Why are so many autistic people stoners? Today we are diving into the positive lived experience of autistic people using THC …
42 Comments
I work in the cannabis industry and am autistic. Indicas are actually usually higher in thc and have more of a body effect, usually makes you drowsy, sativa is more energetic and more likely to lead to anxiety for those prone with it, has nothing to do with cbd content. I highly recommend those who use cannabis also make sure you have some cbd and CBG because cbd will lower the risk of anxiety by lowering and lengthening the effects of thc, CBG is good for mood stability, pain and inflammation. Adding thc with cbd and cbn will help to to sleep the full night. I take a 1:1:1 ratio of thc CBG and cbd or cbc (similar to CBG but more calming as CBG can be a little too stimulating for me) and I noticed a huge improvement in my mood, pain level and inflammation especially in the lady time.
If you are getting black market weed it will probably be THCa acetate sprayed on hemp. All legal within industry. Fake weed. Sold as an illegal substance to keep a high price. Absolute waste of time too as it has no terpenes.. When legal cannabis can cost 10 x the price, you can see the profit to be made in an illegal market from legal cheap products.
I am an autistic stoner. Been smoking for 5 years now. It really helps with my interoception and I love talking to people so much when I'm high. I am more likely to infodump with friends and online lol.
I find when I don't use cannabis, I'm very edgy, and I can't relate/connect with people. I just don't have the patience… not only for them but sadly, for me too. Cannabis almost feels like the missing puzzle piece to my humanity. It also greatly increases access to my cognitive faculties, my academic performace is the best it's been in almost 20 years. It really is a medicine.❤
Hello Thomas, this is the first time I've come across your channel and I enjoyed the video. I used Cannabis (without nicotine) from 1984 to 2006, just about every day – about 6 little pipes a day, starting after breakfast – double that at festivals and I used it for almost all social situations and work as an entertainer and for introspection, doing repetitive tasks, learning circus skills, for sex – everything apart from eating and sleeping, as weed did not mix with either of those for me. I gave up age 40, no issues, happily sober now, am still a campaigner for decrim/legalisation. I have recently been given an ASD diagnosis – those who know me well are not surprised as I have many of the qualities of Asperger Syndrome/HF Autism, but seem to have carved myself a cool little niche in society where I fit very well in green/activist circles, sex positivity and polyamory, and using psilocybin as a self-improvement tool once every year or two.
However – introduction over, I gulped with your tiny mistake at 2:55 where you say THC is Tetrahydrocannabidiol. It is actually Tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD is the 'bidiol' one – Cannabidiol. Just me being pedantic. Sorry.
So I found that smoking grass or hash helped me concentrate, improved music many-fold, opened my mind to try new things (writing poetry, doing art, learning stuff) and generally improved my life. I only ever experienced paranoia when I'd had a gap for more than about 5 days, and my first pipe after this was generally quite unpleasant – not so the second, third, forty-fourth, five-hundred and fifty-fifth, etc. I really liked to puff away regularly. I have wondered whether my neurodiversity caused me to have a different experience to many – not getting munchies, being unable to sleep within 2 hours of smoking, and using it to focus and work rather than to blob out.
I could go on at length about my 22 year love affair with the different sorts of Cannabis – but won't, and will await your next instalment in the series. You have a new subscriber!
I am autistic and smoke everyday I was actually able to get off all my prescription pills by smoking just do it legally friends some states in the usa don't like it still
CBD is like grapefruit, in that they both block the p450 factory in the liver. This factory is the system that processes medicines to the urinary tract. If you take meds, don't take CBD or eat grapefruit. source vid Cannabis and the Heart
I've had ADHD since I began school but didn't receive an autism diagnosis till my mid-50s. As it happens I also have Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory, aphantasia, tourettes and something I just found out about, Pervasive Demand for Autonomy, aka Pathological Demand Avoidance. To the point, a thing I constantly, autistically notice is manifestations of brokenness, as in a leaf, a system, or an emotional connection, for example, but cannabis allows me to choose to ignore it. That, of course, is a great boost to my mood, and as well it frees up cognitive resources – extending daily battery life. The other way cannabis helps me live well with my autism is it increases my openness to experience. As a result, transitions away from the routine or planned for and into the unexpected or unwanted are far less traumatic, featuring fewer meltdowns and shutdowns. I almost forgot that it helps me relax my mind to induce sleep.
