Mich. Panel Denies Marijuana as Treatment for Autism, Asthma

Concerns about letting children use it

It pains Jenny Allen to see her 6-year-old autistic son bang his head against the floor and bite himself, knowing there is little she can do to calm him.

After her son was diagnosed with autism at age 2, the Lansing woman placed him on a variety of diets, psychiatric therapies and medications, but they did little to mitigate his symptoms. She had long hoped she could one day try medical marijuana as a treatment — perhaps put some of the herb into a brownie to see if it helps her son.

Tuesday, she said, that hope was dashed as she watched the Michigan Medical Marijuana Review Panel reject a petition to add autism as an eligible condition for which medical marijuana can be used in the state. The vote was 2-7 against; one panel member was absent.