Health Experts Push Back on Marijuana ‘Treatment’ for Autism

Marijuana

Despite a lack of clear, scientific evidence, some parents reportedly are turning to marijuana to treat autism in children.

The Wall Street Journal writes,

While medical marijuana is prescribed for everything from cancer symptoms to epilepsy to chronic pain and even dementia, its use in children with autism is more controversial.

After all, we know regular use of THC in adolescents can negatively impact their developing brains and lead to a higher risk of mental-health problems.

THC — the main psychoactive substance in marijuana — has been tied to everything from heart disease and cancer to stroke, mental illness, and birth defects.

The Wall Street Journal notes that the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry actually warns against using marijuana to treat autism in children, and The Autism Science Foundation says parents should be “very cautious” about giving THC to kids.

Food, drinks, and other products laced with THC often mimic popular candies that appeal to children, but their high concentrations of THC make these products dangerous.

For years now, public health data across America has shown marijuana products are sending kids to the emergency room and prompting parents to call poison control centers.

This year, multiple bills legalizing THC-infused food and drinks were filed at the Arkansas Legislature. Fortunately, none of those bills passed, and lawmakers actually enacted a measure to prohibit THC in Arkansas.

All of this simply underscores what we have said for years: Marijuana may be many things, but “harmless” simply is not one of them.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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Church Ambassador Network of Arkansas Connects with Leaders at SBC

Church,

Last week, the Southern Baptist Convention held its annual meeting in Dallas, Texas. Over ten thousand messengers represented their churches at the Convention to commission missionaries, vote, and fellowship with fellow believers.

You can read about some of the notable resolutions that were passed here.

The Church Ambassador Network of Texas had a booth in the exhibit hall, where Cade Daniel from our team represented Arkansas alongside Church Ambassador staff from Iowa. Collectively, we interacted with hundreds of attendees including many pastors from Arkansas.

Many Americans do not fully appreciate how much churches do for their communities. Nationwide, researchers estimate that churches, ministries, and religious charities provide hundreds of billions of dollars worth of services every year.

Our Arkansas Church Ambassador Network currently has about 400 churches in it. In the coming months, we want to help elected officials and churches work together to address issues like foster care, fatherless homes, addiction, and human trafficking in Arkansas.

If you help lead a church or similar ministry in Arkansas, we would invite you to join the Church Ambassador Network for free today.

Articles appearing on this website are written with the aid of Family Council’s researchers and writers.

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