Why I Give My 9-Year-Old Pot, Part II

[Are_grits_groceries]

<snip>
Pre-pot, J. ate things that weren’t food. There’s a name for this: pica. (Pregnant women are known to pica on chalk and laundry starch.) J. chewed the collar of his T-shirts while stealthily deconstructing them from the bottom up, teasing apart and then swallowing the threads. By the time I picked him up from the bus stop after school, the front half of his shirt was gone. His pica become so uncontrollable we couldn’t let him sleep with a pajama top (it would be gone by morning) or a pillow (ditto the case and the stuffing). An antique family quilt was reduced to fabric strips, and he even managed to eat holes in a fleece blanket—so much for his organic diet. I started dressing him only in organic cotton shirts, but we couldn’t support the cost of a new one every day. The worst part was watching him scream in pain on the toilet, when what went in had to come out. I had nightmares about long threads knotting in digestive organs. (TMI? Welcome to our life!)


Almost immediately after we started the cannabis, the pica stopped. Just stopped. J. now sleeps with his organic wool-and-cotton, hypoallergenic, temptingly chewable comforter. He pulls it up to his chin at night and declares, “I’m cozy!”
<snip>
Next, we started seeing changes in J.’s school reports. His curriculum is based on a therapy called Applied Behavioral Analysis, which involves, as the name implies, meticulous analysis of data. At one parent meeting in August (J. is on an extended school year), his teacher excitedly presented his June-July “aggression” chart. An aggression is defined as any attempt or instance of hitting, kicking, biting, or pinching another person. For the past year, he’d consistently had 30 to 50 aggressions in a school day, with a one-time high of 300. The charts for June through July, by contrast, showed he was actually having days—sometimes one after another—with zero aggressions.

More evidence: the bus. For the last few years, the arrival of J.’s school bus had been the most traumatic and unpredictable moment of our day. J. has run onto the bus and hit the driver in the face. He has scuffled with the aides and tried to bite them. His behavior brought out the worst in people: One bus monitor (we joked that her personality better suited her for a job at the local prison) seemed to dislike all the kids but treated him with particular contempt, even calling him names, once in front of us.

<snip>
There’s a twist to the happy marijuana story, though. While the cannabis has eased J.’s most overwhelming problem, his autism has become more distinct. As the school data show, his aggressive behavior is far less frequent, but his outbursts—vocalizations that include screams, barking, yips of happiness—remain.

<snip>
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.

http://www.doublex.com/section/health-science/why-i-give-my-9-year-old-pot-part-ii?page=0,1

Her first article is a detailed look at what they tried before medical marijuana:
Why I Give My 9-year-old Pot
http://www.doublex.com/section/health-science/why-i-give-my-9-year-old-pot

I don't blame them. They seem to have tried a lot of options, and the behaviors he exhibited were beyond anything I would try to cope with.

[redwitch]

1. Wow.

I don't know how I could cope with that, poor family!

[1]

2. "why i hold my toddler over the unlit gas burner of my stove to get him to sleep, part 1"...

that's a pretty fucked up and rationalizing story, bud.

sorry. i don't buy it...

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Me neither

[Are_grits_groceries]

5. And your solution would be? nt

[1]

10. oh i don't know, let's see. there is the unlit gas burner thing, maybe oxycontin in his pb&j...

quaaludes might have worked back in the day.

seriously, i love all of the new references to "medical marijuana." as if the wonder cure for everything to y'all is getting high.

if y'all want to get baked everyday, go for it. just don't subject children to this and don't try to rationalize your shit to the rest of us.

do what you do and be confident enough about it to stfu.

[JNelson6563]

28. And think of the lost revenue to Big Pharma!

*sob*

Are you sure you're in the right place?

[ixion]

33. so pumping a kid full of pharmaceuticals is better?

wow, am I glad I didn't have you for a parent.

[Bluenorthwest]

37. 'New references' to one of the oldest medicines humans

have used. Thousands of years of medicinal use is not exactly new. Queen Victoria used it regularly for cramps. It is all over and all through history. Pretending that it is not might be fun, but it is just a giant display of ignorance.
"y'all" might consider cracking a book and learning some facts. Spouting your uninformed 'opinions' is not going to do a thing but make you look flat out stupid. What is perhaps the oldest known medicine is to you 'new'. Is gravity also a new phenomenon? In your personally improvised world?