if I'm not autistic …what am I? For me THC is a bad experience. I have intervals that I fall in a storm of thoughts, then I come to realilty due an external event and I don't know how much time has passed, everything seems ok, but I don't know how….then I fall again. I don't socialize , I close myself more because I don't know if I am awake or dreaming.
Its really simple: For many people, weed makes the moment more enjoyable, the food, the sensation, the conversation, all of it, for many people, weed makes everything better. Its like pushing your mood to slightly optimistic as a resting state.
I started using marijuana a few years ago. It got me to stop drinking and helped lead me to finding my autism diagnosis. Because of so many misdiagnoses and horrible medications throughout the year, I have been able to get off 99% of my medications and still weaning with help. Different strains have different effects on me at different times of day. Yes, I've learned it can make me paranoid and/or delusional if I don't stick to my usual and diet. It has also helped me with my social interactions, pain and social anxiety, appetite and sleep. BUT, If I use too much, it can cause prolonged low mood so I keep it PRN.
How can I put this without being insulting…? Being that most of us can't resist going down a good rabbit hole, may I point out one that seems to have gotten lost in the smoke:
– DELTA 9 – THC
What is a delta, and how many are there in this context?
You are free to keep your head buried in the sand, but nonetheless invited to take a trip down the rabbit hole and step through the looking glass. Personally, I can't stand sand in my sensory orifices.
Recently been taking some edibles (gummies) for my sleep issues (sleep aid just gives me weird dreams I don't want any part of). For an hour, while I'm waiting for sleep (and still doing the bad habit of staring at a bright screen, like my Switch with no blue light filter), I noticed how calm my mind feels, like there aren't any racing thoughts or annoying/inappropriate earworms for the evening.
Then after that hour, even with my sleep music, my brain latches onto a banger of a bluegrass dubstep song I was listening to earlier in the day when I needed some motivational boost.
I might need to take some melatonin as well next time.
Interestingly, cannabis (edibles, mostly) doesn't really change my perception or character much, it just completely breaks my masking – which is a lot of fun and very relaxing, but leaves me very much incompatible with mainstream society. However, many Stoners are quite happy to accept that and it's just a funny situation all around. The result is that I didn't use it very often, but immensely enjoy the occasions I do. As a side note, I enjoy the process of growing my own and love the smell of the plants, so there's another benefit.
I'm self-medicating so I don't scream at my abusive mom. I don't want to hurt her. But sometimes she gets on my nerves so much I just…want her to go away. Forever.
Weed literally saved me from meltdowns in the past, unfortunately it also brings up thoughts I'm trying to shove down when I'm sober lmao
For the last year, plus my psychiatrist, and I have worked extensively with my cannabis strains in order for me to stay off of pharmaceuticals due to my fear of supply chain issues. And I have been thrilled that things to cannabis plus other sound therapies and consistent dedication to self regulation that I have gone from being depressive and suicidal so much to only having minor episodes that last less than a few hours.
For me if I get stoned, then I know I’m already calm, but if I take cannabis and don’t feel stoned, it’s probably because I’m in dysregulation and I’m using it to regulate. I love that cannabis can be self adjusting in that way.
Also, in a very green state which has curbside delivery for cannabis, 1 million different factory is about each strain and it’s almost a scientific experience with weird designer names.
We just reroute our dining out, budget into cannabis for better at home experiences, and focusing on self-care rather and being comfortable.
I'm not sure if it's because I've always had a thing where I think about physics of everything around me but I was at a friend's house from college, they handed me a bong and I smoked it. They was playing Forza Motorsport and I was watching and they made the car roll and for me when that happened the entire room seemed to be rolling over like my brain was simulating the physics of the game into my reality. 😂
The intro tells me you've watched the hilarious video of comedian Sasha Baron Cohen about drugs on British TV. 😂. Btw which herbs and minerals you'd recommend for autism? Aside from the pot.
