Argentina: 'Lu' tells a story about autism and cannabis

Cristian Bernachea, author, and Mario Sánchez, illustrator, created 'Lu', a children's book that gathered the support of more than 120 Argentine organizations and tells how cannabis helped a boy with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). There are more and more studies and anecdotal reports of the benefits of cannabis in Autism. 

It was thinking about information (or lack of it) that the idea of ​​the first children's story about cannabis and autism in Argentina was born. The book received support from associations such as Mamá Cultiva and TGD Padres TEA – La Red Federal, a group of parents of people with Autism. 

'Lu' takes place in a kindergarten. Cris, the child narrator, meets Lu, and over time he notices attitudes that draw her attention. The book is divided into small chapters, in which Cris' grandmother acts so that the relationship is strengthened in the most difficult moments. Lu's family opens the door to Cris and she discovers that Lu has hidden magical plants.

During 2020, a little slowed down by the pandemic and a little full of enthusiasm to share his work, Bernachea spoke with organizations around the world, from Puerto Rico to Australia, the Netherlands and the United States and, of course, Argentina. The vast majority of organizations supported the story, from autism or cannabis, and finally the creators of Lu managed to reach the Argentine Ministry of Culture.

Projects like this exist to strengthen reports and studies around the world, which point to the use of medical cannabis on a significant improvement in terms of behavior, functionality, quality of life, in addition to speculations about the action of cannabinoids influencing central symptoms. of the disorder, as in social interaction in patients' lives. 

Soon, 'Lu' will also take the form of an audiobook, so it can reach people with visual impairments. The book has also been translated into Portuguese and will be available as a PDF. Anyone who wants to buy or know more information just contact the author Cristian Bernachea through Instagram @cristian_bernachea.

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*Marcel Lyra is a centhusiastic communicator of cannabis culture in Brazil, with training in the industry and the science of the plant, having acted as a representative and in the reception of a cannabis association. In the area of ​​communication, he has already been part of audiovisual productions, also as a writer and broadcaster. An activist in favor of the legalization of cannabis, Marcel Lyra is now a journalist at Revista Ganja and a columnist for Cannareporter, helping to demystify the negative image surrounding the plant, always in favor of anti-prohibitionism.