[SammyWinstonJack]

67. +1

:thumbsup:

[intaglio]

38. Oxycontin and Quaaludes

My, my you really know your drugs don't you? :sarcasm:

Oxycontin, generically oxycodone, is highly addictive; which is why it is sometimes known as "Hillbilly Heroin"; it often caused bowel pain, bloating and constipation. Now If you concentrate really hard on the published article you will see that Autism sufferers frequently suffer from IBS; in full irritable bowel syndrome which is why IBS sufferers should never take oxycodone.

Quaaludes, generically methaqualone, also addictive (ludes was the slang name) and has side effects of depression, poor reflexes, confusion, fatigue; impaired coordination, memory, judgment; respiratory depression and arrest.

Do you really believe that these drug would be good for a child suffering from autism? Or are you just a believer in "Reefer madness" propaganda put forth by the RW?

[Odin2005]

89. Please note, those of us on the Spectrum don't like to be called "sufferers"

Or would you want us to say that you "suffer" from Neurotypicalism? :hi:

[intaglio]

98. Sorry will edit, umm ... add to this post

Edit period up for my first post I should have used persons with autism and similar descriptives.

On the other hand, due to brain chemistry, I suffer from depression - which is a sort of tautology.:toast:

[wildeyed]

43. If I had to choose between Risperdal and medical marijuana for my kid

it would be marijuana in a heartbeat. The kid is autistic and in constant pain from previous surgeries. If the pot helps him function, then good. Honestly, for this family there isn't much to lose at this point. Their life before sounds like hell. For all of them. And this has nothing to do with my personal habits. I don't get "baked", ever. And I have two kids of my own, one of them with special needs, so I can imagine, at least a little, what this family is going through.

[Fumesucker]

61. I'm bipolar and was on Risperdal for a while.. It turned me into a zombie..

I was sleeping eighteen or more hours a day and just sitting in front of the TV most of the rest..

That stuff is serious bad news, or it was for me.

[alliswellandsoitis]

101. What about getting at the root cause of the imbalance?

That is what I am about. I am sure that pot is safer than pills but getting slapped in the face instead of shot in the head is small confort when it comes to one's health.

[wildeyed]

112. Did you read the article?

The kid has autism and is in constant pain from previous surgeries. No one really knows what autism is, much less how to cure it. The pain from the surgeries is chronic. Again, if someone knew how to fix that 'imbalance' I am sure they would.

[Life Long Dem]

133. Getting to the root cause is always the answer.

But you need the cure for autism first.

[malaise]

49. Good for you

Call big pharma. I'm sure they have something better. :sarcasm:

[dysfunctional press]

56. did you ever stop to think that maybe the kid doesn't get "high"...?

i take methadone for chronic pain- if the average person took my daily dose, they be a slobbering mess...but for me, it just allows me to function normally.

btw- why do you think that quaaludes or oxy would be better solutions than pot?

[Flaneur]

105. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about.

Marijuana IS a medicine. There is an ever-increasing mountain of research about its medical effects. Google is your friend.

And children do take medicines. Even psychoactive ones. Adderall, anyone?

Maybe you should just SFTU until you have a clue.

[northernlights]

110. CBC with RBC indices

and a complete physiological workup.

Pica is a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. And his history shows iron deficiency as a possibility.

[handmade34]

7. what don't you buy?

as a mother, educator and volunteer (working with lots of kids) I thought the story was appropriate. I imagine you have never experienced some of the things this mother has, and what is it about medical marijuana that you think is 'fucked up'? If I had been able to, I would have given medical marijuana to my youngest son who suffered tremendously with 'night terrors' when he was very young.

autism is real
pica is real (when I was pregnant once, I wanted desperately to drink gasoline)
marijuana is a natural herb as opposed to many chemicals that people approve for treatment

[1]

13. so, as a "mother, educator and volunteer" you think the solution to every problem is drugs?

[RadiationTherapy]

15. So, as an overspoken blowhard, you think all drugs are the same?

That's not too too smart, really.

[ixion]

34. lol

nice. :rofl:

[SammyWinstonJack]

68. +1

:spray:

[callous taoboy]

125. = + + 1

You rock....
:thumbsup:

[handmade34]

17. I gave no indication that

I think "the solution to every problem is drugs"

[Flaneur]

106. That is an amazingly stupid ass retort. Are you drunk?

[Edith Ann]

9. Drugs

You obviously have no experience with an autistic child. I do. Some of the "legal" drugs like Saraquil and Busbar have horrible side effects and often don't solve the behavioral problems. When are people going to get over their obsession with marijuana? There are much worse drugs dispensed out of pharmacies every day. Are you going to advocate taking all additive medicines out of our lives because some people abuse them? Is is ok with you for some people to die in pain because litte Johnnie can't stay out of the medicine cabinet and takes his parents drugs?

