More children are being diagnosed with Autism. And parents are calling for alternatives to prescription drugs. This case is drawing some criticism.

Joey Perez's mother Meiko says it's a miracle he's eating food. 

"Everyone who came to my home was watching me watch Joey die. He was deteriorating hourly," said Meiko Perez.

Joey is severly Autistic. He had no appetite, and his mother says he was wasting away. At then years old, he weighed less than 50 pounds. HIs mother Mieko says it all changed with marijuana brownies. She says his demeanor has changed completely.

"We're seeing Joey come out and he's never made noises. We didn't even know he could make noise before the first batch of brownies," said Perez.

Medical marijuana is usually prescribed for cancer or AIDS patients who need to gain weight, not a child. The American Academy of Pediatrics opposes legalization of marijuana, but supports more research. There is no evidence marijuana cures Autism. But Mieko says it's changed Joey's life.