'It's hope' — Bossier mom advocates for medical marijuana to treat autism

It’s never a simple trip when Monica Stampley and her family want to go on vacation, visit a restaurant or even go to another family member’s house.

Because whenever they leave home, Monica never knows that her 15-year-old son, Judah, might have what she has described as “violent meltdowns” related to his severe autism.

The Stampleys, of Bossier City, have tried numerous therapies and medications to treat Judah’s aggression and anxiety. Now, Stampley is one of the Louisiana mothers hoping that state lawmakers will authorize another possible treatment for health conditions related to autism — medical marijuana.

House Bill 627, authored by Rep. Rodney Lyons of Harvey, would permit such treatment. The bill has been approved by the Louisiana House of Representatives and now awaits a hearing in the Senate Committee on Health and Welfare.

“The way it’s written in the bill is just exactly targeting somebody like Judah, because it’s for severe symptoms of autism — severe anxiety, severe aggression, other symptoms as far as self-injurious behavior, repetitive things,” Stampley said. “He’ll hit his head, he’s choked himself and left bruises on his neck, and he broke a toe kicking a brick wall.”

Quality of life

Autism spectrum disorder is characterized in a broad sense as a developmental disorder that affects social interaction, communication and behavior. Symptoms can vary widely.

Stampley’s other son, Jonah, 13, also has autism, but he is more high-functioning than his brother, she said. Both boys were identified as autistic at age 2.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” she said.

Stampley’s home is filled with hole-punched walls, covered in cardboard. She’s had to replace numerous pieces of furniture and televisions destroyed by Judah during fits of aggression.

“It’s a safety issue,” Stampley said. “The aggression and anxieties, those are definitely things the THC and medical cannabis target and have a calming effect, or should.”

Unfortunately, Stampley said, she doesn’t know what kind of future her son has in front of him if something can’t be found to consistently help him manage the severe symptoms of autism.

“If we continue like we are now with no changes in what he’s doing, then he’s not even going to be able to go to one of the adult rehabilitation places where they work,” she said. “He doesn’t have friends, he’s not participating in activities.”

According to Mothers Advocating Medical Marijuana for Autism (MAMMA), autism patients can get legal access to medical marijuana with the appropriate doctor recommendations in California, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Oregon, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C.

The group has shared testimonials from parents who describe how medical marijuana has helped their children. Even more stories from families have been shared on websites like YouTube.

“The aggression is the biggest thing,” Stampley said. “That’s what keeps us from going on vacation, going to visit with family. Even family who love us dearly — I can’t just take them to somebody’s house and take a chance that he’s going to kick a hole in their wall.”

In a letter she sent to Louisiana legislators, Stampley described her need to find a remedy for Judah’s situation.

“If we continue on the path we are on, Judah will have no education, no future and no quality of life,” she wrote.

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Medical concerns

Advocates say cannabis could help provide improvement with sleep, anxiety, aggression, self-injury and cognition.

House Bill 627 lists several conditions related to autism that could be treated, including: repetitive or self-stimulatory behavior where physical health is jeopardized; avoidance of others or inability to communicate to the point that physical health is jeopardized; self-injuring behavior; and physically aggressive or destructive behavior.

But concerns exist about whether medical marijuana and its effect on children with autism has been researched enough before this law passes.

The medications and therapies for dealing with autism are meager, said Dr. John Vanchiere, vice chair for pediatric research at LSU Health Shreveport and president of the Louisiana chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (LAAAP).

"It’s not adequate,” Vanchiere said. “But to have the legislature practicing medicine without a license really shortcuts and short-circuits the well-accepted ways to approve the utilization of a drug for particular conditions.”

Vanchiere recently testified on the bill for LAAAP at the Louisiana House Health and Welfare Committee. The issue is complex, he said.

“The major concern about the use of medical marijuana in children is safety,” he said. “Aside from the seizure disorder (Dravet syndrome) and a few other rare seizure disorders, there are no well-controlled clinical trials to tell us about either efficacy or safety of medical marijuana in children. Currently there are none related to autism.”

Vanchiere said the Academy of Pediatrics has a long history of being supportive of families dealing with autism, and of being major proponents of increased research to understand the causes of autism — as well as what treatments may be beneficial in autism.

“This is not easy, because some families are very desperate,” Vanchiere said. “We all want to be responsive to them, especially legislators. But until we have more data, we really can’t — we shouldn’t — open this up as widely as the legislative bill is asking to.”

If the bill passes, Vanchiere said, then in theory, any prescriber who is approved by the Board of Pharmacy to recommend medical marijuana could recommend marijuana for children with autism.

“What we’re asking, and the amendment that we added to the Lyons bill, is that the recommendation of medical marijuana for a child must come from a pediatric subspecialist,” Vanchiere said. “This is going to be pediatric neurologists, pediatric psychologists, maybe pediatric clinical researchers who have experience with the diagnosis and management of children with severe autism.”

Vanchiere said he would still like to see money dedicated to thoroughly studying medical marijuana as treatment for autism.

“We actually have a great opportunity to do the right research studies through our health science centers in Louisiana, and if we don’t do that, then shame on us,” Vanchiere said. “That’s really a disservice to the families who are asking for this.”

More:Shreveport businessmen may soon control north Louisiana med marijuana market

'It's hope'

Though there are concerns about his bill, Lyons said he believes the benefits weigh heavier.

“I saw the need for it,” he said. “I come in contact with almost every group that visits the capital. One of the things that really impressed me was the advocacy of the people who were looking for help.”

As a legislator, Lyons said, it’s his job to help people who can’t help themselves.

“I wanted to fight for the most debilitating conditions that affect people’s lives,” he said. “Not just the individuals, but their families and those associated with them.”

That includes Stampley, who said she knows that medical marijuana is not a guaranteed remedy for her son.

But nothing else is working, and some medication has even negatively affected his health, she said.

“It’s hope,” she said. “We’ve done everything.”

It’s not easy exposing her family’s private life and shedding light on their struggles, but Stampley said she was determined to do so because she wants the message to reach senators who will next consider the bill. 

“If you think you might support this, if you have somebody in your family, or on your street, or in your church, that has autism, and understand and know how it can impact your life and prevent you from doing things and living life fully because of the symptoms you have from autism — then call the senators,” Stampley said. “Email them, and tell them to support the bill.”