An update:
It's been 3-1/2 weeks since our trip to the cannabis doctor. Getting the card was easy enough. We had to have a letter from his provider stating his conditions and medications. His PCP has been supportive of our efforts, so this was no problem. The doctor was OK and was able to answer some questions and his answers aligned with what I had already learned. I was not terribly impressed, but we got what we came for and the process was easy enough and the experience positive.
When we got to the dispensary we pretty much knew what we were looking for so the process was efficient. We got some tablets with a 1:1 ratio of THC:CBD at about 5 mg each and some candies with about 10 mg each. The process included filling out some paperwork and presenting the papers from the doctor. Medical users typically get a discount and aren't charged tax. Over time this can make a sizeable difference and for a minor is essential for legal protection. He was able to go to the back. He seemed both weirded out by this and felt it was pretty cool, but he was not the only teenager I saw there with a parent.
Prior to going we had spoken with the school about extending his school day and about our trip and its purpose. Their stance was that any midday dose would have to be given by me off campus. I reminded them that a CA judge had ruled in favor of a similarly situated student having it given by the school nurse. The matter is unresolved for now with no immediate need to resolve it since he leaves around midday anyway and this is unlikely to change before the end of the school year.
We began with twice daily dosing of one tab like the CW (Charlotte's Web) CBD. We experimented with 2 tabs at once and three time a day dosing. One tab three times a day seems to be where we've settled for coming up on two weeks now. We had noticed that meltdowns tended to occur at about 3 PM or a little after so we added the third dose between mid/late morning and early afternoon.
So what are the results so far? With this dosing (knock on wood, cross fingers, hang a horseshoe, find a 4-leaf clover, hang a dreamcatcher, and whatever else you can think of) there has not been a single meltdown. Not one. Prior to this we could expect one or two a week with a few more that were narrowly avoided or that were mini-meltdowns. The 1-2/week only included the major ones. Additionally, we've gone from slightly agitated to volatile emotionally to a happy and energetic disposition that more closely resembles his "normal" as a younger child. He is more social and better socially (though still quite awkward). He actively tries to enter conversations in public. He smiles more. He laughs more. He is less agitated and less easy to anger. He tolerates people better. He has more fun. He has taken back up drawing. He seems to be able to concentrate and focus more easily and for longer. He is trying new foods and sometimes liking them (today he ate 3/4 of a plain bacon cheeseburger from a local restaurant - miracle!). I'm almost afraid I'll jinx it, but it's like my kid is back. I almost feel like I can relax ever so slightly. Almost (something any autism parent understands).
We still have our struggles, but this seems like a bit of a miracle and we pray the good fortune continues. It is still very early on and we understand there are no guarantees, but we've had an injection of hope.
The next steps involve making any needed dosage tweaks and getting what is needed to grow and process our own as buying from dispensaries is quite expensive. 20 tabs is roughly $40-45. It takes at least 60/month just for him (we have more than one autistic child, the other is an adult and he is using some in lower quantities as well - not to mention mom. Overall, it is helping everyone in different ways. I abstain for professional reasons). It's easy to see this could cost a few hundred $/month. Growing will be much more easily sustainable. I've educated myself a great deal on that. I'm almost ready to get the needed supplies and get it going once I nail down a few more details. I should be able to grow year-round with a steady supply if all goes well and make it into tablets, capsules, and candies. No one here wants to smoke it, so that's the way to go. I won't get into the details of that side of things for now but at times learning has been fascinating. Maybe I'll grown some aloe vera and/or fresh veggies while I'm at it. Some fresh okra sounds good and it can't be found here.
Back on topic, I never knew there were so many strain of cannabis or just how complex the the plant is in chemistry with each strain producing each component at different levels and then those components producing different effects together based on their percentages. CBD counteracts THC side effects like anxiety and paranoia and has a generally calming effect by itself. CBN promotes sleep. One strain's effects can be quite different from another's regardless of the general tendencies of indica's, sativa's, or hybrids. Some grow short and broad, others tall and skinny. There are about as many ways to grow it as there are people growing it. My plan is a strain that is roughly 1:1 THC:CBD in soil, indoors. There are some local laws that along with the climate make indoors more viable.
My crew tells me that these doses don't make them feel high (not that I really care if it helps), but it has helped.
As I've said before, this is not what I expected to be doing for my kid(s) but here we are. Of course, before my kids were born my understanding of autism was Rain Man and about 5 minutes of actual education and maybe a story on 20/20. So if that's close to the level of your understanding I ask that you refrain from making judgments about things you don't understand and that you educate yourself both academically and with some real people experience. Even then, you won't know what it's like to live it so keep that in mind. This plant is helping everyone from cancer, chronic pain, addiction, and glaucoma patients to veterans and others with depression, anxiety, and PTSD (and literally saving their lives in many cases) to children with formerly intractable seizures that now have few if any seizures with this medicine. Nonverbal autistic children whose stimming includes self-harm like headbanging and biting have stopped hurting themselves and begun talking after taking this medicine. I have some strong words for anyone who would want to take it away from anyone who needs it, but more than anything I hope you and your loved ones never have to experience any of these things in order for your mind to be changed and for you to have some compassion and understanding. I hope that should you or your loved ones ever need it that it is there for you without legal jeopardy or intrusive outside judgment.