I live in Michigan, a state which recently passed a Medical Marijuana law. I have seen a lot of discussion online which people with Aspergers Syndrome claim use of cannabis helps them cope with Aspergers Syndrome.I have never smoked weed, and have no plans on doing so, but I feel it would be responsible to discuss what some people claim to be a fact. From what I know from people that smoke Marijuana they claim it slows things down, helps you relax and gives you the munchies.
When getting overwhelmed making things slow down would definitely help me better cope, as well as feeling relaxed. Do you think Marijuana can help those with Aspergers cope?
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
I have never smoked marijuana myself, however, I have many friends (and family) that have smoked it (recreationally). As with any substance (medication, alcohol, etc), it has different effects for different people. For example, I have a friend that says marijuana makes her extremely paranoid and does not calm her at all. And another friend that used it as a substitute for prescribed Xanax (for anxiety), who said it calmed her.
I think just like any substance you put in your body, there are possible side effects and it will effect people differently.
No. It also increases paranoia, etc., etc., in many people. I would say pot would in most cases be a horrible thing for people with AS.
Good point.
Hey I suffer from AS and I find the medical marijuana motivates me and makes me more socially aware. Since my brain is constantly on high load from overthinking, medical marijuana helps me relax for once and makes me have real emotions. So why don’t you guys stop writing this bullshit about how it doesnt help people with AS especially when you dont suffer from it.
Actually Mike, most of us here have AS. I certainly do. Please don’t just assume we do not. I understand that this helps you, I also understand others who are on the spectrum have doubts. I would like to see some testing personally, and perhaps a clinical controlled trial?
id have to disagree severely i have asbergurs syndrome and realy bad axiety it used to be so bad i could never socialize with people cus i had to many things in my head to process at once i couldnt sleep cus my axiety kept me up i was never happy cus i was always very anxious and uncomfortable because of my axiety started smoking mj and all the axiety went away now for some it is diffrent i am merely stsateing my experience with it
I agree that some on the autism spectrum could find this beneficial. However, in this climate where so many think of autistics as a population to be controlled, I don’t really think it would be a good idea to push for this. If it were like my coffee habit, where I drink some coffee to give myself a boost in the morning or before a social event because it both energizes me and makes me a little more gregarious, but I’m free to not injest it if I don’t want to, it wouldn’t be so bad. Unfortunately, marijuana is not considered to be in the same category as beer, coffee, tea, and cigarettes. Right now, society has two categories for marijuana users: those who take it as a necessary medication, who are accepted by society, and those who smoke it recreationally, who everyone is telling to go to rehab because they’re seen as having an addiction. The way I see it, suggesting the use of medical marijuana for “coping” purposes could be dangerous because it would put all autistics who use marijuana for this purpose into the category of people taking marijuana as a necessary medication and could serve to further medicalization of autism and giving people more reason to compare autism to cancer. Marijuana could be good for autistics, but in this climate, it’s a bit too dangerous to be pushing for it right away.
I think a lot more research needs to be done by the Psych community into alternatives to SSRIs and SNRIs. If THC acts as a Dopamine antagonist then maybe the people could alternatively be prescribed something like Levadopa, which is used for Parkinsons. (What I am against is prescribing SSRIs for Various imbalances like Depression and OCD, when there are other things that were restricted by prohibitionist laws that might work just as well, perhaps with less onerous side effects. Weight gain with that pill anyone? Liver damage? Kidney overload?)
That said, I am not against medical marijuana, and think roadblocks into research with it need to come down.
I am not against anything being used for a legitimate medical purpose. I am however concerned about this being abused.
Abused how?
Marijuana helps myself and other friends with AS deal with anxiety, sleep issues, and Carpel Tunnel / RSI from communicating with keyboards for most of our lives. Without it the world is much harder to deal with.
I had a terrible reaction to Prozac. It made me retreat into the back of my head and I felt even more disconnected from the rest of the planet. Never again.
Depakote, Zoloft and a few others did that for me.