The link between schizophrenia and weed is potrayed wrongly in media. It isnt awakening schizophrenia, its just schizophrenics like weed. Its thr same idea as american divorce rate. It isnt that americans are getting divorced more, its that people having 3/4 divorces are driving the rate up. Its the bell curve. Its not that weed causes schizophrenia, its that if schizophrenics like weed, what are the chances of them having a psychotic break?
I have used marijuana since i was 18 off and on. Taking a large dose edible or hitting a distillate vape helps me go to bed and super low dose (for me) coconut oil capsules help keep me regulated throughput the day. The capsules i don't consciously feel but they make a huge impact. If i forgot to take my mid day dose ive started to notice it. I find it quiets my mind just enough for me to me able to pay attention better and i am aslo much more tolerant to possible meltdowns. On the subject of paranoia, i have found that i personally can't smoke flower. Something about combusting whole flower juat trips something in my head. So sadly i just don't actually smoke anymore and stick to mostly edible/capsules
I can only smoke alone as it makes me dissociate and feel more awkward unfortunately. Sometimes it feels like I become painfully self-aware when I smoke, which seems to be rather common amongst us neurodivergents. The most effective treatment for myself personally was microdosing mushrooms, at certain times of my life.
For me personally i didn't use for 15 years. This year i had the first experience with it. I can't tell you how strange that feeling of being "extremly focused" is. It's better than any med i took. It helps me in my cases. Shouldn't over use it but it does help a LOT when doing it.
Could I suggest you talk with Dr Niraj from Integro clinic? He’s their autism specialist and has helped me so much. Their Instagram pages are so insightful and helpful for uk legal prescribing. Before I got my script I was having self injurious meltdowns and was in crisis most of the time. Now I can kinda function and am working thru the mental health issues. It’s given me the pause to help myself. I know id doesn’t work for everyone; but for those it does it can be life extending.
Im on the autism spectrum and use weed recreationally in a legal state, but also to alleviate my severe gender dysphoria. Im taking a 2 sober weeks to fix my sleep cuz its all over the place. I feel like im in different time zones every few hours. Lol.
I am autistic, born with vacterl association (aka a lot of medical issues and chronic pain), and am a stoner. It helps me with so many things. Chronic pain, sleep, anxiety etc.
Edit: Some potential triggers. Started using during the pandemic and never looked back. I qualify for a card in my state for PTSD so my job is protected. I use daily. I normally try not to at work, but since a recent tragedy, I've found it hard to mask, something I didn't even realize I was doing before. Now I take a very low dose before work and at lunch in edible form and I can deal with work, but since I use daily, I'm not really 'high' as it takes more than 4mg to get me elevated. It helps with, for me: When I'm having a shutdown I HURT. No over the counter medicine helps. I used to think I was sick and call in to work and sleep for 3-7 days. I haven't done that in 4 years. Weed helps so much with that particular pain. I've been able to recognize what sets me off as my brain slows down enough when I'm medicated to be able to reflect instead of react. I don't know how to describe it better. A major tragedy happened in my life recently, followed by another and a third. I can confidently say I wouldn't be here without the mind numbing effects of a lot of the herb. It helped me through some really rough days where the un-aliving hotline was little to no use. Giving me a list of numbers to call….no… just no. Gimmee and edible and a nap and I'll figure it out or at least come down enough I'm not a danger to myself anymore.
I work in the cannabis industry and am autistic. Indicas are actually usually higher in thc and have more of a body effect, usually makes you drowsy, sativa is more energetic and more likely to lead to anxiety for those prone with it, has nothing to do with cbd content. I highly recommend those who use cannabis also make sure you have some cbd and CBG because cbd will lower the risk of anxiety by lowering and lengthening the effects of thc, CBG is good for mood stability, pain and inflammation. Adding thc with cbd and cbn will help to to sleep the full night. I take a 1:1:1 ratio of thc CBG and cbd or cbc (similar to CBG but more calming as CBG can be a little too stimulating for me) and I noticed a huge improvement in my mood, pain level and inflammation especially in the lady time.
