he results of the current study render worthwhile further exploration of this treatment avenue in controlled studies.”
For more information, contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, “Cannabidiol-rich cannabis in children with autism spectrum disorder and severe behavioral problems – A retrospective feasibility study,” appears the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
Study: CBD Therapy Improves Autistic Symptoms
Jerusalem, Israel: The adjunctive use of high CBD oral extracts is associated with improvements in symptom management in children with autism-related behavioral issues, according to clinical data published online ahead of print in the journal Neurology.
Israeli researchers assessed the use of oral extracts containing a 20 to 1 ratio of CBD to THC in 60 adolescents with autism spectrum disorder.
Following treatment, behavioral outbreaks were “much improved or very much improved in 61 percent of patients.” Nearly half of all patients reported improvement in anxiety and in their communication skills, while 29 percent reported a decrease in disruptive behaviors.
Authors concluded, “This preliminary study supports the feasibility of CBD-based medical cannabis as a promising treatment option for refractory behavioral problems in children with ASD.”
For more information, contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul@norml.org. Full text of the study, “Cannabis-based medical cannabis in children with autism – A retrospective feasibility study,” appears in Neurology.
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