I may have spelled the drug names wrong, but you get the idea.

[Chemisse]

18. +1

[handmade34]

23. good points

For a number of years, I worked on the NSDUH (National Survey on Drug Use and Health) through the DHHS. Prescription drug abuse (and problems associated, death esp) has long superseded that of 'illegal' drugs.

[City Lights]

59. +1.

:thumbsup:

Thanks for saying it.

[callous taoboy]

123. Oh, you know, pot evil, Walgreen's drugs o.k

:sarcasm:

[Chemisse]

21. Your analogy doesn't work

Holding a toddler over a gas burner would harm him irreparably and cause untold pain.

Using pot does little harm (we can argue about the details on that, but I can guarantee there are many legal prescription drugs that are far more risky, causes no significant long-term damage, and actually relieves pain.

If that child's horrific symptoms vanish with pot, then it would be child abuse to keep it from him.

[tavalon]

24. What the person who is criticizing is overlooking is that

the dose given to that child is smaller than would be required to "get baked". Autistic children often have very fucked up digestive systems. Marijuana is known to help IBS and GERD, so why wouldn't it help the pain that an autistic child is suffering in their gut. Trust me, they do suffer.

[Robb]

66. There are reasons to go to medical school.

"Marijuana is known to help IBS and GERD, so why wouldn't it help the pain that an autistic child is suffering in their gut"

Aspirin is great for my headache, so why wouldn't I give it to my infant?

What, are there no adverse effects to pot? In anyone? Ever?

[galloglas]

131. "no adverse effects to pot?" Nixon expected to find them

when he backed the National Commission on Marijuana and Drug Abuse was created by Public Law 91-513 to study marijuana abuse in the United States.

Check it at Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Commission_on_Marihuana_and_Drug_Abuse

The commission, based on evidence, found something Nixon didn't expect. So he ignored their advice. In much the same manner he did the "advice" of Viet Nam War protesters.

Lest we forget...

[Robb]

142. Way to deflect.

I'll admit that's an interesting link, but has NOTHING do to with what I said. :hi:

[tavalon]

22. I'm guessing you don't have an autistic child

As a matter of fact, I would bet money on it.

And if you don't, I suggest you try just a little harder to walk in someone else's shoes before you start criticizing them.

[dysfunctional press]

53. do you have even the most basic understanding of autism...?

if so- you're doing a very good job of hiding it.

[Greyhound]

121. Cheap and shallow critique. n/t

[bob4460]

137. Why don't people realize that

the human body makes it's own cannabaniods that control almost everything,making cannabis the most natural choice for medicine???? This is why they cannot direcly test for cannabis they can only test for metabolites!

[glowing]

3. I knew a family that had adopted a "crack baby" from one of their

relatives. The only thing that worked to "normalize" this little boy into a normal little boy was to let him smoke weed or chew on a little bit of weed. It was the only thing that worked after many attempts at everything they could think of. Of course, its one of those things no one would discuss unless you were "close" with the family. If you told most people you let a little boy use pot, they'd freak out.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Why the men in uniforms came and took my child away and arrested me . . .

Just sayin . . .

[handmade34]

8. legality does not equate with morality

or ethical behavior or even smart behavior. Granted there are idiot parents who give their kids drugs and otherwise jeopardize their safety, but that is not what this story is about...

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Okay then she can try that excuse when the cops come

"But it isn't immoral, officer! And it's smart too!"

Let me know how that works out for her.

[barbtries]

14. read the story

she's not breaking any laws where she lives.

[proud2BlibKansan]

20. It's legal to give kids medical marijuana?

I had no idea.

[barbtries]

25. yes

you need to read her story. her son is actually registered as the youngest medical marijuana patient in the state of RI. and her reasons are very well spelled out, i don't think you will judge her harshly after you read what she's up against.

[adamuu]

46. Man, how did I know he didn't even read the story.

I must be psychic.

[proud2BlibKansan]

50. Silly me, expecting the most important part of the article to be posted here!

The first sentence! It really does make a difference. How silly of me to expect it to be included in the excerpt!! I guess just because I try to include the relevant facts when I post pieces, I expect others to do so as well. :crazy:

Last spring, I wrote about applying for a medical marijuana license for my autistic, allergic 9-year-old son, J., in hopes of soothing his gut pain and anxiety, the roots of the behavioral demons that caused him to lash out at others and himself.

