Ohio is taking petitions to add anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and opioid use disorder into qualifying conditions for 420 evaluation. Pennsylvania added anxiety and autism to its list of conditions for medical marijuana.
Related – Medical Marijuana For Relieving Social Anxiety Disorder
Studies show that marijuana’s medicinal properties can help boost focus, mood, and other important bodily functions. It contains cannabinoids, which have the same chemical structure as naturally produced endocannabinoids. The phytocannabinoids bind to receptors in the endocannabinoid system, thus regulating various functions.
In this post, we are going to discuss how can autism patients benefit from cannabis consumption, is marijuana safer than prescription medications, and applying for MMJ recs online.
How Can Marijuana Help Autistic People?
In the marijuana plant, there are more than 100 cannabinoids, such as THC that is known for intoxicating effects. Another important cannabinoid CBD is non-psychoactive. Research says that phytocannabinoids can interact with the endocannabinoid system, thus affecting behavior and cognition.
There’s a link between the endocannabinoid system and autism. A study published in the journal Molecular Autism reported that autistic people have lower levels of anandamide than healthy people. Anandamide is a neurotransmitter responsible for motivation, happiness, and behavior. Marijuana can help correct endocannabinoid deficiencies, thus treating disorders, such as autism, seizures, anxiety, etc.
According to researchers from the Ben-Gurion University of Negev and Soroka University Medical Center, marijuana use resulted in behavioral improvement. After using cannabis treatment for 6 months, 80 percent of the participants had some level of improvement.
CBD can help autism patients ease their symptoms. It’s known for its amazing anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective properties. However, taking different cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD can help you receive stronger effects.
For managing symptoms completely, choosing the right strains is important. So, when purchasing cannabis products, check the label carefully, and see the levels of different cannabinoids, such as THC and CBD.
Some of the best strains for autistic people are-
- Green Crack
- Sour Diesel
- Charlotte’s Web
- Northern Lights
- Black Bubba
- Blue Dream
The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved Epidiolex, a CBD-derived medication. It can help reduce severe forms of epilepsy, Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. These conditions are sometimes accompanied by autism.
The makers of Epidiolex are conducting a trial for Rett syndrome, a genetic neurological disorder that is linked to autism. Researchers are focusing on the effects of the drug on cognitive and behavioral problems.
Is Cannabis Safer Than Medications?
For treating autism, three groups of medications are considered—ADHD medications, anti-anxiety medications/antidepressants, and atypical antipsychotics. These drugs can help ease the symptoms, but they can cause certain side-effects. For instance, non-stimulants can cause excessive sleepiness, stomach upset, and headache.
However, cannabis if used right is safer than medications. It’s important to note that the cannabis consumption method and dosage play key roles in the kind of effects you receive. For instance, smoking delivers cannabinoids into the bloodstream directly, thus providing instant medicinal effects. If you are looking for lasting relief, go for edibles.
Dosing is important. Always start with a low dose and increase it gradually. If you are using edibles, wait for at least 2 hours before taking the second dose, because they take some time to kick in.
Related- Things You Should Know Before Trying Cannabis Edibles
