I use medical cannabis legally for autism. AMA.

[MedicalCannabis]

Inspired by another AMA about microdosing magic mushrooms, I thought people might be interested in this topic too. I don't think it's particularly well known that medical cannabis is legal in the UK for many conditions, including autism.

How does it help?

Are you worried about it triggering mental illness?

When it's at its best, it gives me a bit of a barrier between myself and the sources of sensory overload, so it makes me more able to cope with noise etc. It also makes me feel more loving towards my partner, and therefore show more affection, probably because I'm less overstimulated.

Sometimes, because I'm so sensitive to everything including medication, but I'm also on Sertraline which I think is more dangerous for the brain really. I see cannabis as a temporary thing until my circumstances change, and I generally take a tiny amount because I have no previous experience of it.

I wish you all the best with it

Thank you, that's kind of you.

Interesting. Did you have to have a gp referral? Or are you paying privately?

You can only really go private at the moment. I think there are a handful of people getting it on the NHS for a very specific type of epilepsy, but legally there are lots and lots of conditions that make you eligible. I had to show that I'd tried at least two other treatments (I've tried lots more than that!) but different dispensers have different criteria.

Bumping just in case.

How do you take it please, what form of cannabis and how much? Can you still function in usual life while taking it? Eg go to work / drive / cook?

I know this AMA not Give Me a Lecture, but cannabis is strongly linked to psychosis , sertraline is not. I assume it’s been prescribed by a doctor though?

Very interesting! I'd also be interested to know what form you take it in (presumably tablets but not sure) and how they work out the dosage.

I am interested too. My DP is autistic and can suffer huge overwhelm in public and end up having full blown meltdowns. He is in his 50s. Utter shites have filmed him having them.

I work in the cannabis industry, it is legal here in Canada.
What is the most effective strain for you?

I take it as an oil but you can also vape it if you want to. Smoking it is illegal. I've tried a few different oils in terms of THC:CBD ratio but at the moment just take 0.1ml of THC oil once a day (it's quite a low strength one) and it lasts me all day! I'm prescribed much more than that but am sensitive. I don't drive if I feel drowsy and sometimes it can make me feel too strange to function well. At other times it's been very effective without hampering my ability to drive or function, but I don't have a job to go to as I'm self-employed.

Sertraline is also linked to psychosis, as is severe stress which is what I deal with every day as an autistic person living around other people making noise etc. but that's why I consider this a temporary measure until I can move somewhere remote and come off medication.

Yes it's been prescribed by a doctor.

I chose an oil because I don't want to vape it, and I just started on the lowest possible dose as I'm classed as a "naive user" having never tried weed before.

I read some research about a doctor in Israel who advocates cannabis as a first line of treatment for autistic people, (children and adults), and in his research most autistic children do well on a 20:1 CBD:THC ratio, so I asked to start with something like that. It's been quite tricky to find the perfect dose and timings because food really affects it and I've had a few instances of being hit really hard by it 6 hours later!

That's horrible; people don't understand what it's like at all.

You or he could do some reading about it on the medical cannabis sub on Reddit, and maybe ask some questions if you're unsure. As I've said in other replies, it can be a bit difficult to get it just right, especially as a sensitive person who has no experience of drugs and doesn't actually like the feeling of being "out of it". When it's right, though, it can feel like a bit of a protective shield from the harshness of the world, for example being a bit less aware of every single sound and having much less of a reaction to them.

I've been told that strains aren't relevant with oils, but if I ever tried vaping I have a few in mind that are known to be great for autists! Are you aware of any?

Most oils are a hybrid, unless you find a strain specific , and strain specific tends to be most expensive as it is done on a smaller scale.
While I would not give medical advice in my role, as to strain specific effects, Blue Dream is well know for focus, and clarity, and would be one to learn about

OP can I ask why you decided to try this rather than microdosing please?

Microdosing what?

Thank you 😊

Can you recommend a reputable doctor clinic where this could be prescribed please?