[DireStrike]

76. +100

Between lack of the sentence and the title of the article, it sounds like the parent made this decision unilaterally.

Knowing that many people do not read the full article, posters should include all the significant information, either quoted or paraphrased.

[proud2BlibKansan]

78. Thank you

I need to stay out of these autism threads. LOL

[Bluenorthwest]

35. It is medicine

Just like other medicines, if a doctor orders or approves of the prescription, it is legal. Most of the nation is not Kansas, thank all things holy.

[proud2BlibKansan]

51. Screw you and the state you live in

Your pompous holier than thou attitude is duly noted.

[krabigirl]

116. Hmm, the only pomposity I see here are from the rabid anti-medical marijuana nuts.

[eShirl]

42. Is it legal to give kids anything medical?

Do you have any idea?

[proud2BlibKansan]

52. Well excuse me for not knowing kids could be given medical marijuana

Thank goodness I didn't come here to actually LEARN anything.

[eShirl]

54. as if.

[proud2BlibKansan]

57. as if what?

I come for the giggles? Or to belittle people who aren't as incredibly intelligent as I am? Or who live in states I like to make fun of?

[A-Long-Little-Doggie]

58. But you did learn something!

You learned that children can be given medical marijuana! So your participation in this thread was a good thing for you.

[proud2BlibKansan]

64. Yes it was.

I am now glad to know this. Marijuana is certainly safer than most of the psych meds kids are given.

Thanks for the nice reply. :)

[Flaneur]

108. I'm disappointed you're not more well-informed.

It's legal to give kids any prescription drug. Why, in states where medical marijuana is legal, wouldn't it be legal to provide it to minors if indicated? It is legal in those states.

Marijuana is a proven medicine. There are ever-increasing reams of research on it. Try Google.

Granted, in some states, California in particular, many people who just want to smoke pot claim their use is medical so they can gain legal protections. But that doesn't negate the validity of marijuana as medicine.

[handmade34]

16. when we continue to talk about staus quo

as an absolute, we fail... I am pragmatic and deal with things as they are, but I also understand reality and work for things that should be... I like to open my mind to possibilities

I have migraine headaches that are not remedied by perscription medication. I am subject to drug testing for my job, therefore I do not smoke marijuana to alleviate the headaches. These are facts. This does keep me from knowing that marijuana could alleviate my headaches or wanting to smoke, or otherwise ingest, if I legally could.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. You aren't a kid

[handmade34]

27. not for a long time

:) ...as a society we give our kids lots of potent chemicals and drugs.

[tavalon]

30. Oh, so you are invoking the magical kid defense?

So, it's better that the child be in pain than being given something that is arbitrarily considered illegal?

[Maine-ah]

143. I have lived with migranes and cluster head aches for several years now

the only thing that helps, is marijuana. The only other time I had relief from the pain was while I was pregnant with my daughter. I don't know if it was the hormones while pregnant, but for some reason the headaches went away. The headaches came back after I stopped BF'ing my daughter when she was 13 months. So, now it's back to the MJ.

[tavalon]

29. It will be nice when marijuana is no longer the boogieman, so

that those who chose such an alternative treatment will not have to worry about losing their kids.

And btw, just because that's just the way it is, doesn't make it okay.

And lastly, we parents of autistic children have been abandoned the AMA and big pharma. Considering that big pharma contributed to our children's problems, you would think they would want to contribute to their getting better from them, but they don't want to have anything to do with us and our damaged children, so we all, every last one of us, have used alternative treatments because it's either that or give up on our children. We won't give up on them and if this pans out, many of us will end up trying it. We've actually had a lot of success with many of the other alternative treatments and honestly, if you think the parents of autistic children will forego a valid treatment because of illegality, well, you have another think coming. No parent will withhold something that their child needs for that reason, now would they?

[tavalon]

26. That is my husband's sig line here

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

75. self-delete

[barbtries]

12. i urge everyone to read the entire story

this kid's mother is a real blessing to him. apparently so is pot. what kind of world is it where the drug that can help and does not kill anyone is illegal, and the alcohol and cigarettes are not. the one where money matters more than people.

[tavalon]

31. I'll be watching this one closely

My autistic son has gut issues. Luckily, they seem to have been mostly alleviated by a strict diet that precludes any gluten or casein. This is yet another alternative treatment that parents had to find on our own because the corporations and the medical establishment were too worried about their culpability to help us help our children.

Occasionally, our son still has gut issues. He can't really tell us when he has them but usually the mess that comes out lets us know. If marijuana proves to be a useful adjunct, well, if you read my earlier diatribe, I'm sure you'll know my take on that.

