Show Notes
Thomas Henley talks to lead cannabis researcher Dr Miyabe Shields about how medical marijuana could transform an Autistic or ADHD person's life for the better or worse (read more below).
Why are 70% of daily marijuana users Autistic? How can medical marijuana be used by Autistic or ADHD adults to support them? What are the negative impacts of marijuana on neurodivergent or neurotypical individuals? Let's answer these questions.
DISCLAIMER: This information should NOT be viewed or used as medical advice, but rather an exploration of data, science and experiences of neurodivergent and neurotypical individuals with marijuana usage.
Thomas' Links - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK
Miyabe's Links - https://projectchronic.com/links/
Thomas produces weekly videos, livestreams and video versions of the podcast episodes you can view for free on YouTube. Join the 100+ members for only £0.99, support Thomas’ work, interact with him and receive all the perks!
Dr Miyabe Shields has a PhD in endocannabinoid pharmsci and is co-creator of 'Network of Applied Pharmacognosy' with Dr. Riley Kirk, a non-profit contributing to education and destigmatising of emerging medicinal natural products. Miyabe is also a thriving queer and neurodivergent Instagram personality with over 40K followers, which is often used to promote 'Project Chronic' from 'Dose Like A Scientist', a community-based educational platform for neurodivergents providing a network, teaching them about pharmacology and advocacy.
Introducing Season 3 of the Thoughty Auti Podcast, Thomas explains the new upload schedule of the podcast before pivoting to the episode topic... Marijuana and Autism. Miyabe gives a brief background to why she chose to pursue Pharamacological research into endocannabinoids before highlighting the differences in the legality and prescription of consumable hemp, recreational, and medical marijuana between the USA and the UK. Two big distinctions were product diversity and black market prevalence in obtaining marijuana. Thomas highlights his introduction to recreational drug users at university, sparking an interest in the physiological and experiential elements of alternative medicine and drug use. He had a very bad association with drug use, personality, work ethic, and intelligence, common to many proclaimed 'tea-total' individuals. Miyabe describes the Stoner Archetype and how it influences public perspectives on marijuana use as opposed to the use of legal highs like alcohol and tobacco. Miyabe explains the Triad Of Suffering, three issues common to neurodivergent individuals, but also something treatable with medical marijuana. Listing off the immediate and long-term potentials of THC and CBD through a medical lens, it's clear this medicine has a lot of therapeutic potential for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals. A clear advantage to recreational use through the heightening of social rewards and reduced discomfort with eye contact through an oxytocin mediator seemed to explain the positive regard towards marijuana testified by neurodivergents in a social setting. Marijuana is not without potential risks, being linked to triggering schizophrenia, an array of mental illnesses, and neuronal changes in users under the age of 25; although correlation does not always equal causation, it's a clear concern for medical professionals and the public. Touching on the history of hemp and marijuana use, Miyabe details the many reasons why she is fighting for more widespread legalisation of both medicinal and recreational marijuana use. Ignoring its potential benefits, it proves to be a relatively lower toxicity and crime-facilitating option than the socially accepted recreational use of ethanol and nicotine. Whether you agree with legalisation of such a plant, you'll surely take away a lot of new perspectives and information about marijuana use for neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals.
🎵 Song Of The Day -
More from Thoughty Auti - The Autism Podcast
Autistic host Thomas is joined by Ben Schatzel, a human behaviourist and disability labour reformist, to confront the harsh reality of employment for autistic adults — and why it keeps failing us (spoiler, it's not you).
Host Thomas Henley is joined by psychologist Laura Gwilt to explore the complexities of the manosphere — the digital world influencing millions of young men and autistic adults.
