Health & Science

Why I Give My 9-year-old Pot

He has autism and a medical marijuana license.

Question: why are we giving our nine-year-old a marijuana cookie?

Answer: because he can't figure out how to use a bong.

My son J has autism. He’s also had two serious surgeries for a spinal cord tumor and has an inflammatory bowel condition, all of which may be causing him pain, if he could tell us. He can say words, but many of them—"duck in the water, duck in the water"—don't convey what he means. For a time, anti-inflammatory medication seemed to control his pain. But in the last year, it stopped working. He began to bite and to smack the glasses off my face. If you were in that much pain, you’d probably want to hit someone, too.

J's school called my husband and me in for a meeting about J's tantrums, which were affecting his ability to learn. The teachers were wearing tae kwon do arm pads to protect themselves against his biting. Their solution was to hand us a list of child psychiatrists. Since autistic children like J can’t exactly do talk therapy, this meant sedating, antipsychotic drugs like Risperdal—Thorazine for kids.

Last year, Risperdal was prescribed for more than 389,000 children—240,000 of them under the age of 12—for bipolar disorder, ADHD, autism, and other disorders. Yet the drug has never been tested for long-term safety in children and carries a severe warning of side effects. From 2000 to 2004, 45 pediatric deaths were attributed to Risperdal and five other popular drugs also classified as “atypical antipsychotics,” according to a review of FDA data by USA Today. When I canvassed parents of autistic children who take Risperdal, I didn't hear a single story of an improvement that seemed worth the risks. A 2002 study specifically looking at the use of Risperdal for autism, in the New England Journal of Medicine, showed moderate improvements in “autistic irritation”—but if you read more closely, the study followed only 49 children over eight weeks, which, researchers admitted, “limits inferences about adverse effects.”

We met with J's doctor, who’d read the studies and agreed: No Risperdal or its kin.

The school called us in again. What were we going to do, they asked. As a sometimes health writer and blogger, I was intrigued when a homeopath suggested medical marijuana. Cannabis has long-documented effects as an analgesic and an anxiety modulator. Best of all, it is safe. The homeopath referred me to a publication by the Autism Research Institute describing cases of reduced aggression, with no permanent side effects. Rats given 40 times the psychoactive level merely fall sleep. Dr. Lester Grinspoon, an emeritus professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School who has been researching cannabis for 40 years, says he has yet to encounter a case of marijuana causing a death, even from lung cancer.

A prescription drug called Marinol, which contains a synthetic cannabinoid, seemed mainstream enough to bring up with J’s doctor. I cannot say that with a few little pills, everything turned around. But after about a week of playing around with the dosage, J began garnering a few glowing school reports: “J was a pleasure have in speech class,” instead of “J had 300 aggressions today.”

But J tends to build tolerance to synthetics, and in a few months, we could see the aggressive behavior coming back. One night, I went to the meeting of a medical marijuana patient advocacy group on the campus of the college where I teach. The patients told me that Marinol couldn’t compare to marijuana, the plant, which has at least 60 cannabinoids to Marinol’s one.

Tags: autism, marijuana, parenting, Risperdal

Marie Myung-Ok Lee is an award-winning novelist and essayist. She teaches at Brown University. Follow her on Twitter.

Comments

tiffany and ugg

By: zhenhua | Wed, 02/01/2012 - 08:46

Tiffany Jewelry online store , There are Tiffany Necklace , Tiffany Rings , Tiffany Bracelet , Tiffany Bangles , Tiffany Beads Bracelets , Tiffany Beads Necklace , Tiffany Charms , Tiffany Cufflinks , Tiffany Earrings , Tiffany Key Rings , Tiffany Accessories , Tiffany Sets ,Tiffany 1837 ring ,Tiffany 1837 ring Sterling silver titanium Return to 1837 heart pendant and Tiffany Watches Cheap for sale about Tiffany Jewelry!

Cheap ugg boots on sale , UGG Adirondack Boots , UGG Bailey Button Boots , UGG Bailey Button Fancy , UGG Bailey Button Krinkle , UGG Bailey Button Triplet ,UGG Fox Fur Boots , UGG Fringe Cardy ,UGG Highkoo Boots , UGG Jimmy Choo Boots , UGG Kensington Boots , UGG Knightsbridge Boots , UGG Mayfaire Boots , UGG Nightfall Boots ,UGG Payton Boots ,UGG Ultimate Bind , UGG Ultimate Boots , UGG Ultra Short , UGG Ultra Tall , UGG Upside Boots ugg boots saleonline store.

