Mom: Marijuana Helps My Son's Autism

As more and more children are diagnosed with autism, there's a growing need for alternative treatments.

And, a mother in Brea, Calif. says medical marijuana has resulted in vast improvements in her autistic son, reports "Early Show" National Correspondent Hattie Kauffman.

Mieko Perez tells Kauffman, "Everyone who came to my home was watching me watch Joey die. He was deteriorating hourly."

Joey is severely autistic, Kauffman explains, so uninterested in food he was wasting away. At ten years old, he weighed just 48 pounds. Even bulky Halloween costumes couldn't disguise his frightening look of starvation. He basically only ate, like, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for four years, Mieko recalls.

Special Report: Marijuana Nation

But, claims Mieko claims, it all changed with marijuana brownies.

She says not only is Joey eating more, he's communicating. "We're seeing Joey come out!" Mieko exclaims. "He's never made noises. ... We didn't even know he could make noise until the first batch of brownies."

Medical marijuana is often prescribed for cancer and AIDS patients who need to gain weight, Kauffman notes, but a prescription for a child is unusual.

The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes legalization of marijuana, but supports more research.

And, Kauffman stresses, though there's absolutely no evidence marijuana helps with autism symptoms, Mieko insists it has improved her child's life.

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31 Comments Add a Comment

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futurelieberman says:: Does this mean I can soon get a prescrption for pot? I was diagnosed with Aspergers Syndrome at age 18. Up until then I was believed to have ADHD, later Turrets, then clinical deppresion. I was put on ritalin in elementary school...gave me bad facial twitches and got me made fun of when other students found out, Welbutrin in Highschool...which caused me to attempt suicide, zoloft, then trilifon until I was finally given the right diagnosos. Typing is pretty much the only way I'm able to fully articulate and I do communicate better verbally after getting high. So to me it's just another thing that pot will be proven to treat. This kid never spoke and was starving himself before pot. In the right dose it will help him live a normal long life.; reply

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anthonyj_ward says:: This article is so poorly written. Is this seriously the best you can do, CBS?; reply

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ddog88 says:: Really this article pertains to people with loved ones that are autistic. I for one salute you, and can't imagine the hardships that you endure. I hope that one day a cure is found. Until then, what means you use to help the people that you love, who am I to judge?; reply

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stargazer44 says:: Marajuana for Autism....YES !! Marajuana is a super Neuro-transmitter...! I have studied Autism for years and have come to the conclusion that AUTISM is in fact MERCURY POISONING. The Marajuana opens up pathways in the brain which will allow cross synaptic communication between the hemispheres in the human brain that was damaged by the mercury from baby vaccines. More research should be done on this treatment so the specific dosage can be administered.

In all, this is a great step forward.; reply

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NikkiTD says:: RESEARCH PARTICIPANTS WANTED!

Are you a New Jersey parent of a child with autism aged birth to 21 who is currently receiving or has received ABA interventions? If so we are seeking research participants for a study to be conducted. Participation in this study involves completing a brief online survey which will only take 5 to 10 minutes of your time. The purpose of the study is to determine parental perceptions as to the efficacy of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) teaching interventions for their children with autism.

If you are interested kindly contact: Nicole Turon-Diaz at 973-650-7986 or nturondiaz@verizon.net. You can also use the following link to go directly to the study and participate: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2bNMDc3EHUp8fM38T3KN_2f7w_3d_3d

