The 90s marked the beginning of the anti-vaccination movement. This movement is characterized mostly by a fear and distrust of pharmaceutical companies as well as a caution towards the health of one’s child. The main tenet of those who follow this movement is the fear that with the seemingly-routine vaccinations that are supposed to be administered to children at certain milestones in their lives comes a heightened risk for developing Autism Spectrum Disorder. This movement gained momentum over the years as it gained notoriety, and persisted even in the face of possible harm towards children unable to receive vaccinations for medical reasons, such as immune deficiency. The chance of children developing autism is more unsettling to parents than children developing preventable diseases, probably mostly due to the lack of research and effective treatments for autism.  Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is one of the fastest growing developmental disorders, with one out of 68 children affected, according to data from Autism Speaks, a non-profit charity dedicated to improving the lives of autistic children. Despite this, there is no cure or even a treatment that works for the majority of patients with ASD. With such a large amount of our population having ASD, the fact that there are so few solutions, treatments, and so little research and funding makes no sense. One of the more controversial yet seemingly effective treatments is cannabinoids, or marijuana byproducts, though very few parents of autistic children consider this treatment. Unconventional treatments may be the solution for children with ASD. Parents should afford their children the best care possible, and being open to new solutions is their obligation for the welfare of their children.   Cannabinoids and marijuana byproducts, specifically, should be given serious consideration by parents of children with ASD to further the welfare of the child, due to the evidence of its success in the treatment of children with ASD. 

So many autistic children and adolescents are suffering due to ineffective treatment. 40% of autistic children are nonverbal and are unable to express their feelings effectively, according to the National Autism Association. To the untrained eye, the frequent outbursts of nonverbal children with ASD, which are often violent, are related to frustration and anger; however, some data shows evidence that many of these outbursts are a result of chronic pain. This is addressed in chronic pain expert Anna Battaglia’s 2015 book concerning  nervous system pain disorders. According to Battaglia, “in February 2015, the British Academy of Childhood Disability has published a survey stating that children with disabilities such as autism are being failed and left in pain for too long,” (Battaglia 8). This book details the many reasons that children with ASD are “confronted with painful situations on a more frequent basis [than other children]” (Battaglia 295). Their frequent and persistent “aggression, self‐injury, stereotyped movements and extreme tantrums” lead to “accidents, injuries, [and] chronic pain” (Battaglia 295). Painful conditions such as “epilepsy, […] tuberous sclerosis, fragile X, Down syndrome, or neurofibromatosis are largely more frequent in people with ASD than in the general population” (Battaglia 295). Battaglia shares evidence that supports her claim that “children with the poorest abilities experienced the highest number of medical problems and, consequently, the greatest pain” (Battaglia 296).  There is an epidemic of pain in children with autism that, due to inability on the child’s part to verbalize, largely goes untreated. Battaglia explains this further: “pain expression may be different in people with developmental disabilities, who display in some cases delayed, reduced or paradoxical reactions; but this does not mean that pain behaviours are absent” (Battaglia 296). This struggle in identifying pain by parents leads to difficulty in treating pain: “parents often experience great difficulties in finding out when their child is in pain and in identifying the source of pain” (Battaglia 296). To begin remedying this pain epidemic in the autistic community, Battaglia proposes that “a careful and precise observation of the person’s behaviour may help to identify the presence of pain, and, subsequently, to propose adapted treatments that can help reducing challenging behaviours” (Battaglia 297). This “careful and precise observation” can only practically occur in the home, by the parents, the child’s advocate and final say in their healthcare.  

The guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Pediatrics “discourage physicians from recommending the cutting-edge treatments that help many children with autism spectrum disorders because these approaches are considered ‘alternative’” (Ackerman 53). This leaves parents without help if conventional treatments fail their child. According to Ackerman, “the insight of parents is crucial in providing valuable clues about treatment” (Ackerman 53). Ackerman leaves the reader with a piece of wisdom: “children on the autism spectrum are unique. The solutions to their medical problems are unique as well, and answers are still emerging” (Ackerman 54). Parents are required to take the lead when it comes to securing proper care and treatment for their children with ASD. As the only advocate and representative of a child with ASD, it is especially important for parents to be open to any treatment option that would benefit their child. With the legality of marijuana becoming increasingly common, parents should consider its use more seriously. The use of marijuana is considered to be unethical and detrimental to health and society in general by most people. It is considered a schedule one drug, which means that it is grouped with other drugs that are highly addictive and prone to abuse. But to parents of many children with ASD, it is a miracle treatment that has enabled their children to live with less pain. A Brown University professor decided to try Marinol, a prescription cannabinoid, to treat her son, and he “went from self-harming behavior like banging his head to being able to ride a bike. She calls her experiment a qualified success” (Borchardt 1). Another incredible success story includes that of “Kalel Santiago, a child with autism so severe he wasn't able to speak, [who] started speaking his first words after simply spraying hemp oil in his mouth twice daily, according to Dr. Giovanni Martinez” (Borchardt 1). Another example of the effectiveness of cannabinoids is Alex Echols, who, “according to KPTV[…] suffers from tuberous sclerosis — a rare genetic disorder that causes the growth of non-malignant tumors in organs. Doctors say Alex has growths in his brain that have led to autism, debilitating seizures and self-directed rages” (Mosbergen 1). His parents turned to medical marijuana for a solution, and when his pediatrician finally prescribed it after years of exhausting all other available treatments and therapies, they administered it to Alex. His parents say that “when we got the dosing just right, he played. He used his hands to explore. He looked at us and smiled” (Mosbergen 1). A mother from Orange County, California has also experienced the near miraculous effects of medical marijuana on her child. Recently, “her son, Joey, a 10-year-old with severe autism, weighed just 46 pounds. He stopped eating after the medications he had been taking to control his behavior took away his appetite” (Buglione 1). The mother, Meiko Hester-Perez, states that she “decided to try medical marijuana truly after I exhausted every other treatment,” and “after consulting with Joey’s pediatrician, Hester-Perez began administering it to her child by baking it into brownie” (Buglione 1). The effect was immediate and “the improvements continue to be evident” (Buglione 1). While many question the credibility of these largely anecdotal accounts of the success of cannabinoids, for these families, their daily reality is one of improved behavior and quality of life for their autistic child due to the effects of marijuana and its byproducts. Even medical professionals acknowledge the legitimacy of the use of marijuana. Pediatrician Dr. Bernard Rimland, former director of the Autism Research Institute, stated that “early evidence suggests that medical marijuana may be an effective treatment for autism, as well as being safer than the drugs that doctors routinely prescribe” (Rimland). A study out of Stanford shows that endocannabidoids are essential to normal brain function. In Dr. Foldy’s studies on mice at Stanford, he states that he found a protein that is commonly mutated in children with ASD, and that it is “important for relaying endocannabinoid signals that tone down communication between neurons” (Foldy).  This combination of humanizing and relatable personal accounts, studies, and physician advice make for a compelling argument towards the validity of marijuana products in treating ASD. 