Autism is not a community lol
If you are getting black market weed it will probably be THCa acetate sprayed on hemp. All legal within industry. Fake weed.
Sold as an illegal substance to keep a high price. Absolute waste of time too as it has no terpenes..
When legal cannabis can cost 10 x the price, you can see the profit to be made in an illegal market from legal cheap products.
I've been looking for this reaserch for months. Thanks.
I am an autistic stoner. Been smoking for 5 years now. It really helps with my interoception and I love talking to people so much when I'm high. I am more likely to infodump with friends and online lol.
It helps me turn down the volume on the Darwinian isht show.
Thank you!
I find when I don't use cannabis, I'm very edgy, and I can't relate/connect with people. I just don't have the patience… not only for them but sadly, for me too. Cannabis almost feels like the missing puzzle piece to my humanity. It also greatly increases access to my cognitive faculties, my academic performace is the best it's been in almost 20 years. It really is a medicine.❤
Hello Thomas, this is the first time I've come across your channel and I enjoyed the video. I used Cannabis (without nicotine) from 1984 to 2006, just about every day – about 6 little pipes a day, starting after breakfast – double that at festivals and I used it for almost all social situations and work as an entertainer and for introspection, doing repetitive tasks, learning circus skills, for sex – everything apart from eating and sleeping, as weed did not mix with either of those for me. I gave up age 40, no issues, happily sober now, am still a campaigner for decrim/legalisation. I have recently been given an ASD diagnosis – those who know me well are not surprised as I have many of the qualities of Asperger Syndrome/HF Autism, but seem to have carved myself a cool little niche in society where I fit very well in green/activist circles, sex positivity and polyamory, and using psilocybin as a self-improvement tool once every year or two.
However – introduction over, I gulped with your tiny mistake at 2:55 where you say THC is Tetrahydrocannabidiol. It is actually Tetrahydrocannabinol, and CBD is the 'bidiol' one – Cannabidiol. Just me being pedantic. Sorry.
So I found that smoking grass or hash helped me concentrate, improved music many-fold, opened my mind to try new things (writing poetry, doing art, learning stuff) and generally improved my life. I only ever experienced paranoia when I'd had a gap for more than about 5 days, and my first pipe after this was generally quite unpleasant – not so the second, third, forty-fourth, five-hundred and fifty-fifth, etc. I really liked to puff away regularly. I have wondered whether my neurodiversity caused me to have a different experience to many – not getting munchies, being unable to sleep within 2 hours of smoking, and using it to focus and work rather than to blob out.
I could go on at length about my 22 year love affair with the different sorts of Cannabis – but won't, and will await your next instalment in the series. You have a new subscriber!
My Autism and Adhd are often at odds, and the weed calms my mind. I prefer the hybrid.
this dude said that sativa is black market. as a regular smoker bro my AUNT prefers sativa. it's not just THC and CBD, look up terpenes.
I am autistic and smoke everyday I was actually able to get off all my prescription pills by smoking just do it legally friends some states in the usa don't like it still
CBD is like grapefruit, in that they both block the p450 factory in the liver. This factory is the system that processes medicines to the urinary tract. If you take meds, don't take CBD or eat grapefruit. source vid Cannabis and the Heart
I've had ADHD since I began school but didn't receive an autism diagnosis till my mid-50s. As it happens I also have Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory, aphantasia, tourettes and something I just found out about, Pervasive Demand for Autonomy, aka Pathological Demand Avoidance.
To the point, a thing I constantly, autistically notice is manifestations of brokenness, as in a leaf, a system, or an emotional connection, for example, but cannabis allows me to choose to ignore it. That, of course, is a great boost to my mood, and as well it frees up cognitive resources – extending daily battery life.
