Medical Marijuana for Autism in South Carolina

Does Autism Qualify For Medical Marijuana In South Carolina?

The rate of autism diagnoses has increased from 1 in 150 children in 2000 to 1 in 59 children as of 2014. The use of cannabis in the treatment of autism spectrum disorders was initially driven by desperate parents trying to find anything that might help control ASD-related behaviors in their children, including groups like Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism.

 

What Is Autism?

Autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), includes a wide range of conditions characterized by challenges with social skills, repetitive behaviors, and speech and nonverbal communication. Autism is not a singular condition, as there are many subtypes of autism among the spectrum that are influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1 in 59 children have been identified as suffering from autism spectrum disorder. Autism has been reported in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and is about 4 times more common among boys than girls. Indicators are most likely to appear by age 2 or 3, although it can be diagnosed as early as 18 months.

 

How Can Medical Marijuana Help Autism?

Conditions in the ASD spectrum are complex neurobehavioral disorders characterized by impaired communication and social interaction. Recent preclinical research has found that enhancing the signaling of the endocannabinoid anandamide mediates the action of oxytocin, which rewards social interaction - a process that is disrupted in autism.

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Almost all anecdotal accounts of medical marijuana treatment for autism point to the calming influence of cannabis, supporting the use of cannabis as a mild sedative and tranquilizing agent without the likelihood of adverse side effects. Most parental accounts of the successful use of cannabis claim that the medicine calms certain violently oppositional children.

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Evidence shows that autistic individuals exhibit an average of five (5) times the number of CB2 receptors compared to that of non-autistic individuals. This is significant as CBD, a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in cannabis, targets these CB2 receptors directly and promotes regulatory homeostasis.

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Cannabis Oil Was Found to Be “Safe and Effective” for Treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorders​

A recent study conducted in an Israeli clinical trial reported that children taking a cannabis extract improved 49% and 53% on two scales measuring autism symptoms and disruptive behavior. The children treated with medical marijuana also showed 50% improvements on a scale that tracks core autism symptoms. The study found that cannabis oil was "safe and effective" for the treatment of ASD symptoms.

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For some families, including the parents of Dylan from Rhode Island, medical marijuana has become most trusted treatment option as his symptoms seemed to defy treatment with traditional medicine including Ritalin, Klonopin, and Abilify, among 13 other drugs that he has tried and different diets including gluten-free and dairy-free.

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More results are expected to continue to show. The first large-scale clinical trial in the United States is underway at the Montefiore Medical Center in New York with $1.3 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense.