Over the years, the public opinion has taken a noticeable shift in favor of legalizing medical marijuana. While many opponents continue the long and wasteful debate over marijuana being the gateway drug to addiction or worse (because prescribed opioids or other narcotics aren’t, right?), more cases are proving – undeniably - that medical marijuana is changing and improving the lives of hundreds of thousands across our country and around the world.
Is Medical Marijuana the Most Effective Treatment for Autism?
Just ask the rising number of families around the country who are leaving their home-states because of its draconian laws against medical marijuana. They’re packing up and moving to states that currently allow its use for medicinal healing. Luckily, residents of Florida don’t have to flee the sunshine state.
Photo courtesy of Wholistic Releaf
Here in Tampa Bay, native Floridian Pediatrician David Berger, MD has over twenty years experience as a clinician who specializes in treating special needs children. For special needs families of children with autism, his practice, “Wholistic Pediatrics and Family Care," is renowned for their integrative holistic approaches. They offer a myriad of treatment options for families who wish to explore more open-minded healthcare approaches.
Photo courtesy of Wholistic Releaf
I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. David about his practice and his passion for helping, healing and improving the health and wellness of his patients and their overall family.
He isn’t your ordinary Doctor.
He isn’t your ordinary Doctor.
Photo courtesy of Wholistic Releaf
“It was a “no-brainer” that kids with autism could benefit from medical cannabis.”
Though California was the first state to pioneer the use of medical marijuana, it would be Colorado that took the press by storm, publicizing the success of its progressive movements using marijuana for medicinal and then recreational use. Dr. David began to read about and research how Colorado was using marijuana medicinally. “It was a “no-brainer” that kids with autism could benefit from medical cannabis.” I sat in absolute awe listening to Dr. David describe his expertise in the newly passed law for medical marijuana in Florida of 2016, and how it defined what is and isn’t legal cannabis. Due to the intricacies of this new law, he opened Wholistic Releaf, a specialty clinic dedicated to medical cannabis. He spoke passionately about his research, but it was a candid discussion without the medical jargon that tends to fog most person-doctor discussions. His research led to hours of his developing a spreadsheet matching the debilitating symptoms associated with autism (anxiety, panic attacks, insomnia, self-injurious/challenging behavior, communication difficulty, etc.) to the list of similar symptoms in qualifying conditions, such as Parkinson’s, Lou Gehrig’s disease or PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), to name a few. This would serve as Dr. David's supporting documentation for qualifying children and adults with autism for medical cannabis. A treatment that could potentially ease the day-to-day challenges that individuals with special needs experience. He further researched the various strains and dosage combinations of the two components CBD (Cannabidiol) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol), so he can make informed recommendations that will maximize the positive effects it could have on his patients. Dr. David doesn’t just certify patients for the medical cannabis card. He works collaboratively with his patients and their families. They are equal partners as they move forward in the treatment process.
Photo courtesy of Wholistic Releaf
Jen Mulry, whose 12-year-old son Gabriel (who has autism) has been a patient of Dr. David for over ten years, recalls receiving a phone call from Dr. David asking if she would like to participate in a “rules meeting” at the Department of Health. Changes in the law threatening to impact a doctors ability to prescribe medical cannabis were about to take place. Dr. David wanted his patients and their families to remain informed, involved and meaningful participants in the entire process. He wanted the parent voice to be heard by health care officials. His herculean efforts included daily phone calls to the state as he advocated for his patients, their families and their need to have access to medical marijuana.
Desperate Times call for Effective Measures
I had the best conversation with Jen Mulry over the phone about her experience giving medical cannabis to her son Gabriel. Jen is a mother who is intelligent, resilient, strong, passionate and unstoppable. She is lovely and pleasant, and I can hear the excitement in her voice during our brief introduction.
I asked Jen about what times were like before finding the answer in medical marijuana for treating her son Gabriel’s daily struggle. Her voice went from excited to serious as she described darker times. As parents of children with autism, we all know about dark times. I listened as Jen talked about Gabriel’s evolving behavior over the years. The early years included Gabriel exhibiting minor episodes of anxiety and increasingly longer instances of perseveration (the repetition of phrases, words or gestures). Then, Jen started to see patterns of behavior in Gabriel she never saw before. Gabriel was experiencing severe panic attacks and tantrums that included hours of screaming, biting, and self-injurious behavior that included head banging.