The other way cannabis helps me live well with my autism is it increases my openness to experience. As a result, transitions away from the routine or planned for and into the unexpected or unwanted are far less traumatic, featuring fewer meltdowns and shutdowns.
I almost forgot that it helps me relax my mind to induce sleep.
if I'm not autistic …what am I? For me THC is a bad experience. I have intervals that I fall in a storm of thoughts, then I come to realilty due an external event and I don't know how much time has passed, everything seems ok, but I don't know how….then I fall again. I don't socialize , I close myself more because I don't know if I am awake or dreaming.
Can you link that study that says 70% of stoners are autistic? That's amazing!
Its really simple: For many people, weed makes the moment more enjoyable, the food, the sensation, the conversation, all of it, for many people, weed makes everything better. Its like pushing your mood to slightly optimistic as a resting state.
🙏💜✨️
I started using marijuana a few years ago. It got me to stop drinking and helped lead me to finding my autism diagnosis. Because of so many misdiagnoses and horrible medications throughout the year, I have been able to get off 99% of my medications and still weaning with help. Different strains have different effects on me at different times of day. Yes, I've learned it can make me paranoid and/or delusional if I don't stick to my usual and diet. It has also helped me with my social interactions, pain and social anxiety, appetite and sleep. BUT, If I use too much, it can cause prolonged low mood so I keep it PRN.
THC! CBD!
How can I put this without being insulting…?
Being that most of us can't resist going down a good rabbit hole, may I point out one that seems to have gotten lost in the smoke:
– DELTA 9 – THC
What is a delta, and how many are there in this context?
You are free to keep your head buried in the sand, but nonetheless invited to take a trip down the rabbit hole and step through the looking glass.
Personally, I can't stand sand in my sensory orifices.
❤❤❤❤
Recently been taking some edibles (gummies) for my sleep issues (sleep aid just gives me weird dreams I don't want any part of). For an hour, while I'm waiting for sleep (and still doing the bad habit of staring at a bright screen, like my Switch with no blue light filter), I noticed how calm my mind feels, like there aren't any racing thoughts or annoying/inappropriate earworms for the evening.
Then after that hour, even with my sleep music, my brain latches onto a banger of a bluegrass dubstep song I was listening to earlier in the day when I needed some motivational boost.
I might need to take some melatonin as well next time.
Interestingly, cannabis (edibles, mostly) doesn't really change my perception or character much, it just completely breaks my masking – which is a lot of fun and very relaxing, but leaves me very much incompatible with mainstream society. However, many Stoners are quite happy to accept that and it's just a funny situation all around. The result is that I didn't use it very often, but immensely enjoy the occasions I do. As a side note, I enjoy the process of growing my own and love the smell of the plants, so there's another benefit.
I'm self-medicating so I don't scream at my abusive mom. I don't want to hurt her.
But sometimes she gets on my nerves so much I just…want her to go away. Forever.
Weed literally saved me from meltdowns in the past, unfortunately it also brings up thoughts I'm trying to shove down when I'm sober lmao
Recently dignosed. Long term user, for insomnia, chronic pain relief, anxiety and socialising.
For the last year, plus my psychiatrist, and I have worked extensively with my cannabis strains in order for me to stay off of pharmaceuticals due to my fear of supply chain issues. And I have been thrilled that things to cannabis plus other sound therapies and consistent dedication to self regulation that I have gone from being depressive and suicidal so much to only having minor episodes that last less than a few hours.
For me if I get stoned, then I know I’m already calm, but if I take cannabis and don’t feel stoned, it’s probably because I’m in dysregulation and I’m using it to regulate. I love that cannabis can be self adjusting in that way.
Also, in a very green state which has curbside delivery for cannabis, 1 million different factory is about each strain and it’s almost a scientific experience with weird designer names.
We just reroute our dining out, budget into cannabis for better at home experiences, and focusing on self-care rather and being comfortable.
First smoked pot in 1970 at 14. It made me calm and clear headed. Later in life ADHD diagnose. Strange.