[cpompilo]

97. Many austic kids do very well on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet

see www.PecanBread.com and www.BreakingTheViciousCycle.info
Also, ASD kids are being helped with Low Dose Naltrexone (LDN) see www.LowDoseNaltrexone.org
That was an eye opening article - wow, just wow.

[Odin2005]

130. I am skeptical of those diets for autistic kids.

I suspect that the diets simply force parents to make healthier meals for the kid rather than anything in particular, it's a side effect of the diet, basically.

[Greyhound]

122. Same world that has conned a majority of people to devote their one

precious life away from the people they love and the things they want to do, in order to pursue riches for someone that will not share any of the benefit and discard them when it becomes convenient, doing something they would never do without coercion.

"Necessitous man are not free" - FDR

[adamuu]

32. This article was not what I expected it to be. Thanks so much. n/t

[TexasObserver]

36. Ignore the Authoritarians and their hyperventilating.

Exposure to people like that is more harmful to the child than anything his parent is giving him.

Some people are natural born government ass kissers, and that is always in full display here.

[Fumesucker]

40. +1 Googolplex

"Some people are natural born government ass kissers, and that is always in full display here."

[TexasObserver]

126. As those charts for personal politics prove, there are authoritarians among us.

I am always amazed at the number of DUers who eschew right wing politics, but embrace rightwing dogma on issues like incarceration, civil liberties, child care, the death penalty and war.

[Heidi]

41. :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

[TexasObserver]

127. Howdy, Switzerland!

Remember when OU was Switzer Land?

[Heidi]

134. Hahahahahahaha!

I remember convincing a freeper on another board that Switzerland was named after Barry Switzer. What an ultra-maroon. :rofl:

[TexasObserver]

138. Do you remember the scandal involving Switzer and his assistant's wife?

He was caught having an affair with the wife of an assistant coach, leading wags at UT to come up with a bumper sticker that said "Switzer has it in for Lacewell."

[Heidi]

139. Oh, dear!

That situation happened before I was old enough to enjoy such juicy, genius snark. However, I do enjoy it now. :rofl:

[SammyWinstonJack]

71. +1

Some people are natural born government ass kissers...

:thumbsup:

[nashville_brook]

104. amen.

you hit it on the nose.

[Are_grits_groceries]

39. I read both articles twice.

I wanted to be sure this wasn't just a solution the parents tried first. They did a lot of things with no solution of the very severe problems the child had.

Not giving this child relief would be tantamount to torture of the child. The parents might get relief too but that is secondary to the real relief the child has experienced by using medical marijuana.

[tavalon]

44. I had already read about this elsewhere (we parents of autistics read all of this stuff)

but thank you for posting it here. I know you're getting plenty of heat for it, but if anyone who needs to see it, sees it here, it will be quite the blessing.

[wildeyed]

45. yes.

That family was living in hell, child included. Now he functions a little at school. They were clear that the pot wasn't a miracle cure, and didn't address his autism symptoms at all, but it did help with the pain and decreased his aggression to the point where he wasn't in danger of being sent to a full time psychiatric facility. I would do it too, if I was in their shoes.

[adamuu]

47. Honestly, I'd be tempted to try it first now, if it were me

after this article and a little more research
The side effects of the pharmaceuticals were notable.
The doctor was not interested in a discussion. He simply sent the authorization form back, signed. I wonder what if they had asked earlier.

[handmade34]

48. I would still think the story fine if

the parents hadn't tried 'a lot of things' before making the cookies to give their child. I don't neccessarily think we need to be sure the parents tried everything else before resorting to medical marijuana. We have been so conditioned to think irrational thoughts. My husband was very old school and a marine to boot. As his illness was nearing the 4 year mark, I had a friend offer me some pot to give him. My husband refused thinking it was 'wrong' (but he willingly took the copious amounts of oxycodone and morphine given him). I believe his end of life would have been significantly better had he not refused.

[proud2BlibKansan]

55. Yet you left out the most important part

Your excerpt says nothing about whether she is giving him prescribed marijuana or just bong hits a few times a day. That might help those like me, who thought this was kind of a silly piece, to understand she was doing this with the permission and approval of her doctor.

Just a friendly suggestion. The title is rather provocative. And no, I have learned over my years here that not everyone clicks on links and reads the entire piece, me included.

[Are_grits_groceries]

60. Don't dump your anger on me

because you don't like the way I posted it, and I don't think that was a "friendly" suggestion.

