Autism & Marijuana: Yes, It Actually Does Help

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Of course it should be "legalized" [if it's illegal where you are].

The same thing with all medications; I'm sick of having to go and get a script for Valium.

Tobacco does have some short-term beneficial effects......nicotine is a mild antidepressant and a stimulant. It takes a while for the damage to become apparent because tobacco anaesthetises the lungs. When I was a big user of both drugs, I had to spend a few days with some traditional authoritarians, so I had to leave MJ out of the mixture........smoking the same amount of material but entirely in the form of tobacco, I was astonished at the poor state of my lungs after a couple of days. My lungs felt constricted and full of phlegm, and I was audibly wheezing.

Yet I used to smoke only tobacco for years, and apart from a bit of nausea, I never noticed any health problems at all. I threw up the first time I tried MJ, but after that the only bad effects were a desire to lie down if I'd smoked a lot, and a sense of comfort, contentment, reduced aggression and enlightenment that encouraged me to coast through life rather than busting a gut trying to "better myself" by competing directly in mainstream society. And I'm not sure the latter was such a bad thing. The positive effects were slight euphoria, rushes of interesting, creative thoughts, increased appreciation of art, and slight analgesia that took the edge off some of my Aspie sensory issues.

I just smoked it a fiew times in my life.
I talked a lot more, but it is nothing I have to smoke regularly and I don't care about it too much.
I think it can be legalized and when it really helps by certain deseases/disorders/syndroms/whatever it should be able to get it from a doctor in the future, like other medications.

CaptainGrey Wrote:

Can you elaborate on the noticeable problems your are familiar with? I've been smoking pot for 34 years now and I did an aspie test about 6 weeks ago. I'm trying to weight the benefits I gain from the impairment I experience..... I think small doses once or twice a week seems sensible if you are using it as medication in my opinion......I have always felt my habit is a result of self medication to compensate for a pinched nerve I used to have and the feeling of loneliness which I'm am only defining as that recently. I've always thought I didn't feel loneliness but now I'm thinking I've been confused and I've always been lonely. I am curious to define the damage I have done to myself. I feel like it was a least a fair trade at worst.

thanx for posting CaptainGrey

Honestly I think if drugs in general were legal, I mean they would have to put an age limit on it probably...but anyways I think people should be encouraged to educate themselves on things and make personal choices based on accurate information. I mean that would be much better than the government trying to tell people how to live their lives or what they can and cannot put into their own body...why not just put accurate information out? Same goes for prescriptions. But as if the Federal government wants to do whats best for the citizens of the country they just want to keep their power and corporate allies who pay them.

Hi Russ, as you may know THC stays in the body system. For some people it can take up to a month or two of abstinence and exercise to excrete the substance.

I'm not a medical doctor, but I can tell you that prolonged use can lead to feelings of apathy, lack of motivation, reduced REM sleep and feelings of unease from time to time. Most of these symptoms are fortunately reversible and unlike alcohol, cannabis isn't as directly neurotoxic (In fact contrary with it's reputation of disrupting short term memory; cannabinoids have been shown to protect against beta-amyloid plaques linked to alzheimer's / dementia).

If your brain becomes to used to feeling a "reward", than your dopamine systems may be less-responsive in sober states (activities seem less interesting when not high) and this could lead cannabis use to being seen as a "crutch" or replacement for otherwise pleasurable activities.

This would be less of a problem if you have periods of abstinence and cut down. I've read that L-tyrosine, omega 3, magnesium and essential vitamins / minerals / amino acids can help some of the "burnt out" fatigue feelings associated with long-term use.

As you're a long time user, I probably advise if you want to cut your consumption to find an activity or hobby you enjoy to replace your evenings with other then smoking, or find a herbal tea replacement (lemon balm, chamomile, passion flower) to calm feelings of uneaseness if you experience them. Good luck, but if you feel you're having problems please consult a sympathetic specialist as I have only a passing knowledge on this subject and I'm by no means an expert.

Actually your fairly expert, compared to most. Thank you for contributing your wise understanding to the discussion.

Your dopamine reward description was enlightening for me.

I remember Bill Hicks argument that stoners realize nothing is worth doing, rather than being demotivated to do anything.

Its a double edged sword, all meds or drug use. All can have unwanted side effects, especially in over use.

Such is the nature of things. But maybe doing nothing has its merits in an economy built like a house of cards, and aspies all around the world not wanting a bar of it

Indeed:

The work is hard, the pay is small,
So take your time and sod'em all.

I'll wager that wasn't written by a dope-smoking hippie either.

I smoke weed once in a while it helps me calm down when anxiety builds up or when I am about to have a melt down otherwise I drink booze. I am thinking of gapplying for a marijuana card because it might help me out alot it costs like 60 bucks though but at least I might qualify.

I can no longer even stand the smell of alcoholic beverages, nor do I enjoy drunkenness. I'd like NY and other states to follow California in supplying those cards. It's silly that they don't.

The irony of this coming from someone with "scientist" in their name.

The irony of someone called "The Walrus" talking about the dangers of drugs...

Lol scientifically marijuana has medicinal benefits, so what is so ironic about someone with scientist in their name talking about the positive uses of marijuana?

And I never yet saw a walrus smoking dope.

OTOH:
http://www.boldts.net/album/Walrus.shtml

From what I've read (and experienced) weed makes you more autistic in thought, but at the same time it relieves anxiety so you feel less worried about being who you are. It is a great feeling, but not a solution for everyone.

And yes, I am pro legalization, but that is an entirely different topic.

[img][600:537]http://0-media-cdn.foolz.us/ffuuka/board/a/image/1337/55/1337556464775.jpg[/img]



EDIT: re. drugs. I heard that MDMA does that for Autistic people.

[quote="BigBadBrad" A big one is the giggling stoner issue, high schoolers at the mall give regular folks a bad impression of its effects.[/quote]

Oh, so those people are high......

...They just don't care about smoking weer erry day in Ontario it seems >_>