Did the title get your attention? I thought so. Now let me back up from that statement and mention that I've never given my son marijuana, weed, pot, grass, guanja, or whatever you want to call it. But my son's autism has never been extreme enough to demand it. However, there have been occasions, usually after a huge autism meltdown, when I've thought that a fat joint and a beer could benefit me.

I'm writing on this topic because, once again, it has been thrust into the spotlight by ABC News.

Follow up:

Just to clear the record I do not smoke weed. I do drink. But some parents have given their autistic children (young children) marijuana to counteract the symptoms of ASD. And from what I've heard it seems to be effective. It also seems to be controversial. Why?

Doctors have no answer for autism. They offer little help. My son's pediatrician had no clue about autism. Grandma diagnosed him far before the doctors did. Drug companies like Merck and Pfizer treat symptoms with drugs that cost hundreds of dollars and often have terrible side affects. Still, I know of some autistic children that haven't benefited from the meds (or the side affects). And that leaves parents looking for answers.

When parents see their children having terrible meltdowns and ridiculously aggressive behaviors and they see no help from the medical community on the horizon, well, I think it's a natural response for a parent to try to help their child in any way they can. For their sanity. For their child's sanity. And I can't blame 'em. If I was in their shoes I might choose the same route. Having a son with autism, I am in their shoes in a way. But, as I mentioned, my son's autism doesn't merit marijuana or any other medication.

It seems that everyone wants to weigh in on this one - The Big Autism:Marijuana Debate. Even those people who don't live with an autistic child want to have their opinion heard. Why? Live with an autistic tornado for a few years and then we'll talk. Till then you're on the outside looking in.

I've heard some say the big pharmaceutical companies will do all they can to combat this. 'Big Pharma' doesn't want wide spread use of medical marijuana because then they'd stand to lose lots of green... the other green, as in money. We'd be treating our kids with pot instead of buying their drugs. Is that true? I don't know, but maybe I'm just your typical naive idiot. I do know one thing; If Mary Jane could help my son we'd be seeing her instead of Dr. Jane.

As a side note, treating your child's autism with marijuana should only be done with the advice and counsel of a doctor. A good doc has to oversee the treatment. Heck, I can see it now. If I was to make up a batch of weed brownies I'd have no clue how much flour, let alone weed, to mix in. My son would be high for days. Then when he finally came down he'd be begging us for more brownies. Brownies for breakfast! Brownies for lunch! Brownies for dinner! And you know what's for dessert. So yes, doctors need to be involved.

I say do the studies. Run the tests. Publish them and make them public. Put them up for peer review and scrutiny. Let's find out if marijuana is effective in treating the symptoms of autism. If it is, let's make sure parents aren't persecuted, jailed, or judged for administering the herb. If it's not, let's end the madness.

But for now, I'd suggest we don't be so quick to judge the parents who are currently using weed to treat their children. I seriously doubt they're bad parents. They're just doing what every parent should do - coming to the rescue of their child... with the unlikeliest of heroes, Mary Jane. Rick James would be proud.

OK, all weed jokes aside, give the parents a break!