If it was so provocative, why didn't you read the articles instead of taking off with your indignant, assuming afterburners glowing.

I wasn't trying to mislead anyone about anything. When you are appointed the DU posting monitor let me know.

[proud2BlibKansan]

63. Most people don't bother to click on links

I used to assume they did and learned the hard way that they do not. Can't force them to. One time someone told me that she was on dialup and it just took too long for the link to load.

So I do try to pay attention to what I excerpt and post from a long article. Looks like you did as well. You just left out the beginning which IMO is most important. You posted a fairly provocative headline and then left out the part that explained she was doing this legally. I had no idea if this mother was doing this legally. I had no idea kids COULD be prescribed marijuana.

I'm not trying to be a monitor, just explaining why I (and perhaps a few others) was confused.

[Le Taz Hot]

74. I think most people try to click on the link

and read through it before doing things like posting doubts about the parents and positing that medical marijuana equates with holding your child over a burner. :wtf:

[proud2BlibKansan]

77. I didn't post that

LOL

Didn't think it either.

And I disagree about most people clicking on links. I have had just the opposite experience here.

[Le Taz Hot]

81. Well, pardon my error, then.

You know us DUers, we all look alike. :evilgrin: :hi:

[EndersDame]

62. I don't see what the problem is Parents give their kiddos speed everyday

of course it comes in a nice bottle from the pharmacy. I am currently watching my mom being addicted to and whacked out by the pills her script happy psychiatrist is happy to write out.Hell she has had seizures from the damn lithium.

[Robb]

65. On the advice of a doctor.

Actually, I would have little problem with this in general were trained medical people involved.

But a homeopath makes a suggestion to a "sometimes health writer and blogger" who then administers a drug to her child? Lunacy.

At first I was glad it seemed to help this woman and her child, but given the potential for harm she has caused by telling the world about her "discovery" I find the whole thing irresponsible.

It will not work for everyone. It will cause harm to some. Primum, non nocere, my ass.

[EndersDame]

69. I assumed that one had to be a doctor to perscribe medical marijuana I agree with you

Pot is not for everyone .I don't think that anyone under 18 should smoke pot (not gonna happen but still ) I had assumed a doctor was involved in this case. I don't think it should be consumed in mass doses either. I did that when I was about 19 and don't think it was that beneficial.I only smoke a handful of times out of the year. I am lazy enough already ;)

[underseasurveyor]

72. My mothers psychiatrst is also more than happy

to write her TOMES of prescriptions. Pain meds, depression meds, anti-anxiety meds, valium, and that's only what I can remember cuz I know there were 18 total meds just from this one psychiatrist and that doesn't include the "heath meds" prescribed from her MD. But she and my stepfather both believed she needed all these pills and it was all ok because her "doctor" gave them to her, and gee, the doctor knows best:crazy: Afterall he went to medical school and has a degree. oooo aaaa

Finally about 6 weeks ago my mom freaked out so bad, she was both violently suicidal and homicidal, 911 was called and they took her to the hospital and when the doctors there took her off of all her prescribed psych meds? Miracle of all miracles, she snapped out of it and became a fairly normal human being again.

But oh the evils of marijuana compared to that would be horrible now wouldn't it;-)

I hope your mom gets through this ok... and you too. My best to you:hug:. It's a helpless feeling and a fucked up place to be to watch a loved one go through this crap and not being able to do anything about it

[barbtries]

114. you need to read this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Too-Much-Anger-Many-Tears/dp/0060974346/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257024374&sr=8-1

if you haven't yet. i read it years and years ago and it stuck with me. it might help your mother to stay off drugs in the future. good luck to your family.

[underseasurveyor]

117. Thank You for that

But my mothers been an addict for most of her life. She's 76 now. Back in the 80's she was arrested for the first time, DUI. She went to school and became a drug/alcohol/marriage/family/womens issues counselor, was very active in AA and was sober for 24+ years.

While she was good and kind most of that time during those years, in 2000 she jumped off the wagon and sank deep, deep, deep into denial about her drug/alcohol use. ALL of her friends, family and peers joined together and tried an intervention to no avail. She is a master manipulator who uses the jargon well, fools many and add to that she's borderline personality with a disassociation disorder and a narcissist.

My mothers been 'broken' all of her life and although it's a sad and helpless situation all my sibs and I can do now is just love her and avoid her when she's in one of her vicious rages and wish her better in her next life.


I'm willing to bet my mother has that book but in any case I'll check it out for myself. :hug: Very thoughtful of you.