Thank you!; reply

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joe16777 says:: I agree that marijuana has shown to be a much safer and much healthier alternative to many synthetic pharmaceutical drugs out there. many people dont know that when marijuana was labeled a narcotic back in the late 60s early 70s there was no scientific basis to do so. the government simply decided it was a narcotic and banned it. in fact many doctors and biologists at that time had found marijuana to be one of the least harmful drugs out there. of course its a natural substance and thus makes little to no profit if legalized. we have countries like Amsterdam where it has been legal for many years and thus have not seen adverse effects from the use of marijuana. we allow big pharma to prescribe methamphetamine to our children but will put you in jail for using a much safer alternative like marijuana. i have a friend who has had HIV for over 30 years and has had full blown aids for many years now. he is a walking miracle to say the least. if it wasnt for marijuana he would be dead. with out it the prescriptions he takes would keep him from holding down water let alone any form of food. marijuana counter acts this and allows for him to eat and drink fluids. he is getting it legally prescribed to him (in a capsule form) in the city of Chicago. one of the few who went to court and won. The reason people are against it is because we have trusted our officials to know what is beneficial and what is harmful when it comes to drug prescriptions. however time and time again we see lawsuits against big pharma for issuing harmful prescriptions. more people have died because of these prescriptions in the last 10 years than the thousands of years marijuana has been on this planet. but we are still gullible enough to trust a trillion dollar industry. there needs to be something done to change the laws on marijuana. im not a user but i highly believe it should at least be legalized for medicinal reasons. you also have to realize that any alternative medicine will never be recognized by the FDA as a beneficial treatment cause there is no money in it. put 2 and 2 together and its clear that out officials and corporations distributing pharmaceuticals are not out to cure us but to keep us spending money and keep us depended on their drugs for treatments. just look at the track record of these pharmaceutical companies. look at how we are as far as well developed countries go, the sickest in the world despite all these so called great drug breakthroughs. am i the only one who sees a problem here?; reply

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debinok1 says:: Being a parent of an Autistic child, I have often thought this would be a better option for him than the current pharma drugs he takes, without the side effects and risk of addiction. As long as Pharma is making money, they will fight to the bitter end to keep this "natural" alternative illegal.; reply

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autisem says:

i have an autestic son 12 years old .he is on hige dose of dageres drog .everybody tells me i should consider residential .even with those high doses he is not stable .should i consider marijuana??????????does it make him adicted?


BigAko replies:: linkicon reporticon emailicon; You should consider it... When comparing marijuana to the other drugs that are prescribed to kids with disabilities it is virtually harmless. It can be mentally addicting but no evidence shows that it is a physical addictionand is certainly no more addicting than the drugs they are giving you now. Not to mention what these drugs do to your body. Marijuana if smoked can cause cancer because of the tar, but when eaten it is actually very good for multiple functions of the mind, body, and soul. The only question would be whether or not medical mariuana is legal in your state as it is not legal everywhere as of now. I URGE YOU TO LOOK INTO IT AS IT IS FAR LESS DANGEROUS THAN ANY OF THE ANTIPSYCHOTICS AND OTHER PRESCRIPTION DRUGS THAT BIG PHARMA GIVES TO OUR KIDS. ADEROL IS THE LEGAL EQUIVELANT TO CRYSTAL METH(IT IS ONLY LEGAL BECAUSE THEY PRODUCED IT), RIDDELIN AND OTHERS ARE JUST AS BAD. FOR FURTHER INFO GO TO NORML.COM

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MatterofLiberty says:: So when can we expect to hear about the studies and research that the American Medical Association recently said they want to start?? It seems that this boy would be a good candidate to participate. Maybe then we can start shedding some more light as to why this seems to be working so well for some. LOTs more research should be granted before medical Cannabis should be brought to pediatric care though. As for adults, there's no reason to prohibit a substance less toxic than asprin for pain/anxiety/nausea relief and it should be allowed in the confines of ones own home while not driving at the very least.; reply

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nascar8de says:: I have a family member that also smokes Medical Marijuana he has been injuried from being hit by a car years ago, it takes the pain away. It sure beats all of the pain drugs the dr's give him. He has was having to have the liver check every three months he is not a surgical candiate so its pills. The medical marijuana has been a God sent. If the state of Ca would listen to the people of Oakland Ca place a 1% ssales tax on the sell from co-oped Ca would be out of debt in less than a year. The people that understand what this mother is doing have a family member that has some medical reason for the medical marijuana the others need a better education on the research before passing judgment on her.; reply