Recent research suggests it may be helpful, but many professionals still aren’t convinced. Medical marijuana is increasingly being considered as a therapy option for children with severe autism spectrum disorder. The topic, however, creates some difficult ethical and legal concerns.
Experts are Still Divided About the Use of Medical Cannabis for Autism.
Media outlets are inundated with stories and anecdotal findings of medical marijuana’s effectiveness in treating severe ASD. You may read about a boy from Rhode Island whose parents tried everything to help their son except using medical cannabis resources.
The boy’s conduct is problematic both at home and at school. And in comparison to the boy’s experience before and after using medical cannabis, his conduct improved when he began using cannabis oil. He’s less hostile and more pleasant to be around.
The boy’s narrative isn’t the first one like it to surface in national media. In an effort to make the best decisions for their children, some parents came together online and established grassroots organizations for autism.
Even though there have been anecdotal claims of medical marijuana’s efficacy in treating the most severe ASD symptoms, the scientific data has not definitely reached the same conclusion. Further, it has not been proven that treating children with medical cannabis is safe. But many parents who are trying to help their autistic children are willing to exhaust all resources.
A diagnosis of autism may be life-altering. Families that have a kid, especially with a severe sort of ASD, are terribly impacted and these parents are frantic in seeking answers, and I think that we have to be extremely cautious in what we propose to them.
New Studies and Skeptical Experts
Despite the encouraging results of preliminary studies, many professionals are still worried that it is too soon to tell whether or not the therapies are safe. Some children with autism have shown improvement after using medical cannabis oil, according to a few trials conducted in recent years.
A recent mini-study
Cannabis oil was proven to be “safe and effective” for treating ASD symptoms, according to a reliable source in Israel, where the use of medical cannabis is legal and permitted for a wide range of medical illnesses. Observational data on 188 adolescents with ASD were gathered before and after therapy to assess changes in quality of life and mood.
Thirty percent of patients reported a very large improvement in symptoms after 6 months of therapy, and over fifty percent reported a substantial improvement.
However, people have several criticisms of the research. Importantly, several authors work for Tikun Olam, the largest national distributor of medical cannabis in Israel, and the company is a financial backer of the study.
Despite the criticism, the results seem to back up the conclusions of previous Israeli investigations that reached the same conclusion.
More than 60% of participants in a study of cannabis therapy for children with ASD showed improvement in behavioral eruptions. However, there is a shortage of high-quality, large-scale placebo-controlled studies, but we believe some should research in this direction should be on in Australia at the moment.
Is Medical Cannabis safe for ASD?
In a literature review from 2015 of medical marijuana for the treatment of pediatric and behavioral issues such as ASD and ADHD, a researcher reported that “cannabis cannot be safely recommended.” He argues that the most recent studies haven’t altered his view either, but he understands the parents’ motive.
Medical marijuana proponents counter that there is a long-standing tendency in Australia towards using cannabis to treat autism spectrum disorder. The scientific community has developed an interest in researching these medications because of anecdotal information from ASD parents regarding the advantages of medical marijuana.
Because of their efforts, researchers are starting to back up what the patient community has been saying all along.
The conundrum facing guardians
Parents of children with severe ASD are put in a difficult situation, and perhaps one that is confusing, due to the absence of high-quality evidence of medical marijuana usage in Australia for ASD. Parents want to be sure about the potential of what a drug can do before administering it to their children, and also wants to know the adverse effects if there are any.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Australia?
In its current form, a medical cannabis doctor in Australia has a policy that includes “compassionate use” of medical cannabis in Australia, which can allow some children with life-limiting or severe disorders may benefit from medical cannabis under the recommendation of a specialist.
It is important for parents and clinicians to be able to have frank discussions regarding the use of medical marijuana, even if doing so requires the disclosure of potentially unlawful activity.
Also, other crucial care difficulties arise while dealing with children who have autism spectrum disorder.
When making medical decisions for someone who may have trouble communicating side effects or responses that are occurring, it is crucial to keep in mind that many of these children with more severe presentations are non-verbal.
In severe cases, symptoms might include wrath or violence, and self-injurious conduct. Circumstances like this can be generally when people take medical marijuana.
Medical marijuana has been proposed as a potential therapy for autism spectrum disorder, but further study is needed to see if it is safe and beneficial. Without concrete proof, informing and advising parents is extremely challenging. That’s a key structural obstacle that perhaps might assist give some more empirical data either way.
To know more about where to buy medical cannabis in Australia and other medical marijuana resources, you should book a consultation session with a professional from Chronic Therapy today.