The opposition to this treatment call into question the ethicality of administering a mind altering drug to children, as well as the safety, when so little is known about the long term effects of marijuana and its byproducts. Rami Bou Khalil is a pediatrician who specializes in the care of children with ASD. He is the writer of a piece entitled “Why Is It Important to Protect Children with Mental Disorders from Medical Cannabis?” that was published in a medical journal. He states that “the most important aspect of such a treatment practice is to prove that it does no harm to patients receiving it” (Khalil 1). He then goes on to list possible effects that have been seen in regular and long term users of the drug, stating most notably that “its effect on the cardiovascular system may lead to acute coronary syndromes” (Khalil 1). He cites as the main reason to avoid this treatment the “lack of sufficient clinical evidence supporting the use of medical cannabis in children having mental disorders especially autism spectrum disorder” (Khalil 1). While these may seem like insurmountable obstacles in the path to administering marijuana ethically to children with ASD, his statements are easily explained, to the justification of the marijuana-administering parents.  The symptoms Khalil associates with smoking marijuana can also be attributed to the common ailments that come from smoking tobacco or any other substance. The aspect that is damaging to one’s health is not the marijuana but the inhalation of any type of smoke. When marijuana and its byproducts are consumed in a different method, the dangerous side effects cease to occur. The lack of research can be attributed to the social stigma surrounding administering marijuana to children. However, the pursuit of wellness for children with ASD is so rife with dangerous and ineffective treatments that many parents find themselves at the idea of giving their children with ASD marijuana by way of trial and error. Citalopram is a treatment often prescribed for the treatment of ASD. A study conducted states that its use “was significantly more likely to be associated with adverse events, particularly increased energy level, impulsiveness, decreased concentration, hyperactivity, stereotypy, diarrhea, insomnia, and dry skin or pruritus” (King 589). While this may seem like an extreme level of side effects in a medication, most other medications prescribed for ASD have similarly harsh effects. Secretin is another commonly prescribed treatment. In 15 studies conducted “none of the 15 studies concluded that secretin was an effective treatment for autism” (Sturmey 88). The ineffectiveness is not its only drawback, as the side effects of secretin take a harsh toll on the bodies of children, with effects such as “behavioral deterioration”, which is often associated with self-harming outbursts in children with ASD, and “gastrointestinal symptoms” which further weaken the child (Sturmey 95). While it may seem to be endangering one’s child in the eyes of many, the reality of those who care for children with ASD is that the continued failure to treat the symptoms associated with Autism may be far more detrimental to them than experimenting with cannabinoids. Parents are ultimately responsible for the wellness of their children, and that responsibility sometimes causes them to break the rules of society out of necessity. Especially in situations where the use of marijuana and marijuana byproducts is legal when used for medicinal purposes, a situation which is becoming more and more common across the Unites States, parents should put aside their qualms and seek the advice of their child’s physician to administer this treatment. 

The suffering of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder has gone unidentified and unrecognized for years, leading to an epidemic of chronic pain in the autism community. Conventional western medicine has failed families and children who struggle with the symptoms associated with ASD. While marijuana is still considered an “alternative” medicine in the United States, this close mindedness only leads to more research deficits and fear of experimentation, to the great detriment of children with ASD. The autistic community can benefit from this treatment, as can the entire West as they grow more comfortable with the idea of using it to treat ailments. As marijuana grows less stigmatized, possibly leading to many more marijuana medicines that can help not only the autistic community, but all chronic pain sufferers, a world with less suffering is within reach. In the words of Buddha: “Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional.”
