Autism & The Plant

By Brannan Bell,

There is an Autistic community all over the world and when these parents find new information that helps their loved ones succeed, the word tends to spread fast, especially when it comes to plant medicine. Specifically talking about the Cannabis plant and how the properties of this plant can help heal, ease, and create a better life for individuals navigating Autism.

ASD is a developmental disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate, interact socially and engage in repetitive behaviors. Autism is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental impacts that result in pervasive imbalances, predominantly in the gut, brain, and immune systems. This can come in all different ways and forms. Sometimes, it looks different and may vary from person to person. It can look like sensory sensitivities and feeling overstimulated by sounds, textures, or smells. It can also be expressed with being insistent on routines, self-injury, aggressive rages and property destruction.

Parents who deal with a child that is Autistic, there’s nothing more helpless to them than witnessing their child suffer. There are lots of pieces to the puzzle and light that needs to be shed on what helps to better their lives and what they have learned along the way.

Janna Champagne is a Holistic Nurse who is local to Oregon and she is also a Certified Master Herbalist, Professor and Medical Cannabis Expert. She has a daughter who experiences ASD and has found hope through using plant medicine. By using a different approach to her care, she focused on her daughter’s quality of life and optimized function.

Through Janna’s experience she expresses, “For most it has provided safe and effective relief, and eased their family crisis. As an added bonus, many using cannabis have successfully weaned off harmful mental health pharmaceutical medications, some of which have permanent side effects (google extra- pyramidal symptoms, not a good scenario).” *Disclaimer: I highly recommend medical oversight for pharmaceutical weaning.*

Being a mother and doing her best to help her daughter, Janna says that “Cannabis itself has definitely been one of the “big hitters” in recovering my own ASD daughter, who made more progress between the ages of 11-14 (post cannabis) than in the biomed-heavy decade prior.” Which is HUGE. The power of this plant is truly effective and miraculous, giving many people hope that they’ve been longing to find.

Speaking with another mother, Paula, who is local to Oklahoma she shared some of her story with her two children who are both Autistic. Autism has shaped every part of this family’s life in ways they never could have imagined. Both of their sons are on the spectrum—their oldest just turned 18 and was diagnosed at 3, while their youngest, now 13, received the same diagnosis at the same age.

Each child’s journey has been unique. The oldest was nonverbal until he was 5 but eventually found his voice. However, social and generalized anxiety made his childhood especially difficult. The youngest has been nonverbal and has faced even greater challenges, struggling with severe anxiety, self-injurious behaviors, violent meltdowns, and chronic insomnia.
In 2019, after years of searching for solutions, the family made a life-changing decision-both boys became pediatric medical cannabis cardholders. Until then, they had never tried any form of medication, but this new path would bring them hope in ways they never expected.

This family’s journey with medical cannabis has been nothing short of transformative. They turned to full-spectrum, whole-plant, strain-specific cannabis gummies, and the impact on their two sons has been remarkable. For the oldest son, once isolated in his room, has blossomed socially. Before cannabis, he rarely engaged with others, but now he confidently steps out, initiates conversations, and even chats with strangers—something his family never imagined possible.

For their youngest, the changes have been just as profound. Previously nonverbal, he is now speaking in full sentences, expressing his needs, and communicating effortlessly with his parents. His self-harming behaviors and violent meltdowns have disappeared, and for the first time, he sleeps peacefully through the night.
What once felt impossible has become their reality, thanks to the power of plant medicine.

For this family, Arcadia Brands in Oklahoma has been more than just a cannabis company-they’ve been a true partner in their Autism journey. From the very beginning, they’ve gone above and beyond to provide support in ways that most businesses wouldn’t. Their relationship with Arcadia runs deep, and the investment has been mutual. The youngest has never used another product—only Arcadia’s strain-specific edibles, which clearly list terpene profiles on each bag, making it easy to track what works best. They also offer low-dose options, something that’s hard to find elsewhere. The gratitude this family feels for Arcadia Brands and its owner, Robert, is immeasurable. They haven’t just been a company-they’ve been a lifeline.

Many mothers across the U.S. don’t even realize that medical cannabis is an option for children with Autism. But through sharing their story, this family has been able to change that. By simply opening up about their journey and the process, they’ve helped countless moms-both in Oklahoma and in other states—discover an alternative they never knew existed. What started as one family’s experience has now empowered hundreds of others to explore a path they might have never considered. “I will never gatekeep something that could help so many families like mine. If my words can give a child back their life and parents hope, you’ll never be able to shut me up.”

