the law
educate to legislate
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge.  
​    - Hosea 4:6

How to talk to legislators

The following is a possible strategy for how to talk to legislators about whole plant medical cannabis for autism.  Education is the key to changing the law, but first they need to have compassion and then they must have the courage to support #cannabis4autism.  Share the resources you find in this website and empower your legislators to help in our fight for #cannabis4autism.
Bring your written testimony and a one-pager about #cannabis4autism.  Use the following to prepare yourself...

​About Autism - compassion for our kids

Autism is epidemic
  • We don’t know what causes it                
  • We don’t know how to cure it
Most people (including Lawmakers) are unaware of the astronomical rise in autism diagnoses in the last 40 years.  In 1970, the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000 - in 2016, 1 in 68 children have an autism diagnosis.  That's more that a 14,000% increase.  If this trend continues, half of all children will be autistic by 2025.  according to Dr Stephanie Seneff.  For our purposes, it's irrelevant why it's happening, it just is.  Children and young adults are overwhelming the system and there is no reliable pharmaceutical or government agency that meets the intense needs of this population.
  • Parents are out of options
Most parents of children with autism  have tried everything that doctors and specialists have to offer.  The quality of life these families continues to suffer, regardless of the functioning level of the affected child,  

An extra word about aggression and self-injury
When aggression is an issue families often have no help and no hope.  Aggression in ASD is associated with self-injury, sleep problems, sensory problems, GI problems, communication and social functioning​56% of people with autism exhibit aggression50% of people with autism exhibit some form of self-injury at some point in their lifeSelf injury is more painful than previously thought and very possibly linked to inflammation

​Cannabis for Autism - ​educate them

About cannabis
  • There is abundant science, research and anecdotal evidence that points to its efficacy in autism
  • The US govt has a patent on certain cannabinoids for their medicinal properties
  • Cannabis has an unparalleled safety record and there is little risk of dangerous side effects
  • Cannabis is used medicinally in pediatric epilepsy, cancer, and other qualifying conditions states where it is legal
  • Many existing qualifying conditions are co-morbid with autism
  • There is great versatility of strains and delivery methods for cannabis treatment
  • Medicinal cannabis has the potential to be both palliative and curative for our children
  • There are now 6 states that now allow direct access for autism
  • A video is worth a thousand words:  Kara Zartler
Cannabis helps with
  • Anxiety
  • Aggression
  • Self-Injury
  • Cognition
  • Sleep
  • Socialization
  • and more 

​Expect Pushback - be ready with an answer

Be ready with an answer
Many legislators believe (or choose to believe) what they're been told about the supposed evils of cannabis.  Their concerns will mirror the concerns of their base.  As advocates for medical cannabis, we must be ready with an answer to the following typical myths and misconceptions:
​
Concern for our kids
Q:  "What will it do to a developing brain?"
A:  Turn this one around.  What do seizures, autism, anti-psychotics do to a developing brain?"  Cannabis is neuroprotective.  Cannabis can protect the brain from trauma.
Q:  "Won't the kids get high?"
A:  Not with the proper dose and strain.  Therapeutic doses leave the patient in a functional state of being.  Only one cannabinoid has psychoactive properties, THC, and  it is well known that CBD has the ability to mitigate the psychoactive effects of THC.  As an aside, marinol is the synthetic version of THC and it is available to be prescribed - and that does make one high. 
Q:  "Do they smoke it?"
A;  No.  There are many methods of delivery that can be utilized by the patient.

Concern for society
Recreational is next
  • "It's a gateway drug."
Concern for what might happen
Legislators often worry about what "could" happen, or about "unintended consequences that may accompany" the bill. Their arguments against medical marijuana are largely based on hypotheticals and what-ifs.  Since nearly half the states in our nation have medical cannabis laws, we can glean from their experience what to expect.​             (study, 2014, concludes that legalizing medical marijuana does not increase teen use of the marijuana recreationally)
​1. Doctors try drugs for our kids all the time based on what that drug is intended to do and what symptoms or underlying conditions your child has. Yes, all our kids are different, but there are many kids that are similar to my kid who have benefitted. I'd like to see if it benefits my kid too! (“Right to try.”)
2. Look at the Govt Patent 6630507 (with lots of science behind it). It says that cannabis is antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, regulates the immune system, is neuroprotective, and protects against glutamate toxicity - most, if not all children with autism need treatment for oxidative stress, immune issues, inflammation, and/or glutamate toxicity.
3. Our kids share many of the conditions that ARE covered in IL - 1/3 of our kids have seizures, and other symptoms overlap too. So, that's how I would answer the fact that we don't know it works for sure but we should have the right to try.
4. Our kids are severely ill and, given the side effects, traditional medicine has thus far failed us.