Despite public outcry, Mieko Hester-Perez claims that marijuana saved her 10 year-old’s life.

Get out our torches and pitchforks because a mother in Fountain Valley, California, Mieko Hester-Perez is doping her ten year-old child. I am sure the drug warriors are positively screaming at Mrs. Perez, but she did what she believed she had to to save her son’s life. The stigma against Mrs. Perez is so great that Allen Pier, the president of NORML, admits that even within his own organization there is aversion to giving medical marijuana to kids. Mr. Pier believes that people’s aversions are unreasonable given that dosing kids with amphetamines or opioids to control autism is considered responsible.

Mrs. Perez’s son was taking a large regiment of medicines to control his autism with little effect. He would still scream, put himself in danger, and stopped eating so sometimes he even needs drug detoxification remedies to counteract those so-called "medicines". It was the eating, a side effect of his medication, that caused Mrs. Perez to seek alternatives. When her ten year-old dropped down to 46 pounds, she tried baking a pan of pot brownies for her son. She said within hours he was eating and behaving differently.

The medical community is split on using marijuana for autism. Because of the difficulties in obtaining research permits, there has never been an extensive study on marijuana as an autism treatment. While Mrs. Perez was able to find a doctor who advocated such a treatment, Dr. Sharon Hirsch has a different opinion. Hirsch says marijuana should not be used in children because "he is intoxicated, he’s stoned, it means that he’s under the influence of a drug and may have an addiction." Mitch Earleywine a doctor who has conducted research for NORML disagrees. Dr. Erleywine says the only risk is slight IQ loss over an extended period of time.

Even if Dr. Hirsch is right and the child is addicted or stoned, if that helps his autism is it not worth it. Due to his condition this kid cannot become a rocket scientist or a doctor. Unfortunately, his best case scenario is simply controlling his autism enough to survive in everyday society. For people with these life-changing disorders, anything that can give them some semblance or normalcy should be applauded. As Mrs. Perez put it, "I saved my son’s life, and marijuana saved my son’s life. When a mother hears that her son is knocking on death’s door, you will do anything to save his life."