Autism & Marijuana: Yes, It Actually Does Help

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I need stimulants. Weed just makes me stupid.

I think it should be legalized, but I have no interest in smoking it. Really, I do not see the appeal in inhaling some smelly smoke. Regardless, I think everyone is free to choose if they want to use drugs or not; the State should never try to control people's lives like they currently do.

It intensifies/accentuates whatever you feel, think or are. It brought out your deeper nature as a synaethete. All the more reason to continue and explore, even enjoy your true self!

fixed that for ya'

I've tried it a few times and didn't have good experiences. The first time didn't really do anything and the second time it made me extremely anxious and I thought I was having a heart attack.

grins*

Im not even anti-marajuana and I consider this to be nonsense!

A) you obviously have other issues on top of autism, such as anxiety and mood swings. And these non-autistic symptoms are what are effected by marajuana, and not your 'mild asperger's'.

B) Marajuana CAUSES autistic behavior. Thats the whole point of it!

You get high, and then you spend a couple hours contemplating your navel- or ideas about your obsessive hobbies-or whatever.

Nothing wrong with that-since its just for a couple of hours.

But there is no way that a drug famous for making nts INTO temporary autistics could make autistic people into nt's.
That just doesnt make any sense!

I guess by executive functioning you don't mean playing chess lol. because I would like to put that to a test if that's what you mean. Oh and I guess ur not talking about snowboarding or mma either lol. However if you are talking about social skills or other executive skills you may be right but but you would have to be more specific. I have been smoking for 28 years and I have suspected I'm an aspie for about a month. my I.Q. has gone from 118 to 130 over the years I've been smoking. there are many unwanted side effects most do not cause a problem I can identify but I think not finishing my thoughts clearly may be a side effect that compounds an aspie condition I may have.

Pot is not for everyone. I believe there is a small demographic that will respond with negative overall effects from smoking and a small demographic that will respond with positive effects. the people in between should enjoy once in a while for fun if you ask me . I think overindulging in anything is dangerous and even more so for persons who exhibit the behavioral pattern of narrowly focusing on topics. That being said if it feels good do it as long as your ability to get by is not hampered then what's the problem?

I have a few thoughts I have to explore further but I'm going to share them anyway. serotonin dysfunction is a possible condition associated with aspergers so this research might shed some light on why some people on the spectrum may self medicate with cannabis.




I also believe I can get serotonin from looking at things I like. I'm guessing here and someone please correct me if you know. I think nt's produce serotonin in a social situations this definitely does not happen to me.

I am a 24 Aspie and im all for legalizing marijuana. I smoke weed on occasion not regularly to control my mood swings from bipolar (when im on a depressive episode) and to prevent some meltdowns where I feel like I want to destroy things or throw things or if I'm having an anxiety or panic attack come on or for social anxiety. It helps me interact with people if the right strain of weed and feel relaxed and not anxious when doing so. I can be myself when smoking weed and not worry what people think of me or if I'm weird because everyone that smokes weed is a little goofy. It has helped me socialize and make more friends that aren't as judgmentsl because most of them, themselves are outcasts I've learned and never fit in and also have ADHD, bipolar, learning disorders, physical disabilities, panic and anxiety disorder, trauma or abuse from childhoods, schizophrenia , anger problems, etc and find that weed calms them for their self medicating nature or their illness/disability. I say legalize weed, it can help many while it may have an opposite reaction for some. I have smoked since I was 17, 24 now and have had some weed cause panic attacks to be worse or horrible paranoia. It all depends on the kind you smoke and how it makes you feel. To be quite honest, I smoked before posting this post. It helps me sleep also. Goodnight everyone- newbie to wrong planet.

Ps. It also helped me get out of one of my depressions and feel more confident to get my drivers license. And no I didn't smoke on the day of ny driving test, only the days prior to taking it that got me out of my rut feeling of feeling down and that I couldn't do anything right or be like everyone else.

You wish you could find a drug that could make you think like an autistic person.

I can't speak for anyone else but I have never wanted to be turned into an nt.

I just don't want to be judged by people who have no chance of earning my respect.