Something that’s worth mentioning here is that a lot of the time parents don’t consider cannabis as therapy until it’s literally their last resort. That’s understandable though, due to the lack of knowledge and resources that aren’t advertised and readily in your face, like pharmaceutical commercials are.

The goal of using cannabis as medicine to treat ASD isn’t to get your child high, the goal is to improve their internal balance and optimize function through microdosing.

Now, getting into the science that supports cannabis therapy for Autism. Could Endocannabinoid deficiency play a role in Autism? If you’re unfamiliar with the Endocannabinoid System (ECS), think of it as the body’s central command center, coordinating communication between different organ systems. Its primary function is to maintain homeostasis, or balance, throughout the body. When something becomes unbalanced, the ECS steps in to restore equilibrium. This process plays a crucial role in areas relevant to Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), such as regulating neurotransmitters, supporting immune function, and reducing inflammation.

According to a study from Dilja Krueger, one contributing factor to ASD is genetic mutations in Endocannabinoid System receptors, which can result in ECS deficiency. Did you know.. The cannabis plant is the richest natural source of phytocannabinoids, which can help replenish deficiencies in the ECS of individuals with ASD?

We all have an ECS and when cannabis interacts with the Endocannabinoid System, it helps restore balance to three key organ systems that are often dysregulated in ASD. Its effects include immune modulation, neurotransmitter regulation with neuroprotective benefits, and anti-inflammatory properties that support both the gut and brain. These are just a few of its powerful therapeutic benefits.

In addition, Dr. Bonni Goldetein who is an MD and has written a book called “Cannabis is Medicine”, finds that interestingly enough, children with Autism also have been found to have significant neuro-inflammation and neuro-immune abnormalities, with an increased risk of having gut issues. This is where the Endocannabinoid system has many receptors and tries to balance out the messages being sent between these various parts of the body.

There are a few antipsychotic medications available in the U.S. to treat irritability in Autism, but they come with significant short- and long-term side effects and fail to address the core symptoms or underlying causes. This is a major reason why more parents of children with ASD are exploring alternative treatments.

One potential root cause could be an imbalance in the Endocannabinoid System, which plays a crucial role in the brain, gut, and immune system—key areas where children with ASD often experience difficulties. Since the ECS consists of cannabinoid receptors, it makes sense to examine how its dysfunction may contribute to these challenges.

For some supporting community resources and networks, please go to Youtube and type in: MAMMA: Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism. There you will find so many videos from mothers advocating for their autistic children and there’s a lot of relatable and eye opening video information to learn from..

You can also go to their page on Facebook that’s named: MAMMA USA.

“Special Needs Mom’s of Oklahoma” is another local Facebook page that is highly recommended.

How can you get involved with supporting advocacy in the community?

The Autism Safe Haven is a non-profit organization that you can donate to, which can also be tax deductible. The support you provide will allow this organization to meet their goals and improve conditions for those dealing with Autism. You can visit https://autismsafehaven.org/ to learn more.

“We are committed to providing dignified living options for those with Autism, including cannabis inclusion and focus on optimal health, quality of life and function. Using this approach, many with Autism focus better than ever expected. This project was launched by an Autism mom/Cannabis Nurse, after seeing the profound benefits of these approaches with her own daughter”

Here are some key points on how using the cannabis plant and the cannabinoids that come along with it, may benefit Autistic individuals:
Behavioral Management: Cannabis helps reduce or stop severe autism-related behaviors at different developmental stages.
Therapeutic Benefits: It has anxiety-reducing, pain-relieving, and anti-inflammatory properties beneficial for ASD symptoms.
Safety Profile: Cannabis is regarded as a safer alternative to pharmaceuticals, with fewer and milder side effects.
Family Impact: It plays a crucial role in easing challenges for families dealing with ASD, especially in high-stress situations.

“The use of cannabis for ASD harm reduction is gaining traction among parents and caregivers, who discover its efficacy as a holistic treatment option. Although the legal landscape and potential regulatory hurdles can be daunting, the positive outcomes and safety profile of cannabis, combined with supporting research and case studies, make it a compelling path for many families. I hope this article expands your perspective on the use of cannabis for ASD harm reduction and encourages you to advocate for improved legal access and expanded use of cannabis for families in need.” – Janna Champagne, DMCS, BSN, RN (Ret.)