More and more parents are coming out and telling their stories of how their autistic children, as well as their own lives, are improved by the use of Cannabis products. I’m dedicating this article on CBD and autism to my wonderful grandson (age 14) who suffers from autism, so this subject is very dear to my heart.
I hope you get as much from it as I have researched the subject further. This article relates to adults living with autism as well as children and their dedicated parents.
Subjects discussed include cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids such as THC that have also been found best to help improve the quality of life for autistic patients. I will be covering the following list of topics:
Current Statistics on Autism
In March 2014, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data regarding autism in the United States. This research showed that 1 in 68 children as having (ASD) Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Currently, the worldwide statistics show that there has been a 300% increase in children diagnosed with ASD (autism spectrum disorder).
Over 3.6 million people in the United States of America live with some form of Autistic Spectrum Disorder.
The population of children afflicted increased by 119.4% in the 10 years from 2000 to 2010.
As of June 2017, about 1% of the world population is estimated to have ASD. This equates to approximately 75 million people.
Estimated cost of autism services in the U.S. is conservatively estimated to exceed $350 billion each year and clearly increasing. Of that cost, the majority of the expense is in adult services. Approximately 75% of ASD sufferers are male.
How CBD Works?
The Cannabis Connection to Autism
Many people are now familiar with the videos of children with seizure disorders being calmed and treated completely with Cannabis. Similarly, we are beginning to see more and more “anecdotal evidence” that the CB2 receptor is found to help 'connect' CBD and autism.
In fact, a 2013 study at the Second University in Naples, Italy in association with the Medical School at Stanford University in California found that a malfunctioning or otherwise unhealthy endocannabinoid system may contribute to autism.
The Autism Research Institute has described the use of medical marijuana as has improved symptoms such as “anxiety, aggression, panic disorder, generalized rage, tantrums, property destruction, and self-injurious behavior”.
The aforementioned 2013 study in Italy by Dr’s Piomelli and Manzoni has revealed critically important discoveries about the “Bliss Molecule” anandamide and how Cannabis compounds like CBD and THC can be used to stimulate imbalances in the body’s endocannabinoid system while directly helping to treat autism patients in the process.
They both consider Cannabis as an optimal contributor to scientific approaches to the disorder.
The endocannabinoid system is not only important in regulating healthy behavior, it is now being shown to improve dysfunctional behaviors characterized in autistic patients. Our body’s endocannabinoid system also produces oxytocin which is essential in learning and social behavior. The chaos characterized by the Autism spectrum appears to be calmed significantly by inducing natural cannabinoids to our systems.
According to Dr. Bernard D. Rimland from the Autism Research Institute, the research and studies all show the need to take advantage of ”relatively safe drug like marijuana… The reports we are seeing from parents indicate that medical marijuana often works when no other treatments, drug or non-drug, have helped.”
Studies done recently by researchers at the University of California has confirmed the healing properties of CBD. They further state that their research shows that CBD works against further brain function degradation and has evidence of powerful neuroprotective properties. CBD has also been found to regulate emotion and focus specifically related to their studies on autistic patients.
Israeli scientists like Dr. Adi Eran are leading the clinical studies and trials for Cannabis as a major cure for Autism among autistic children and teenagers. One of the takeaways from the study has been that cannabis oil rich in CBD is proving out to be the most effective and the best CBD for autism which means that it is not necessary for the patients to have the psychoactive effects (or “high”) or the undesirable and unhealthy side-effects.
Hippocratic Oath
… or Hypocritical Practice?
Although the folksy mythology surrounding the Physician’s Hippocratic Oath to “cause no harm” is surely alive in theory, but is it in practice? Clearly, the answer is no and it’s past time to deal with it head-on. My direct involvement with the medical industry has enlightened me to a different reality and experience from what I had hoped.
The leading cause of death in America in 2017 is not “street drugs”. In fact it never was. However, it is a well-documented fact that the leading cause of death in America is from prescription drugs.
And they continue to wreak havoc on the ignorant and the addicted.
Apparently, most physicians are simply too afraid of their patrons pulling their licenses to practice medicine properly and according to their own “Oath”… another A.M.A. racket played out at the public’s expense.
Well, alert the impotent and “fake” modern media when I point out that some things never change regardless of 44 States voting otherwise.The Feds want to put us all in prison. Meanwhile, physician’s claim they are only applying the core paradigm of medical care in the context of prescribing these drugs for relieving pain.
