Medical Marijuana for Children: New Trend in Alternative Medicine

Medford Parenting Examiner

Medical marijuana (cannabis), which is legally available in 14 states with a prescription, is used everyday by millions for a variety of ailments.  Many adults turn to the controversial drug (as it is illegal in most parts of the United States) to treat cancer side effects, fibryomyalgia, migraines, anxiety - the list is endless.  But one mother has made a provocative public admission: she is administering medical marijuana to her 11-year-old son, Ryan Mendoza. The boy suffers from a rare genetic disorder, called PANDAS, which causes severe Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), among other ailments.

Judy Mendoza considered the controversial treatment after hearing of another mom's success story with the drug.  The other family, who appeared on Good Morning America, tried the drug to treat their son's autism, and met with success - a surprise to many.

Mendoza has been subjected to judgment by others as they learn of her decision to treat Ryan with medical marijuana, she said.  She says that if they know how severe Ryan's illness is, some would feel differently.  Her son ingests the marijuana either in foods (sold at dispensaries or made at home) or through a tincture - a liquid form of the drug absorbed under the tongue.  Smoking the drug is not recommended for children, contrary to what a recent Parenting Fail of the Week demonstrated.

Ryan Mendoza made tremendous strides immediately after his first dose, as his mother wrote on her website that she has been using the site to chronicle her parenting experiences.  The boy had been refusing to go to the beach for more than a year, terrified a tsunami would hit, Mendoza wrote.  Right after the day after he took the medicinal marijuana for the first time, the family went to the beach and, like any ordinary 12-year-old, Ryan allowed his family to bury him up to his face in sand, his mother wrote. It was a joyous day realized with the help of medical marijuana, his mother explained.

Marijuana is still classified as an illegal drug, and has not been subjected to any double-blind medical studies to prove its effectiveness in treating OCD, autism or anything outside of the spectrum from which it is normally prescribed.  The effects marijuana has on the developing brain are not yet fully known, and women are advised not to use marijuana when they are pregnant or breastfeeding.  Dr. Lester Grispoon, author of several books relating to marijuana studies, retired physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, has a different take on the effects of marijuana:

"We have been brainwashed about this substance," he said. "There will come a time when people will recognize this as the wonder drug of our times." He adds further, "the most dangerous thing about marijuana just may be the stigma attached to it."

Proponents of medical marijuana also argue that parents treat their kids chronic ailments with harmful drugs without realizing it.

Adderall, a drug to treat ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) contains methamphetamine, which is an illicit street drug.  Ritalin, also used to treat ADHD, contains methylphendiate - a derivative of methamphetamine as well.  As part of the illegal prescription drug abuse pandemic, these drugs are often abused by people without ADHD to achieve a high by either snorting or ingestion.

Autism is commonly treated with anti-depressants (SSRIs), which work to address specific behavioral issues.  Anti-depressants have adverse side effects such as nausea, vomiting, hallucinations and a risk of suicide in younger children.   Anti-psychotics such as Zyprexa or Haldol are often combined with SSRIs to form a "cocktail" to manage autistic, ADHD or OCD behavior in children.   As such pharmaceutical companies have often been the target of advocates for holistic, alternative and plant-based therapies.  The cost of treatment with traditional pharmaceuticals can be astronomical for a family.

A small legion of physicians in California are recommending medical marijuana for kids, though the children are older (aged 14 to 18).  Like any other controlled substance, children must have a parent accompany them to procure the drug (at a local dispensary).  This aligns with the possibility of fully legalized marijuana in the state, which is up for a vote in November 2010.

The state of Oregon currently does not have marijuana dispensaries, but rather an arrangement for patients to grow their own or to buy from caregiver that has four or fewer patients.  Dispensaries may come to the state soon, with Measure 28 (which would allow state-licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to sell cannabis) going on the November 2010 ballot.  Medical marijuana has been legal in Oregon since 1998.

Even V.A. (Veterans Affairs) hospitals for are easing restrictions on the use of medical marijuana.  A new Department of Veterans Affairs policy will go into effect next week allowing patients in its hospitals and clinics to use medical marijuana in states where it is legal. V.A. doctors will still not be able to prescribe medical marijuana, but patients who use it will no longer lose their access to other pain medication - a huge shift in policy.

While Judy Mendoza is publicly advocating for the plant-based therapy for kids, she explains that medical marijuana is definitely not a cure-all:

"Medical marijuana is just a piece of the puzzle. It's almost like a Band-Aid," she said. "I give him such a small amount. It's really just giving them medicine to treat a symptom." She adds: "It's like [the medical marijuana] just takes the edge off of his OCD. ... It's not like the OCD goes away when he has his medicine, but his ability to cope with it changes."

Resources for parents in Medford:

• Oregon NORML