OG kush is Afghan kush grown in California hence Ocean Grown kush. Fun fact
Complicated 😅😊
I'm not sure if it's because I've always had a thing where I think about physics of everything around me but I was at a friend's house from college, they handed me a bong and I smoked it. They was playing Forza Motorsport and I was watching and they made the car roll and for me when that happened the entire room seemed to be rolling over like my brain was simulating the physics of the game into my reality. 😂
The intro tells me you've watched the hilarious video of comedian Sasha Baron Cohen about drugs on British TV. 😂. Btw which herbs and minerals you'd recommend for autism? Aside from the pot.
The link between schizophrenia and weed is potrayed wrongly in media. It isnt awakening schizophrenia, its just schizophrenics like weed. Its thr same idea as american divorce rate. It isnt that americans are getting divorced more, its that people having 3/4 divorces are driving the rate up. Its the bell curve. Its not that weed causes schizophrenia, its that if schizophrenics like weed, what are the chances of them having a psychotic break?
I have used marijuana since i was 18 off and on. Taking a large dose edible or hitting a distillate vape helps me go to bed and super low dose (for me) coconut oil capsules help keep me regulated throughput the day. The capsules i don't consciously feel but they make a huge impact. If i forgot to take my mid day dose ive started to notice it. I find it quiets my mind just enough for me to me able to pay attention better and i am aslo much more tolerant to possible meltdowns. On the subject of paranoia, i have found that i personally can't smoke flower. Something about combusting whole flower juat trips something in my head. So sadly i just don't actually smoke anymore and stick to mostly edible/capsules
I can only smoke alone as it makes me dissociate and feel more awkward unfortunately. Sometimes it feels like I become painfully self-aware when I smoke, which seems to be rather common amongst us neurodivergents. The most effective treatment for myself personally was microdosing mushrooms, at certain times of my life.
I believe it's an "unmasking" drug. Medication.
For me personally i didn't use for 15 years. This year i had the first experience with it. I can't tell you how strange that feeling of being "extremly focused" is.
It's better than any med i took. It helps me in my cases. Shouldn't over use it but it does help a LOT when doing it.
Could I suggest you talk with Dr Niraj from Integro clinic? He’s their autism specialist and has helped me so much. Their Instagram pages are so insightful and helpful for uk legal prescribing.
Before I got my script I was having self injurious meltdowns and was in crisis most of the time. Now I can kinda function and am working thru the mental health issues. It’s given me the pause to help myself. I know id doesn’t work for everyone; but for those it does it can be life extending.
Im on the autism spectrum and use weed recreationally in a legal state, but also to alleviate my severe gender dysphoria. Im taking a 2 sober weeks to fix my sleep cuz its all over the place. I feel like im in different time zones every few hours. Lol.
Video suggestion: My Autistic Brother by Yoontoons
Edibles my homey
I am autistic, born with vacterl association (aka a lot of medical issues and chronic pain), and am a stoner. It helps me with so many things. Chronic pain, sleep, anxiety etc.
Edit: Some potential triggers.
Started using during the pandemic and never looked back. I qualify for a card in my state for PTSD so my job is protected. I use daily. I normally try not to at work, but since a recent tragedy, I've found it hard to mask, something I didn't even realize I was doing before. Now I take a very low dose before work and at lunch in edible form and I can deal with work, but since I use daily, I'm not really 'high' as it takes more than 4mg to get me elevated.
It helps with, for me:
When I'm having a shutdown I HURT. No over the counter medicine helps. I used to think I was sick and call in to work and sleep for 3-7 days. I haven't done that in 4 years. Weed helps so much with that particular pain.
I've been able to recognize what sets me off as my brain slows down enough when I'm medicated to be able to reflect instead of react. I don't know how to describe it better.
A major tragedy happened in my life recently, followed by another and a third. I can confidently say I wouldn't be here without the mind numbing effects of a lot of the herb. It helped me through some really rough days where the un-aliving hotline was little to no use. Giving me a list of numbers to call….no… just no. Gimmee and edible and a nap and I'll figure it out or at least come down enough I'm not a danger to myself anymore.