Jen would take Gabriel to school only to have to go back within thirty minutes to pick him up. Gabriel had episodes for over a year where he would become almost catatonic for weeks at a time.
Jen would take Gabriel to school only to have to go back within thirty minutes to pick him up. Gabriel had episodes for over a year where he would become almost catatonic for weeks at a time.
“It was the first time since I’ve had my son that I realized I couldn’t help him. Life can’t go on like this. Depression sets in because you’re only as happy as your happiest child.”
The Mulry family did their due-diligence in researching other bio-medical options, treatments, therapies, you name it – they spent their life savings trying it. Sadly, nothing worked. For many of us parents of children with autism who are reading this, we recognize the heartache Jen experienced. Many of us know the desperation, isolation, endless nights of crying, and how these behaviors can leave an entire family paralyzed and trapped in a life for which we’re left with nothing else but to think that unthinkable thought we all work so hard to avoid. But institutionalizing our children has no place in ordinary discussion.
Gabriel was on track to being Dr. David’s first patient to be treated with medical marijuana. “It was the first time since I’ve had my son that I realized I couldn’t help him. Life can’t go on like this. Depression sets in because you’re only as happy as your happiest child.”
Medical Marijuana was the Natural Next Step
When I asked Jen to tell me about her experience using medical marijuana with Gabriel, I was expecting her to describe the change as instantaneous improvement. I was wrong. Jen went on to talk about how within two to three weeks of using CBD, she could see Gabriel was having adverse effects.
She thought, “This can’t be happening.” Gabriel’s anxiety was getting worse. After documenting Gabriel’s reactions, maintaining close consultation with Dr. David, and a few changes in dosage that included adding one to three mg of THC, they began to see positive changes. For Gabriel, higher doses of THC than CBD sparked the miracle they were waiting for.
"I got my son back," Jen said. She talked about him smiling all the time and how jovial he is. Gabriel is now able to participate in family functions and in the community again.
"I got my son back," Jen said. She talked about him smiling all the time and how jovial he is. Gabriel is now able to participate in family functions and in the community again.
“Parents should be educated, but not scared. I would never give my son anything without vetting it completely,” Jen stated.
Jen cautions parents to work with doctors they trust and not to be discouraged if the treatment doesn’t work right away.
We were coming to the end of our discussion when I asked Jen how Gabriel is today. I could hear her smiling over the phone as she described her son as the “light of her life.” Gabriel is a twelve-year-old boy who is sweet, loving, affectionate and a good boy despite being a handful!
Photo courtesy of the Mulry Family
"When Gabriel was born, she made three promises as a mom. Keep him happy, healthy and loved.”
Jen offers the following advice to parents who are considering using medical marijuana as a treatment option for their child with autism:
- Work with a doctor who is well-informed and whom you trust.
- Be patient – but be prepared to be your own advocate during this process. Don’t rely on anyone to make phone calls (the application process often requires follow-up with the Florida Office of Medical Marijuana use).
- Don’t give up hope right away - You might need to try different dosages like Gabriel did.
- Stay informed because the laws are always changing.
Medical Marijuana isn’t just healing those living in daily
pain and agony – It’s Improving Quality of Life
These days, Jen and Gabriel go to the beach, they play in the waves, and life is just normal. “It’s better than normal, it’s great.” Jen doesn’t care about societal norms. Her measure of how well her son is doing is based on the smile on his face. Nothing else matters. And nothing else should.
Photo courtesy of the Mulry Family
The Mulry’s are one of thousands of families who have seen dramatic improvements in their children with autism, proving medical marijuana helps our children in ways no other medication has been able to match.
Medical marijuana could be the miracle treatment for self-advocates and families struggling with debilitating challenges in their daily lives.
If you're interested in learning more about Dr. David and his practice, visit "Wholistic Releaf."
Medical marijuana could be the miracle treatment for self-advocates and families struggling with debilitating challenges in their daily lives.
If you're interested in learning more about Dr. David and his practice, visit "Wholistic Releaf."
Although I was compensated by Wholistic Releaf, the opinions and thoughts expressed are my own.
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