You dont make any sense. After spending 100 of hours in cannabis clubs, watching others, no NT ever became a temporary autistic. Thats just BS

They did often become forgetful, idiotic and lazy. But not everyone.

A good drug for forgetting, god knows I have a lot of painful memories I would like to forget...

As do many aspies, who have suffered at the hands of others.... let them have their weed if it helps them!! !

Its non toxic, and safe. They wont be a burden on the tax payer! Stoners mind their own business! Stoner rates will stay @ approx 15% of population! Legal or not legal!

Would you have them develop food addictions, addictions to harmful drugs like meth, tobacco and alcohol? Addictions that cost the tax payer in the long run????

FFS whos thinking like a stoner and who isnt on this one???

Wait how exactly does marijuana cause autistic behavior? I consider that to be nonsense. Most neurotypicals do not become 'autistic' on marijuana so that makes no sense.

There is some research evidence out there which has found that people with autism-related conditions have on average lower levels of endocannabinoids (naturally-occurring...not THC) and oxytocin cells in the body. It has been established that oxytocin, often referred to by the media as the "cuddle/love hormone" has an important function in producing and releasing endocannabinoids in the body. It has been found that consumption of cannabis is associated with stimulation of oxytocin; which in turn, regulates the bodies own endocannabinoid system (responsible for appetite, libido, feelings of well being, neuroprotection and other functions). It is therefore conceivable that people with AS who have found cannabis helpful and are not at risk of psychosis may indeed experience genuine benefits because of these regulatory factors.

As a professional psychologist in training, I do not recommend or advocate breaking the law or altering one's body chemistry until more research is done. There are some noticeable problems with habitual and binge use of cannabis which can affect aspects of brain functioning for all people regardless of neuro-diversity. Relatively speaking, it is probably less harmful than alcohol and tobacco, but anything beyond moderate use of any psychoactive substance does and can have unintended side effects for users. Unfortunately, for many people in the world, discussing cannabis use with a doctor is considered taboo, and a safe threshold for consumption has not been officially established because of ongoing prohibition and suppression of research.

That is all I have to say on the subject. I cannot influence anyone's choices in life but please exercise caution and treat your body with respect.

I remember as a young fella playing rugby, after training on Wednesday nights, we would go into the bar for 1-2 beers before driving home.

A group of us would usually go outside half way through our first beer, and smoke a joint in the carpark.

It was fairly blatant, everyone knew and would give us and our glassy eyes a look, as we came back inside.

There were a few cops in the club, some CIB detectives and a drug squad guy... This carried on for years with no problems

Except 2 of the stoner guys got bar maids pregnant, so yeah, there are definitely risks!

But for a casual user who 'only smokes at parties' or when seeing a friend on occasion, there is very very very little cause for concern, for any long term neurological change/damage or brain remapping.

Oh wait, you may start liking reggae and peace signs

Strange though it may seem, they've failed to find any correlation between smoking MJ and lung cancer, even when it's smoked as a mixture with tobacco. The explanation seems to be that "pure" tobacco causes the airways to constrict and trap the carcinogens deep in the lungs.....and tobacco contains enough plutonium to account for most of the risk of lung cancer from tobacco smoking. But MJ causes the airways to open up, and it has expectorant properties, causing the user to cough up the nasties before they can do much damage.

Really, it's tobacco (and particularly the way it's cultivated for the Western market) that's the main villain here. It might be hard for some folks to believe, but why else do you think chewing tobacco gives you mouth cancer while chewing most plants does not? And why do you think the War On Drugs people have failed to provide us with evidence of the carcinogenicity of MJ, when it would be such an obvious propaganda coup for them?

I'm not really for or against MJ using overall. But I think the mainstream Received Wisdom on the matter is rigged. For all I know, one or two of these "dope casualties" the media tells us about may be real, but if anything, we're talking about a VERY tiny minority of people, way fewer than the number of people killed by crossing the road every day. If the Great And Good must have Wars on Dangerous Things, they ought to get their priorities right, instead of wasting resources spoiling the fun for millions to save half a life a year.

I like tobacco, it's a good stimulant for me. I don't wanna start smoking it and get addicted, but I do understand why people smoke, it does feel pretty great. I actually would prefer tobacco to pot actually, as far as how it makes me feel.