Parent thinks smoking cannabis gives you Asperger's

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My father thinks that if I have lived with undiagnosed Asperger's it's because I tried cannabis as a university student 35 years ago.

That's ridiculous. I know for me, it made it worse, but no, cannabis does NOT cause Autism. That's just silly.

It's beyond silly. It's embarrassing. It would involve backwards causation, so that what you were like at 12 (for example) was caused by smoking a few joints at 20.

Incidentally, as regards cannabis, I found it sent me into a very solipsistic space and made any sort of sensible communication impossible, but it was just bringing out what was there already. I remember it affected me much more strongly than the other people in the room. It's possibly not such a good idea for people with autistic traits to use illegal drugs, but I suppose it depends on the individual, too. I found it worse than useless as a "social lubricant" as it made me 100% unsocial for a few hours, just interested in my own thoughts and feelings until it wore off. Speaking seemed a distraction from just being and observing. But I was unsocial way before that.

You will find opinions on WP differ on this topic, which I'm sure doesn't surprise you.

I, for one, who has been there and done it, but left it all behind over twenty years ago, with clear head today, am in complete agreement with you.

Sounds like you're Dad is trying to blame you for your problems which isn't fair or helpful. I wouldn't take what he says seriously; he may have another agenda.

Autism is a developmental disorder; it starts before you're born. Unless you were toking up in your mom's uterus, I'm pretty sure your dad hasn't got a clue.

That, and you describe it as having "tried" the stuff. Marijuana is a remarkably safe substance, as far as illegal drugs go. Once or twice isn't going to do much to your brain. You'd have to have a long-term habit to be worried about that kind of thing. With marijuana, you don't really worry about that. The real danger is the possibility that you might just get apathetic and lose your motivation to do your schoolwork or your job or whatever. From what I've heard, people who are high on pot are more likely to want to gaze contentedly out the window than work on their calculus homework.

Oh sheesh don't tell Dad that -- he'll blame Mom!

If that were true probably 70% of the population since the 1960's would be autistic. (ZOMG, maybe that's the cause of the epidemic?! !?!11!!) Was Bill Clinton autistic? -- I don't think so.

Hmm, maybe tell him that research shows that it's actually caused by effects of alcohol on sperm cells.

This one is even better than the Internet giving you autism.

I must have been one baked 2 1/2 year old.

^ This gives a whole new meaning to "One in the Oven".