Cheap Ugg Boots online shop , Cheap Ugg Jimmy Choo , Ugg Kensington , Ugg Knightsbridge , Ugg Nightfall , Ugg Fox Fur , Ugg Tess , Ugg Bailey Button Boots , Ugg Bailey Button Fancy , Ugg Bailey Button Krinkle , Ugg Bailey Button Triplet Cheap Ugg Boots for sale!

UGGs on sale online store, UGGs Jimmy Choo , UGGs Knightsbridge , UGGs Adirondack Short , UGGs Adirondack Tall , UGGs Ashur , UGGs Bailey Button , UGGs Bailey Button Fancy , UGGs Bailey Button Krinkle , UGGs Bailey Button Triplet ,UGGs Kensington , UGGs Man , UGGs Mayfaire , UGGs Nightfall Tall , UGGs Retro Cargo , UGGs Swell Tall , UGGs Woman for sale UGGs on sale!

Tiffany Jewelry online store , There are Tiffany Necklace , Tiffany Rings , Tiffany Bracelet , Tiffany Bangles , Tiffany Beads Bracelets , Tiffany Beads Necklace , Tiffany Charms , Tiffany Cufflinks , Tiffany Earrings , Tiffany Key Rings , Tiffany Accessories , Tiffany Sets ,Tiffany 1837 ring ,Tiffany 1837 ring Sterling silver titanium Return to 1837 heart pendant and Tiffany Watches Cheap for sale about Tiffany Jewelry!

Cheap ugg boots on sale , UGG Adirondack Boots , UGG Bailey Button Boots , UGG Bailey Button Fancy , UGG Bailey Button Krinkle , UGG Bailey Button Triplet ,UGG Fox Fur Boots , UGG Fringe Cardy ,UGG Highkoo Boots , UGG Jimmy Choo Boots , UGG Kensington Boots , UGG Knightsbridge Boots , UGG Mayfaire Boots , UGG Nightfall Boots ,UGG Payton Boots ,UGG Ultimate Bind , UGG Ultimate Boots , UGG Ultra Short , UGG Ultra Tall , UGG Upside Boots ugg boots saleonline store.

UGGs on sale online store, UGGs Jimmy Choo , UGGs Knightsbridge , UGGs Adirondack Short , UGGs Adirondack Tall , UGGs Ashur , UGGs Bailey Button , UGGs Bailey Button Fancy , UGGs Bailey Button Krinkle , UGGs Bailey Button Triplet ,UGGs Kensington , UGGs Man , UGGs Mayfaire , UGGs Nightfall Tall , UGGs Retro Cargo , UGGs Swell Tall , UGGs Woman for sale UGGs on sale!

The karen millen outlet

By: karenmillens | Wed, 02/01/2012 - 00:29

The karen millen outlet presented by the Chanel show was streamlined, upbeat, and forward-looking … The key point in the presentation was a new fashion attitude … there was a classic elegance about the result.” [Style.com] ? “It was quite the karen millen sale dresses production, as only Karl can do …This was still very much a streamlined and technological outing from Mr Lagerfeld

theme of children’s

By: karenmillens | Wed, 02/01/2012 - 00:25

theme of children’s imaginations running wild in the karen millen skirts sale is timeless. “I have cousins who live in California,” LeBeau-Gant says. “When they came to visit me for the first karen millen trench coat, they were just as wild and they’re older teenagers.” Working with LeBeau is director Jessica Burgess, co-founder of the Active Cultures theater company and her own cheap karen millen dress outlet The Inkwell, which nurtures new plays. During their first collaboration, Burgess stressed the importance of approaching a children’s story just like any other piece of karen millen outlet online. “It’s not just children’s theater; it’s theater and another extension of theater and Jess has been really working with us to make it not just campy,” LeBeau-Gant says. “It’s truth.” Burgess’ goal has been not only to capture the look of the book, but also to recreate moments from it.