I have AS, during my life it has proven to bevery disasterous and unexplainable until very recent years. I was prescribed so many drugs, and NONE even came close to even helping. The problem was a misdiagnosis with ADD, and those drugs shut me down. Of course that diagnosis truely never sat right with me, some doctors even tried to tell me I was manic depressive(bi-polar now), WRONG! I started smoking as any teenager would, someone introduced me to and, and it made me feel different, so I kept doing it. Little did I know it was actually helping me socially, and allowing me to focus my mind on things I would otherwise overlook, even my temper calms, to name just a few areas this has helped with. Since my difficult childhood free from pot, I am now a daily user. There is no equal to what is offered by marijuana in this instance. There is no drug that even offers this effect with side effects, let alone without them. Marijuana is a miracle. I do not care what MD disagrees with me here, they are less informed. I will not say this is a cure-all, or that it would help another aspie, but for me there is no better. In this case with most I will say it is best to inform yourself, do not believe what a right wing politician has to tell you. They are looking for supporters, not answers. I have been a daily smoker for years, I am not schitzyphrenic, I am not stupid(my IQ is above average and then some), my reaction time is only effected when I choose to sit on my butt and eat cheetos while watching tv which is rare, I am not lazy(daily personal fitness program). I am not sure who the politicians are getting thier information from, but they should seek answers from people with actual experience.
The more time that passes, the more people will find that marijuana is not satan, but it is a very helpful substance even possibly a cancer cure, but for that to happen the Federal Government would have to legalize research on the substance. My highest hope is that one day, this very available medication will not send its beneficiaries to prison merely for seeking medical help doctors can not exactly offer to everyone.
“The American Medical Association (AMA) urges that marijuana’s status as a federal Schedule I controlled substance be reviewed with the goal of facilitating the conduct of clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines. Previously, the AMA recommended marijuana remain a Schedule I controlled substance, but it now believes the substance deserves more clinical research.”
http://www.cbsnews.com/blogs/2009/11/11/politics/politicalhotsheet/entry5614233.shtml
My aspie son struggled mightily with severe depression and other negative effects of the syndrome in early high school. We tried zoloft, prozac, ambien. Nothing seemed to help. Eventually, he dropped out of school his sophomore year and started taking online college courses. He slept all day. Played video games all night. His weight soared to 350 pounds. He had no friends, and his depression worsened. He often spoke of ending his life. I am thankful to the two neighborhood acquaintances who introduced him to the substance. My son is going to junior college, funny, talkative and off to the gym every day now. This is a kid who resented having to walk to the car! I understand it is illegal, and, certainly, drugs have different effects on different people. For instance, alcohol sends him into sobbing cries of despair. In terms of side effects, I’ve heard of none that concern me more than the constant threat of suicide. For my child, it has been his salvation. He’s lost almost 100 pounds. He’s a college sophomore at 17, and he now talks about his old age. As his mother, I will do whatever I have to do to ensure he has access.
I have smoked marijuana recreationally.. I have aspergers syndrome… I’m a guitar player.. Actually very talented at my guitar.. I will have to say medical marijuana is good for kids with aspergers.. Just as long as they dont smoke to much….
Its a mild hallucination..
But I’ve done it and I dont actully have anything against that at all…
As a kid doing it from 12 years old i have noticed it helped me get inspired more about music… It hadn’t made me fat… Lazy… or lost of ambition…
What did make me lose my ambition is my manic depression
but untill i smoked cannibis i felt better…. It helped me alot with my ambition…
think of it this way… Alcohol is a depressent that is legal to use recreationally
it causes depression
it causes anxiety of everyday life..
it fact it can be highly addictive…
I know many people who think marijuana is better use for recreation
then alcohol which is legal..