[Odin2005]

84. Oh fuck you, Ritalin saved me from having a lot of autistic meltdowns growung up.

[proud2BlibKansan]

86. So many here are quick to ignore the benefits of medication for so many kids

Ritalin is literally a life saving medication for some kids.

[Odin2005]

87. I brought it up in the first post of my blog:

http://tselseth.blogspot.com/2009/10/about-myself.html

"I was put on the stimulant medication Ritalin, which, it turned out, helped a lot. Looking back I can definitely say it reduced my autistic sensory sensitivities as well making me better able to multitask and focus on things I am not interested in, since I like many autistics have what is called Executive System Dysfunction, the Executive System being the areas of the brain used in planning and attention."

[proud2BlibKansan]

90. I am the parent of 2 ADD kids who were on Ritalin and a special ed teacher

I am also the sibling of a girl whose childhood was a living hell because she was so hyperactive and no one knew what to do for her.

You are preaching to the choir here :hi:

People who speak out against stimulant meds for kids who really benefit from them need to spend a weekend with an unmedicated kid. :evilgrin:

[Odin2005]

93. Or an Aspie kid pissed off and having a meltdown...

:rofl:

[EndersDame]

92. I believe it is as well I just don't see the difference (as along as a doc is involved ) in

prescribing medical marijuana

[EndersDame]

91. I am glad that Ritalin has helped you.As long as a doc is involved I dont see the difference between

prescribing Ritalin or medical marijuana. I am sorry you took offense and if I was unclear. :hi:

[Odin2005]

94. Doh, my bad!

there's my literal thinking again...

[alliswellandsoitis]

102. So two wrongs make a right?

:eyes:

Alrighty then...Let's just mask the root cause.

[HughMoran]

70. Wow, I feel for her

That's a lot to have to deal with - glad the THC is helping. I remember my daughter chewing on her sleeves and collar, but I had not idea it could be so extreme in full-blown autism (daughter has Aspergers).

[Odin2005]

88. LOL, I used to chew on my blanket all the time.

It was a calming stim, like rocking and hand-flapping

[underseasurveyor]

73. I'd do it and I'd do it in a heartbeat

If it were my child living in physical and emotional Hell, you bet I would. And judgements by anyone be damned because after all it wouldn't be any of you anti-pot people here living this nightmare day and night every single day year after year. And if giving my 9 year old a cookie or a brownie with pot in it improves his state of being... Damed fucking right I would.... in a heartbeat!

[crispini]

79. Excellent article, thanks for posting!

Wow, I can't imagine what that family has been through, and the pot really seems to be helping her little guy. Good for her!

[Little Star]

80. My first reaction was wtf! Then I read your post &

the links. Thanks for posting this. I learn something new every day.

[Dreamer Tatum]

82. I see nothingwrong with medicinal cannabis for kids, but the title is really just meant to titillate

And that's what I don't like about it.

I've long thought that the path to decriminalization and legitimacy is through the clinical route. If there is anecdotal evidence that some children are helped by cannabis, then set up formal clinical trials. After all, there are more than 50 Cannabinoids is cannabis sativa. Maybe altering the chemical structure of some of them will make it even more effective.

I strongly prefer the above to, "Dude, I gave my kid some fuckin' pot, and he's, like, totally mellow now," which is how a lot of people would assume that article would read.

[Swamp Rat]

83. k&r

[Odin2005]

85. PSA, psychoactive drugs tend to have odd effects on those of us on the Autism Spectrum.

So be VERY careful what you are giving a Autie/Aspie kid. It's why I am weary of ever trying pot myself.

As for J's violent behaviors, maybe they should work on preventing sensory overload before psychoactive drugs are used.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

95. How Fucking Stupid.

Stupid fuckin parents.

[Flaneur]

113. Thanks for that illuminating post.

Go eat a sugar donut.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

124. The Post Was All The OP Called For. You've Gotta Be One Hell Of A Kind Of Stupid To Give Pot To

your 9 year old. You've gotta be even more stupid to justify it.

What stupid fuckin parents, period. Illuminating post? Who gives a shit. Exactly what the response to the situation should be? Damn right. Fuckin morons.