Physicians and Big Pharma conglomerates continue to produce and prescribe even more dangerous drugs with horrendous and even deadly side effects.
And now, they want to control this “weed”. But I believe they know they can’t keep up this charade much longer. The truth is now coming out with higher velocity.
So just like here at Cannabis Animus, the mounting “anecdotal evidence” from parents, family, friends, and society in general. It IS BEING SHARED with our fellow Americans in spite of the hypocritical behavior of our bureaucratic regulators, rogue drug enforcement agencies, most physicians, and medical industry leaders.
So Why No Help for Autism?
Does it seem hard to imagine why we are talking about Medical Cannabis and improving neurologic-related disease while the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) controls the biggest black market valve ever measured?
By simply classifying the entire Cannabis plant as a Schedule 1 Narcotic, these ignorant or ignoble “agents” consider equivalent in “danger” to heroin and methamphetamine… end of discussion according to the new U.S. Attorney General, Jeff Sessions.
Perhaps one of the world’s top neuroscientists and researchers of the endocannabinoid system puts it best. Dr. Daniele Piomelli reminds us that “anecdotes should not be dismissed… an anecdote is a pointer. It is something that suggests something needs to be either proven or disproven.”
Seems like common sense to me and you, but not to the U.S. Federal government and the American medical-industrial complex. We have observed for decades now how they work hand in hand, one washing the other whenever necessary, and now they want ultimate control over the Cannabis plant itself.
Government Propaganda vs. Clinical Research
The old “Catch 22” effect is evidenced again when we look at the bigger picture of medical research limitations imposed by the Federal government.
The lingering effects from decades of government propaganda, misinformation campaigns, and ignorant talking-heads like Barbra Bush and Nancy Regan are still alive and killing.
And until 20019, we had Jeff Sessions as Attorney General of the U.S., who believes all Cannabis products should be prohibited from cultivation, use, or medical research.
Would it even make a difference if the subject of Autism and CBD therapy was even more deeply researched and patients evaluated?
Since there have been so many funding liabilities, discouragement, and negative leverage applied by the Federal Government on medical Cannabis research in America, there have been relatively few U.S.-based clinical studies on Cannabis and Autism or CBD and autism specifically.
However, there is mounting anecdotal evidence coming from thousands of parents, families, and physicians of people all over the world suffering from the disorder. They report that Cannabis and its cannabinoids like CBD and THC clearly help to improve communication, social interaction, and general behavior positively and noticeably.
Caregivers claim it is helping children, adolescents and adults with autism become happier, lead higher quality lives, and exhibit much-welcomed behavioral improvements.
Israeli Studies on CBD and Autism
Since Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) affects children differently, scientists have been challenged to find a treatment (ie. drug) that works well for all patients even if the results would logically vary as do the individual patients.
As of 2019, this is no longer the case with regard to CBD and Cannabis oils effectively treating ASD patients. Not only is the Cannabis plant natural, non-toxic, non-psychoactive, and non-addicting... Cannabis and it's healing cannabinoids and nutrients have been determined to improve Autism's symptoms and the patient's quality of life.
In a recent study from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center in Israel, subsequently published in Scientific Reports, its lead author, Lihi Bar-Lev Schleider, stated “Overall, more than 80% of the parents reported significant or moderate improvement in their child.”
Over the 6 month duration of the study, it is reported that 30% of the patients studied showed substantial improvement, 53% showed moderate improvement, and only 15% did not respond to the therapy. 40% were able to shower and dress themselves after treatment. 30% of the patients reported better sleep, and 10% improved their ability to concentrate.
Patients in this study were given CBD (cannabidiol) in a mixture of which 1.5% was THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).
Dr. Victor Novak, who also worked on the study, stated "While this study suggests that cannabis treatment is safe and can improve ASD symptoms and improve ASD patient’s quality of life, we believe that double-blind placebo-controlled trials are crucial for a better understanding of the cannabis effect on ASD patients."
For those of you interested in reading the full abstract in Scientific Reports, I encourage you to get further details on this important study: Real life Experience of Medical Cannabis Treatment in Autism: Analysis of Safety and Efficacy by Lihi Bar-Lev Schleider, Raphael Mechoulam, Naama Saban, Gal Meiri & Victor Novack, Scientific Reports, volume 9, Article number: 200 (2019)
CBD Dosage for Autism
According to scientists, researchers, and the anecdotal experiences of parents have shown no sign of even the possibility of overdose. One study described to me by a physician showed that the standard, initial dosage recommendation of 25mg of CBD was validated.