But just like everything it would be bad to do to much if you dont have
anything wrong with you physically of emotionally…
But I do think if you gave a phycotic kid a bole or a joint or 2 he would be calm…
same with kids with a.d.d
or aspergers… people with aspergers have been known to have a vivid imagination or a little troubles learning. but i think if they had a bole or a joint.. It would probably help them learn easy cause what happends when you smoke marijuana..
its a hallucigen… but mild.. Depending on your personality it affects you..
but when i did it and a teacher taught me algebra while i was high. i understand it cause it made me imagine what she meant…
It stimulates there learning… or it can depress it..
But by a certain person it would be good
it cures cancer, aids, and other mental disorders..
just as long as its not too much just like every medication
I would check your sources…
Marijuana has no withdraw effects, if you get addicted its because you are mentally addicted to the feeling. And with no physical addiction this makes it easy to quit, ex: you wont wake up sweating or shaking because you want it so bad.
It doesnt make you depressed, actually quite the contrary. Take a famous person for example; snoopdog. He got his medical card because he claimed he was depressed. A reason to get accepted for a medical card is depression… hence this helps with depression.
I can also second the help with depression from personal experience. Actually marijuana somehow transformed me out of depression to being religious.
Yes marijuana may cause anxiety / paranoia, but this is on a person to person basis and also the type of marijuana. I got my hands on a strand of medical (happy) anti-depressent mari. and I had a smile the whole entire time.
Other things I can agree on what you said, I just dont want the wrong information to come out and bash; for it is not true.
I know marijuana helps people with Asperger’s. I’ve seen it work in a very positive way. It calms anxiety, prevents meltdowns, helps the person focus on school work and opens up their creativity. The person is relaxed and cheerful and pleasant to be around. There are no side effects like there is with man-made chemical drugs.
Unfortunately, Michigan’s Medical Marijuana law is very flawed and access is very difficult and costly. I naively thought that if you followed the rules and filled out the proper forms, it would be easy for the qualified person to receive their Medical Marijuana Card. HA! What I found, was that almost all medical doctors who are guided by the AMA (American Medical Association), will not sign the form for you. Because of this fact, “special” doctors have sprung up who will sign your form for a $200 fee. Add that to the $100 application fee, which btw, these fees must be paid every year. If you finally get a card, you will find that you have no easy access to obtaining marijuana since there are no dispensaries. Your options are to pay a “caregiver” (one who is approved to grow and sell marijuana) an exorbitant amount, about $200 for a small bag, or invest in all of the equipment to grow your own.
After finding out all of this information, I realized that it’s much cheaper and easier to just get marijuana the same way people have for years – from your local pot dealer, ha. Oh well. I agree with Andrea, as a mother, I too, will do whatever I have to do to ensure my daughter has access.
I struggled with social inhibitions, ADHD and anxiety throughout my youth, including years of SSRI use with very mixed results. I started smoking pot at age 19 and it changed my life, lowering anxiety and guiding my way towards proper social interaction and normalcy. At age 30 I have discovered I am indeed an Aspie, and realized I have been self-medicating all this time. For what it’s worth, I barely drink and have no dependency problems with other drugs.
High quality marijuana, whether smoked or made into food, is a very special tool for mellowing out the mind, with no other option that compares to it. It’s not right for everybody, but should be a part of the toolkit for managing Asperger’s and Autism. Its effects can indeed range from therapeutic to miraculous.
For those that worry about the ‘potential for abuse’, I would encourage you to re-examine your biases. Marijuana is natural and essentially harmless. When recommending herbal tea or chicken noodle soup for sick people, do we worry about potential for ‘abuse’? Daily use of dangerous medications isn’t considered abuse; I’d much rather be a pothead than a pillhead.
For those that worry about the political danger to the ASD community by bringing marijuana into the picture, your motives are noble but you’re ignoring the needs of real people that need help. Why deny possible treatment to people just because of the political implications?
I feel like autism is a side effect of the brain’s swift evolution into modern life; fortunately, cannabis has evolved with us as a natural balance for quieting the mind.