Seiko Watches

By: xiuxiu | Tue, 01/31/2012 - 02:29

Cheap Replica Watches UK are aimed at middle-class people, so that more people have the Replica Rolex.the replica watches now been welcomed by many countries around the world. However, how to choose a high-quality Fake Wateches sale from so much online seller ?i think the Rolex Watch is very important.i had buy Rolex Watchehes for sale that Rolex Watches from Swiss Watches i collectioned more than Cartier Watches tag heuer replicas watches,so i can shared my experience for you.i will creat 5-10 articles for explain how to choose Rolex Watches. Omega Ladies Watches Omega Mens Watches Cartier Watches Rado Watches Seiko Watches Oris Watches Tissot Watches this article is first. Cartier Watches

Coach Outlet

By: caicai93 | Tue, 01/31/2012 - 02:12

The easiest way to tell if a Coach Outlet is, to look at the symmetry of the print on the Coach Online Outlet. Any authentic Coach Outlet Canada will have a perfectly symmetrical print on both sides of the Coach Factory Outlet, right down the middle. What I see on some fake Cheap Coach Bags is that many times the print is off center, or if you look at the stitching make sure the print is perfectly symmetrical over the stitching. Coach Poppy Collection mistake is that sometimes they will have a single row of "C"s and then they will be flipped, but on all signature Coach Outlet, even the op-art design there will always be two rows of "C"s and then two rows of "C"s, even down the side Coach Booties.

Hi! Thanks for the great

By: alpha15995 | Thu, 01/19/2012 - 00:38

Hi! Thanks for the great information you have provided! You have touched on crucuial points! i bookmarked it and will be back to check it out some more later.
wedding dresses online store,cheap wedding dresses,UGG Boots On Sale,cheap ugg boots,Down coats and jackets,Down coats,Down jackets,Classic And Fashion Boots,Fashion boots,Classic Boots,

Learn more karen millen dress

By: karenmillens | Mon, 01/16/2012 - 21:48

Learn more karen millen dress how StriVectin works and why it's drawing praise from celebrities and skincare experts around the world. the online source for consumers seeking intelligent beauty and skin care news, advice, tips and articles. Founded in 2005, karen millen sale items and frequently asked questions on skincare and beauty-related issues. is located in Sacramento, California, but receives visitors from all around the world. For more Karen Millen Coat After the busyness of the holidays, skin is often the first thing to suffer. Learn how to create or renew healthy beauty habits and welcome the New Year with gorgeous skin with the latest article by Skincare Repair: Rejuvenate Skin after Holiday Travel, Business or a Late Night Out Still recovering from holiday travel, late-night parties or long workdays playing catch-up?

This karen millen colour

By: karenmillens | Mon, 01/16/2012 - 21:42

This karen millen colour block dress details some tips on how to look and feel Karen Millen Australia, so that any woman can feel confident and dress for success. It's easy to get bored with karen millen collection 2011 in the middle of a dark winter, but with so many fun new nail fashions, any woman can bring some karen millen black dresses into a grey day. This season, trends like edgy crackle polish, soft greys and bold, rich looks are fun and fashionable. Read on for saome of the top trends and how to do them at home.

Feminine and Bold Fashion

By: karenmillens | Sun, 01/15/2012 - 21:21

Feminine and Bold Fashion karen millen dresses 2011Council member and multi-awarded fashion designer Tippi Ocampo never fails to impress anyone with her funky designs. Tippi’s Little Red Dress designs share her personal karen millen outlet store of femininity with the right balance–a standout without being karen millen karen millen, sexy without revealing too much, and passionate & bold without being brazen. "Red is a very powerful karen millen clothes outlet, so when I was designing the little red dress, I balanced off the strong color with a softer silhouette.

Unlike many previous 3D Karen

By: karenmillens | Sun, 01/15/2012 - 21:15

Unlike many previous 3D Karen Millen skirt , the lenses have been curved to better accommodate the shape of the wearer’s face, as well as to improve the overall Cinema 3D viewing experience. The F310 weighs a mere 13.5 Karen Millen clothing, making it 20 percent lighter than LG’s previous design. Developed in collaboration with Alain Mikli, the F360’s half-rim frame design is sportier and only weighs 16 grams. The lenses of the F360 have been curved and cover most of the wearer’s face, deepening the immersive Cinema 3D experience. The Karen Millen shop F360, as well as all 3D glasses from LG, can also worn in theaters showing 3D movies since both Cinema 3D and theaters utilize the same FPR and RealD technologies. months of honing creativity and craftsmanship, the Fashion & Design Council of the Philippines (FDCP) is pleased to present this year’s winners of the Philippine Fashion Design Competition (PFDC). With the theme, "Weaving the Future: A Social Design Competition," the competition was divided into two categories, the Accessories and Apparel Division. Out of the chosen 19 outstanding entries from over 200 applicants all over the Philippines