Subsequently, the study was modified to test for CBD tolerance and overdose risk. They found that at a dosage of 1600mg (or 64 doses) there was no change in basic bodily functions like heart rate, temperature, or blood pressure. According the scientists that have performed the studies, it is as safe as any substance can be.
CBD Living Water and CBD Living Gel Caps also incorporate nano-sizing of the CBD to optimize the healing effect. Much of the plain varieties of CBD oil for sale is lost to the digestive process when ingested. My expansive article on“CBD and Nanotechnology” will explain why you may want to consider a more effective form of CBD therapy. It’s reeeally important!
These scientists recommend CBD dosing at least 2 hours before or after taking required prescription medications. This is not due to possible interactions. They point out that the positive effects of CBD is thereby not adulterated or negated in any way by prescription medications.
So, 25mg of CBD – twice per day is generally accepted as the beginning dose for humans looking for relief from their symptoms and treatment for their diseases. CBD has been shown to even cure certain diseases like type2 diabetes.
Since there are many forms of CBD, it is important to consider the best CBD for autism patients. CBD oil, CBD Living Gummies include nanotechnology which reduces the CBD particles to one-millionth their original size providing 100% bioavailability.
CBD Living Water and CBD Living Gel Caps also incorporate nano-sizing of the CBD to optimize the healing effect. Much of the plain varieties of CBD oil for sale is lost to the digestive process when ingested.
These scientists recommend CBD dosing at least 2 hours before or after taking required prescription medications. This is not due to possible interactions. They point out that the positive effects of the CBD is thereby not adulterated or negated in any way by the prescription medications.
Help For Autism
After beating cancer at only 3 years of age, Kalel Santiago was diagnosed with severe autism. According to Dr. Giovani Martinez, the child never spoke until he was 9 when his parents tried an oral spray containing CBD. Twice a day his parents sprayed the CBD into his mouth. One day they got a call from his special needs school’s teacher saying that he is speaking now and learning his A-B-C’s and wondered what they could attribute it to. He was speaking full words soon thereafter.
Brown University professor, Marie Myung-Ok Le, is the author of the popular novel “Somebody’s Daughter”.
Her book is about her daughter’s affliction with severe autism. Finally, after resisting for so long, she gave her daughter an oral tincture of high CBD oil by her mother.
The first result was that her daughter was finally able to get some more regular sleep. And soon she also began to eat more varieties of food and eventually developed healthy nutritional choices.
“Joey’s Strain of Autism treatment is named after Mieko Hester-Perez’ son Joey. In collaboration with Cannabis Science, Inc. of Colorado Springs, Colorado, she collaborated with physicians and the media to promote the CBD oil that, according to her, saved her son’s life. Like her fellow parents of autistic children, she is exposing the Federal Government’s lies about Cannabis and CBD.
… the “anecdotal” evidence as well as scientific research, journals of medicine, publications, and non-U.S. clinical studies are far too numerous to list here.
Summary
For me, it is no longer the mystery that causes such pain for patients and family of all ages suffering from autism. I now know from empirical facts that the treatment of autism in America is about as primitive and deceitful as anywhere or any time in history.
However, CBD and autism is now clearly and related to one another in a very positive and beneficial way. No parent should remain uninformed, in pain and in distress any longer.
There is no legitimate health reason why CBD or Cannabis products in general should be withheld from the treatment of humans anywhere who are suffering from autism in the same way they have been in America.
I ask, why would a caring and responsible medical community and our own, elected representatives in Congress, and Justice Department officials want to keep this 100% safe and natural, 100% non-psychoactive, and 100% non-addictive solution from our families and friends? The unfortunate answer is that they want to own it, regulate it, and tax it.
The real shame is our collective ignorance, weakness, and irresponsibility as it relates to our elected representatives (lawmakers) and Federal Justice System’s immoral and unethical behavior regarding their persistent “War on Drugs” especially with regard to their “Reefer Madness” mentality.
This is a major disaster requiring public support of “cleaning the swamp” and lowering the cost of healthcare in America by ourselves. We can definitely accomplish this if enough “animus” is directed appropriately.
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