Dr. Margaret Price and Thomas Henley discuss divorce, parenthood, and family court through an autism-focused lens; a raw, vital talk on support, stigma, and systemic failure.Thomas's Links: https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUKPegi’s Book: https://uk.jkp.com/collections/author-margaret-pegi-price-pid-204569Code HENLEY25 : https://neurodivergentinsights.com/neurodivergent-store/We discuss the challenges faced by families with autistic children in the context of family law. Pegi shares her personal journey as a single parent of an autistic child and critiques traditional legal frameworks that inadequately address the unique needs of these families. She advocates for customised legal solutions, crisis planning, and systemic changes to better support special needs families. The episode emphasises the need for specialised legal considerations and a cultural shift to foster understanding and support for children with autism.In this episode, we discuss:• The difference between typical and special needs family law: why the old playbook often falls short.• Court-approved parenting plans and how they often miss the mark for families with an autistic child.• Crisis planning lessons from COVID-19 school closures: what happens when support systems suddenly vanish.• Labelling and stigma: how institutional bias shows up in court and what it means for our kids.• The importance of individualised support, realistic respite care, and financial planning for special needs.• Raising awareness in law, policy, and everyday life: change happens when we all get informed.🎥 WATCH NEXT: https://youtu.be/lEs4sMH5OnM#thoughtyauti #thomashenley #autismpodcast 👽 Remember that Autism is a spectrum, and your experiences/opinions will likely differ from mine based on your background, traits, location, other diagnoses, personality, life experience, and much more. So PLEASE share your experiences and thoughts in the COMMENTS!➡️ Remember to LIKE and SUBSCRIBE for more content, and hit the notification button 🔔 to be notified of new podcasts ahead of the crowd!👾 JOIN the Discord Community - https://discord.com/invite/XMYbAd9u5D❗️IMPORTANT NOTE: I am NOT, and neither is my guest, a professional,l and you should consult a registered psychologist and doctor before taking any action📙 FREE Glossary For All The Autism Terms You Need - https://youtu.be/Z8FIdO1nzA8 🎧 Audiobook Adventure - https://youtu.be/GmQfmIlgjqc💫 My Autism Journey Documentary - https://youtu.be/j3Xox7vN2NM🚀 RECOMMENDATIONS:🎧 My Favourite Earphones - 1. https://amzn.to/3OfWrUW2. https://dbud.io/thoughtyautipodcast (20% OFF)🛁 Sensory Friendly Self-Care - https://amzn.to/3V2sUSm🎥 My YouTube Equipment - https://amzn.to/3OjsinW💪🏻 My Gym Equipment - https://amzn.to/4eKHHrY🧑🚀 Sensory Input and Fidgets - https://amzn.to/3ZbWRSx📚 Book Recommendations - https://amzn.to/40Ylx2a👓 Sensory Supports and Reduction - https://amzn.to/3CLV5i8PS: Any purchases made through these affiliate links will give me a small commission :)📲 My Socials:All Links: https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyukInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thomashenleyuk/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thomashenleyukDiscord: https://discord.com/invite/XMYbAd9u5DOSRS: Rubywizard11Website: https://www.thomashenley.co.ukEmail: [email protected]
New age spirituality brought us star seeds and indigo children, but are autistic people truly spiritual beings? Autistic athiest Thomas Henley talks to Emily Robyn Clark about the links between Autism and spirituality, diving deep into fringe cross-over groups within the Autistic communities online.
Romance, chemistry, gut feelings and communication; today we dive into the complexities of dating as an autistic adult. Thomas's Links: linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK Daniel's Insta: lnk.bio/nohandshakemusic Thomas produces weekly videos, livestreams and video versions of the podcast episodes you can view for free on YouTube. Join the 100+ members for only £0.99, support Thomas’ work, interact with him and receive all the perks! 🎵 Song Of The Day - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5UDIyN5TSYN4zMcRoQPrG8?si=9255ed3480d840b5 🗣️ My Socials and YouTube Channel - https://linktr.ee/thomashenleyUK 💻 My Amazon Store Recommendations (Sensory items, gym gear, YouTube set-up) - https://www.amazon.co.uk/shop/thomashenleyuk