[winyanstaz]

96. I am a big believer in the medicinal qualities of pot...

When the hospital sent my husband home to die..with a life expectancy of "five months at the most" and said there was nothing more they could do for him I was in total dispare.
He was a six foot tall man and when they sent him home to die..he was down to 97 lbs..a skeleton of his former self.
I got some medical marijuana from a friend that had a drs prescription for it for her cronic and terrible pain from M. S. and I baked him a batch of magic brownies.
He ate 1 brownie..and then was able to eat a whole dinner.
We got rid of a lot of his meds..and we went totally organic. We also bought him a flute and I made him play it every single day. It made his lungs stronger..so much so that at times he could even take off the oxygen. :)
He soon gained back the weight to 169 lbs and he lived another NINE years and got to meet two more grandkids before he passed from a massive heart attack...due to the blood thinners his doctors had put him back on and NOT due to the advanced copd that the drs had given up on.
So yes...pot heals.

[PeaceNikki]

99. Beautiful story!

Thanks for sharing. Like was said above, it'll be nice when marijuana stops being "the boogieman".

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

100. Such a wonderful account! Thank you and hugs!

[underseasurveyor]

103. That is an extremely sweet story

How amazingly awesome is it that your husband got to meet more of his grandchildren. NINE more years, WOW! Your story brings a smiling tear to my eyes.

I lost my first husband almost 13 years ago and it was the pot that gave him back quality of life. He was given 6 months but because he could eat and keep it down, ONLY because of that so-called 'evilweed' he lived an addition year and a half. That little bit of extra time meant the world to both he and our son and me too:-)


Thanks for posting your beautiful story

[barbtries]

115. great story

thank you for sharing it.

[anonymous171]

107. Why not just give him tranquilizers? nt

[Fumesucker]

111. A lot of tranquilizers turn you into a vegetable..

I got the impression they had tried a lot of other medications without success.

[Odin2005]

129. Oh god no, giving autistic people tranquillizers borders on ABUSE.

[northernlights]

109. Don't have time to read through the whole thing, but pica

is associated with iron deficiency and a symptom of iron deficiency anemia. Iron deficiency anemia can be caused by a number of things, including chronic inflammation, colon problems, and low protein/cereal rich diets.

From the 1st 2 pages, it doesn't seem as though they've looked at underlying physiological causes of at least some of his symptoms.

[Butch350]

118. I hope no cops are reading this..and track you down thru DU members list!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

120. If you'd bothered to read the article itself,

you'd know that the OP is *not* the person giving the kid pot, AND that the kid is authorized by the state to receive *medical* marijuana.

[RidinMyDonkey]

119. That's an amazing story

I just watched an awesome documentary on PBS about botany and Marijuanna was one of the subjects. I was a little skeptical before I saw it about the actual healing properties in Marijuanna. Turns out it's helped many people from those who are terminally ill, to soldiers with PTSD. It's been suggested that it could help for RA. Which my mother is a sufferer of. If Marijuanna could help ease her pain, I'd give everything I have to see Medical Marijuanna made legal in my state. That includes for children who could potentially benefit. If I had a small child who wasn't showing any progress on conventional medication I certainly would try Marijuanna if it made him feel better.

[Nikki Stone1]

128. Cannabis is a proven medication and should be treated as such.

Like all medications, it can be misused recreationally, but that is no reason not to have it available as a medication.

[madeline_con]

132. Is this medical (prescribed) pot, or can the kid be removed

from the home if word gets out? :shrug:

[Life Long Dem]

135. That's always the answer isn't it?

[voc]

136. I disagree with giving a child mm.

Understanding the intensity of his behavior, it appears this was the option
that was reluctantly chosen to alleviate the pain and bring him under control.
Wonder has the parent given thought to the long term effects of this drug on the child's
psyche? It is a conundrum, the other drugs are just as potentially hazardous. Hopefully,
it will be coupled with pyschiatric sessions and careful follow up. The articles
beg more questions than they answer.

~snip~

There’s a twist to the happy marijuana story, though. While the cannabis has eased J.’s most overwhelming problem, his autism has become more distinct.

~snip~

[1]

140. fuck it. y'all have convinced me. got a problem? drugs are the answer...

and in 99.999% of all cases? pot is the answer.

it will cure you gout, satisfy your shingles, make a blind man see...

hell yeahs give it to children. its the magic cure all for everything. let's all get high. fuck it.

w00t!

[Are_grits_groceries]

141. About the title of the OP:

I just used the title the author used.

I wasn't trying to mislead, titillate, inflame, or cause any problems. I was caught up in the story, and found it fascinating and informative. I didn't think I was going to cause as much fuss about the title as about the article.

God forgive me. I have never seen so many people in such a lather over an issue. I understand the point and will take it into account, but the pearl clutching is a little much.

When I came back to the thread this AM, I was amazed to find people still in a huff about it, and making statements as if I intended to cause such a flap.

May I suggest smelling salts.