I have AS and a history of panic attacks and a really violent temper. I have found that when I have a panic attack/ultra-violent, angry old testament god like, berzerker rage, temper fit pot is pretty much the only thing that will calm me down. One minute I’m breaking everything/everyone I can get my hands on and screaming like the lunatic I am, then I’ll take a couple of hits of bud and the next minute I’m WAAAAAY calmer and half way rational. By the time the bowl’s out I’ve usually apologized for being such a caveman asshole and I wouldn’t hurt a fly. I’ve tried all kindsa anti depressants, anti psychotics, etc but they always screw me up even more than I already am especially if i miss a dose and go into withdrawl (even though the Dr’s have told me that stuff is non habit forming, not addictive, etc… then the next sentence outta their mouth is usually, “but don’t quit all at once. we’ll have to step it down over a couple of months.” I wonder how much the drug companies give them to tell me crap like that… Rotten sons of….)
Anyway, this isn’t exactly good science but I’ve found that when i get all screwed up like that pot seems to help me calm down and keep me from hurting anyone. That being said, I’ve had a long history of substance abuse.
Hope that was somewhat helpful.
Great thread. We should be thinking about this more effectively. First, lets separate policy and strategy from efficacy (I’m thinking of sadderbutwiser here). If medical marijuana is determined to be useful and effective within understood parameters, then we can work through the strategy around policy and positioning. California, for example, is getting pretty close to full legalization – the policy can change.
Second, lets not close any doors (I’m looking at you ASP). A perusal of the thread shows lots of anecdotal evidence that medical marijuana can be quite helpful for Aspies.
What we should be doing is trying to establish effective heuristics for action, gathering the highest quality information possible and trying to know what we know.
Here is my take, based on personal experience.
* Aspies react quite differently to most neurochemicals (including caffine – its a hell of a drug) than normals. That means while we can look to general population studies, we can’t rely on them.
There is a let-down here – similar to the pharma SSRI withdrawal – so be cautious. Think of it like climbing a mountain. Rewarding with risks.
* In my experience, stimulants are bad news. Just too much of too much. Even coffee should be treated with care. I can reach great heights on coffee, but man does it ruin my biochemistry and mental balance.
* Empathics – (Ecstasy) can be incredibly useful if used carefully. For us they aren’t a party drug, but a chance to see how a very different emotional landscape looks / “feels”
* Marijuana is also very useful. I am much more empathetic – is this how normals are all the time? – have much more emotional resiliency and much more awareness of aesthetic experiences. If you are an Aspie, I’d venture to suggest that you have never heard music if you haven’t heard it stoned.
* Psychedelics. Also very useful. Far fewer side effects than any of the pharma stuff and allow you to explore yet another dimension of your psychology. The surge of serotonin usually serves to buffer emotional fragility.
In other words – like others on the list, I’ve had very positive experiences dabbling in the world of “alternative pharma” and have my own negative feelings towards the commercial pharma companies.
My advice to Zach if he happens to still be looking at this thread. The physical risks are far lower than alcohol, so you don’t have to be enormously worried. The biggest issues are setting and personal response. Find a few friends who understand marijuana and are steady responsible people. Pick a very non-threatening venue and make sure you have a good block of time set apart (no conversations on the phone, no need to interact with people you don’t know, etc.). Then give it a try – use a vaporizer rather than smoking or eating. Smoking is bad for your lungs and eating has dosing issues. It might be useful, and it might not. If not, then you know. If it is, then you have to start bounding.
Probably the most important issue when it comes to medical marijuana for mental problems and therefore you guys is cannabinol (CBN). Modern breeding/genetic engineering has led to a huge imbalance of too much THC and barely any CBN which sucks because that’s where all of the healing is. This is another reason to legalize and regulate pot as medicine. CBN has been proven to be an effective treatment for schizophrenia, so there you go right there. There certain strains and certain ways of cultivating which bring this out. There is anecdotal evidence THC heavy strains can trigger schizophrenia in people who are susceptible or already developing it. Hard work and perseverance will help us bring this science to the forefront…