Medical Marijuana

Cannabis, Empathy and Autism, Source: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wIC1K-sgPzc/UKQDETnmLEI/AAAAAAAAAeo/0ORIx_GkYE8/s640/184F6649B5274EE7CFEA294EE7CFE3.jpgI have long argued that, far from just a simple narcotic or even a medical treatment, cannabis acts as a supplement, vitamin, etc. Basically, it helps your body in all kinds of ways. Writer Sebastian Marincolo has gathered a bit of research that suggests that cannabis can enhance empathetic ability and, thus, may be of use in the treatment of autism. This is a very interesting notion. While the author is not a scientist, and there is not a whole lot of hard evidence to go on, there does appear to be a possible thread of truth meandering throughout.

The Simulation Theory of Human Understanding:

“The simulation theory stated that in order to understand others, we use a special cognitive ability to “put ourselves in the shoes of other people. In other words, rather than just using a psychological theory about others, we understand them by simulating them, looking at the world from their point of view.”

So, does marijuana enhance this ability? Does a puff turn us into the Eidelon’s from Farscape (an alien race who used their enhanced empathetic abilities to stave off wars and violence)? While Marincolo’s evidence is anecdotal, it does illustrate what I have found to be true in my experience.

“During my research for my first marijuana study…I found many astonishing reports from users about various enhancements of their empathic skills during a high. A busy father described how he got high before he played with his son and for the first time understood how alone his boy feels and how much he was craving for more of his father’s attention and time. A husband wrote a letter to his wife explaining to her how the marijuana high enabled him to better understand her needs during sex. A psychotherapist reported that he always talked to his patients in a sober state of mind, but one day got high in private and then received an emergency call from a patient. His patient was so impressed with his empathic skills during the conversation that she later insisted to pay for the hour.

Many of the cognitive enhancements during a high could play a role in the enhancement of empathic skills. Marijuana users have independently of each other observed and described enhancements like an enhanced episodic memory or an enhanced ability to recognize patterns during a high. These enhanced cognitive abilities can obviously help with empathic understanding: if I can vividly remember episodes of my teenage time I will be able to better understand a teenager in similar situations…many of the reports of marijuana users explicitly stated that a high can help them to ‘slip into another person’, to feel his feelings, to see his point of view.”

Evidence of this idea dates at least back to the 19th century. Theophile Gautier, member of the Parisian group Club des Hashischins (active from 1844-1849, literally translates to “Club of the Hash-eaters” and counted Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas among its members) described this idea of empathetic enhancement even when just looking at a painting:

“By some bizarre prodigy, after several minutes of contemplation I would melt into the object looked at, and I myself would become that object. Thus I turned into a nymph Syrinx, since the fresco represented Leda’s daughter pursued by Pan. I felt all the terrors of the poor fugitive, and sought to hide behind the fantastic reeds to avoid the ram-footed monster.”

Marijuana and Autism:

A somewhat controversial theory about autism is that they have a defective mirror neuron system. This system is what allows humans to “mirror” each other and understand their emotions and motivations. The thought is that autists (who have “broken” mirrors) may benefit from cannabis as a means of enhancing their empathetic ability:

“Could it be that there already exists a functional relation between the endocannabinoid system in our brain and the body mapping system, including the mirror neuron system? Again, a look at the enhancements of cognitive skill under marijuana may be fruitful for a general scientific outlook on the workings of the human brain.”

On a personal note, I have found what Marincolo is saying to be true. There is evidence that cannabis can help us process negative emotions and see the positives and I think this idea of enhanced empathy is part of that equation. When you can be in the shoes of someone with whom you are having a disagreement, it really defangs your anger because when you can imagine what they are feeling, you instantly gain compassion and understanding (which are basically like Dr. Spanglers Neutrino Wand against anger/negativity).

Title: Cannabis, Empathy, and Autism, Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qXTVCQfnHHo/T028bAPWwsI/AAAAAAAAHQ8/H2V82s8Cgfw/s1600/streams.jpg

With time we will know of Marincolo’s accuracy, but it does look promising.