Medical Marijuana for Kids?

The February 1st episode of "The Dr.s" featured 10-year-old Joey and his mother, Mieko Hester Perez of Fountain Valley, Calif..

Joey was diagnosed with "Autism" at the age of 16 months. At the age of 9 years, Joey experienced an intensification within his inability to focus. Further, Joey weighed 46 lbs and had begun to deteriorate at a rapid pace due to his unwillingness to intake food, and his an apparent inability to properly digest food.


His medical prognosis at that time was high probability of death within 6 months. (http://www.uf4a.org/)

To combat the myriad side-effects of his autism, Joey took a mind-boggling 13 medications. But, still he was starving to death.

Today, Joey is treated with three medicines; one of them is marijuana -

marijuana brownies, to be specific.


Hester-Perez told the Dr.'s that, in the seven months since starting the medicinal marijuana regement, her son has gained 38 pounds. She said he has also entered "the most progressive developmental period ever."

"He's making noises!" She sxclaimed to the Rhode Show. "We didn't even know he could make noise until the first batch of brownies!"

According to Joey's mother, Joey's overall quality of life has significantly improved with the marijuana treatments (which, she included, she only has to administer once every two or three days).

While medical marijuana is definitely not considered a cure for autism, there can be no question that it has helped Joey make giant strides. And a lot of people have noticed.

Since first making their television debut on Good Morning, America, Hester-Perez has reported receiving over 300 phone-calls from people - mostly mothers - thanking her, or commending her for speaking out, as well as for her bravery.

Look at this comment left on GMA's "Mother Gives Son Marijuana to Treat His Autism" page:

As a dietitian and a mother, I have been angry for years over the use of amphetamines for treating ADD. I am told "you just don't realize how hard it is to deal with (as parents or educators) these children." It is doctor prescribed, so it must be ok. Read about the side effects of Adderall, an amphetamine used to treat ADD/ADHD. Most of the stuff I read about the use of medical marijuana fails to mention that one pharmaceutical company has indeed been producing and selling Marinol (THC the active ingredient) for many years. It's all very hush hush. And it probably doesn't work as well as the plant, since, like food, there are many ingredients in it that may contribute to the effectiveness in addition to the THC. You ought to read the side effects in the pharm literature, tho. Increased appetite, euphoria, heightened sense of hearing, taste, smell, etc. Re autism , check out vitamindcouncil.org for another radical view on cause/treatment of autism. FREE SUNSHINE!!!! Neva, Austin, TX (User: nevagrieves 2/1/2010)

(As a personal side-note: I 100-percent-agree here ^)

Of course, not everyone feels that way. Dr. Sharon Hirsch, a child psychiatrist at the University of Chicago, told GMA about Joey, "He is intoxicated. He's stoned. It means that he's under the influence of a drug and may have an addiction. It can cause psychosis, may lead to schizophrenia. [There's] no evidence at all at this time and no reason to prescribe any kind of marijuana for a child with autism."

But to Dr. Hirsch and anyone who feels the same way, Hester-Perez said, "When a mother hears that her son is knocking on death's door, [she] will do anything to save his life."

Joey's mom probably said it best (and simplest) near the end of her first-ever TV interview (on GMA). She said, "I saved my son's life. And marijuana saved my son's life."




...How can you argue with that?