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Mom says medical marijuana has helped Autistic son, 12

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shrox
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20 Apr 2013, 1:44 pm

http://news.yahoo.com/video/mom-says-me ... 38565.html



Tyri0n
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20 Apr 2013, 1:56 pm

Marijuana causes a dopamine dump which depletes dopamine levels over time. Autistic people have been shown to have an overactive dopamine transport and receptor system, so we lack dopamine to begin with, which is why many of us suffer from depression.

Over the long term, marijuana is the absolute worst thing one could give to someone on the spectrum even if it seems to provide short-term good results, like the dopamine dump temporarily increasing dopamine levels. Over time, levels get depleted, depression increases, and so does inflammation of the limbic system, which causes long-term damage. This is why many long-term marijuana users are spacey like zombies.

I think taking something like L-Tyrosine or St. John's Wort would achieve the same result as marijuana but without the same damaging effects.



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20 Apr 2013, 2:01 pm

Very odd that you say most aspies lack dopamine, I saw a study that said most people on the spectrum have above normal dopamin. I know when I was tested my level were well above the maximum range of normal, I think it was close to twice as high as normal.



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20 Apr 2013, 2:08 pm

Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.



shrox
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20 Apr 2013, 2:11 pm

Tyri0n wrote:
Marijuana causes a dopamine dump which depletes dopamine levels over time. Autistic people have been shown to have an overactive dopamine transport and receptor system, so we lack dopamine to begin with, which is why many of us suffer from depression.

Over the long term, marijuana is the absolute worst thing one could give to someone on the spectrum even if it seems to provide short-term good results, like the dopamine dump temporarily increasing dopamine levels. Over time, levels get depleted, depression increases, and so does inflammation of the limbic system, which causes long-term damage. This is why many long-term marijuana users are spacey like zombies.

I think taking something like L-Tyrosine or St. John's Wort would achieve the same result as marijuana but without the same damaging effects.


Well, thank you for your long outdated "zombie" opinion.

25 plus years for me of using marihuana for me, and I am about to file for a patent on a space related item...

I have Parkinson's and Dystonia. I can hardly move without taking marihuana, but that's just me, and over a million other Parkinson's patients treating their condition the same way. Parkinson's is directly related to dopamine levels.



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20 Apr 2013, 2:27 pm

Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.



shrox
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20 Apr 2013, 2:45 pm

1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Honestly, this wasn't meant to be a "what's wrong with cannabis" discussion. It's to help people who might benefit. Some people are allergic to bananas...and cannabis is quite natural, more so than bananas since they are not as easy to cultivate in a wide variety of areas, can be seasonal, and rarely will grow indoors.



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20 Apr 2013, 2:52 pm

1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Yes, for sure. Cannabis use also destroys the dopamine transport system, which has been linked to the development of Schizophrenia. Given that people with autism are already vulnerable to developing Schizophrenia, I'd say taking marijuana is not smart at all.



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20 Apr 2013, 3:48 pm

Tyri0n wrote:
1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Yes, for sure. Cannabis use also destroys the dopamine transport system, which has been linked to the development of Schizophrenia. Given that people with autism are already vulnerable to developing Schizophrenia, I'd say taking marijuana is not smart at all.


Thank you. Please note the positives now please. If you don't know them, please research them, then return with your findings.



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20 Apr 2013, 4:05 pm

I used to smoke everyday, it actually made me some friends as it gave me common ground with people, but I have stopped since Easter I might smoke a little today. Im not even sure why I quit I just stopped out of the blue. it did make socializing easier.

I really like lsd in small doses. it lets me think really clearly and when Im on it, its like im NT



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20 Apr 2013, 9:23 pm

It tended to have a paralyzing effect on me like I couldn't collect my thoughts well enough to speak or get up out of my seat
but the things other people said was hilarious. So if the lady thinks it helped her son maybe it did that to him and locked him inside his head. The trouble with these drugs is that on the outside it might curb behaviors that annoy others but what is it doing to the mind of a child who is unable to express his feelings ?
Dopemine regulates movement (ie. stimming behavior) and is directly connected to social anxiety, executive functioning, motivation, social and sensory processing, etc. There is something amiss in the way it is regulated I think.



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20 Apr 2013, 9:35 pm

shrox wrote:
Tyri0n wrote:
1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Yes, for sure. Cannabis use also destroys the dopamine transport system, which has been linked to the development of Schizophrenia. Given that people with autism are already vulnerable to developing Schizophrenia, I'd say taking marijuana is not smart at all.


Thank you. Please note the positives now please. If you don't know them, please research them, then return with your findings.


The positives are unproven and controversial, while the negatives are well-documented, which is why marijuana is illegal in most of the world. The sale of it actually carries the death penalty in some countries.

Even if it benefits some NT's, it's a bad idea for autistics to take it. Among NT's, every pothead I've ever seen looks spacey and typically doesn't have a job. I'm sure there are some who have jobs, but I have never met one, and I've met lots of potheads here in Austin.



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20 Apr 2013, 9:40 pm

shrox wrote:
1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Honestly, this wasn't meant to be a "what's wrong with cannabis" discussion. It's to help people who might benefit. Some people are allergic to bananas...and cannabis is quite natural, more so than bananas since they are not as easy to cultivate in a wide variety of areas, can be seasonal, and rarely will grow indoors.


Given that cannabis is illegal in most of the countries represented on Wrong Planet (U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, continental Europe), I don't think you can likely control the discussion in this manner. I'm not sure if promoting illegal drug use is even compatible with the Wrong Planet terms of service, though I highly suspect that it isn't.



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20 Apr 2013, 10:04 pm

Tyri0n wrote:
shrox wrote:
1perCentury wrote:
Bananas can raise dopamine levels.Try to counter the depletion of dopamine naturally instead of continuing to be on pills which are no closer to getting to the root of the problems than some cannabis.


Honestly, this wasn't meant to be a "what's wrong with cannabis" discussion. It's to help people who might benefit. Some people are allergic to bananas...and cannabis is quite natural, more so than bananas since they are not as easy to cultivate in a wide variety of areas, can be seasonal, and rarely will grow indoors.


Given that cannabis is illegal in most of the countries represented on Wrong Planet (U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, continental Europe), I don't think you can likely control the discussion in this manner. I'm not sure if promoting illegal drug use is even compatible with the Wrong Planet terms of service, though I highly suspect that it isn't.


A.) Your response in easily dis-proven. The positive evidence is easily found, many of the negative "aspects" have been shown to be stereotypes and outright fraud.

B.) It is not illegal for medical use in many countries, which is good and proper. And then there is Amsterdam, one the safest cities in the world, and a world center of cannabis awareness.

C.) It is not illegal in Washington and Colorado. 22 states are current considering legalization.

D.) What's your problem with someone finding something that works?



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21 Apr 2013, 12:12 am

I was put on a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) when I contracted severe generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). It actually worked at removing the GAD, but then it went on to create disinhibition. Had me acting crazy and doing crazy stuff. A profound alteration of my personality.

Since marijuana is legal where I'm moving to (not that I probably couldn't get a prescription for it) I thought about trying it. But I'm concerned about long term effects. I think it's best to avoid any kind of drug other than those which you absolutely have to take.



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21 Apr 2013, 1:52 am

Gaby76 wrote:
The trouble with these drugs is that on the outside it might curb behaviors that annoy others but what is it doing to the mind of a child who is unable to express his feelings?

That's an interesting point about any medication used on severely autistic people, I guess whether it helps the person or just "keeps them quiet" depends on whether the behaviours that change were something pleasant or an expression of anxiety and overstimulation.