Parents of children with autism hope for legalisation of medical cannabis
By Mayci McLeod, 2 nd April 2018
CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)- A bill in the
South Carolina Statehouse would legalise
medical cannabis for people living with a
wide span of conditions from glaucoma to
post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to
cerebral palsy.
Autism falls under the category of
"neurological diseases and disorders" which
could receive a prescription for medical
cannabis. Jones says, "She's a lot calmer than she was.
It seems like it takes away from her tension,
instead of being nervous or having anxiety.
I feel like that's made a large impact on
Haleigh's life."
16-year-old Haleigh is classified as "moderate
to severe" on the autism spectrum.
She
is
non-verbal
and
struggles
communicating. Jones says, "I personally know families where
the child has ripped the toilet off the bathroom
floor and they truly struggle more than we
do."
Her mother, Kristin Jones, says, "We're really
working on typing, so her world can open up
a little bit more to us." She adds this could help children stop using
other worrisome medications.
Haleigh is starting to use an app to improve
some of those skills.
Jones says, "This app will speak for her, she
pushes a button and it will repeat what she
typed."
While Haleigh is learning how to
communicate which toys she wants to play
with, or songs for her mother to sing,
expressing feelings like anxiety and
frustration can be harder sometimes leading to
what's called an "autism meltdown".
Medical cannabis would also include
tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which has an
increased calming effect for families who
don't see results from CBD.
Jones says, "I believe that there are already so
many medications that these kids are on. I
think it's the opposite, I don't think it would be
as addictive as on an opioid."
The South Carolina Senate is currently on
furlough, News 2 will provide an update when
the bill is scheduled to reach the Senate floor.
http://www.counton2.com/news/local-
news/parents-of-children-with-autism-hope-
for-legalization-of-medical-
cannabis/1094650153
Jones says, "We had a lot of behavioural
issues, at the grocery store checkout
waiting in line, she would throw herself
on the floor, she'll start some
headbutting, she'll start pushing into us
and it can get a little violent."
But over the past two years, those
episodes have melted away thanks to
cannabidiol, or CBD oil, which is legally
made in South Carolina from hemp.
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