recent observational study conducted by a team of UK-based researchers found that medical cannabis may be beneficial for people with ADHD. In the rare study, researchers tracked specific cannabis patients with ADHD for 12 months, and observed improvements in their anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The patients tolerated the cannabis well: Less than one-fifth of them reported negative side effects, most of which were moderate. The authors argue that these results—while not definitive—nonetheless provide strong motivation for future studies on cannabis and ADHD.
“An association between [cannabis] treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general HRQoL was observed in patients with ADHD. Treatment was well tolerated at 12 months.”Ittiphakorn, 2023, Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
The haze hybrid Blue Dream has a focusing effect some patients report helps with ADD. (David Downs/Leafly).
Health
Study: ADHD patients benefited from medical cannabis
Emily EarlenbaughPublished on January 22, 2024 · Last updated January 21, 2024
Many medical cannabis users self-report efficacy against ADD/ADHD. (melazerg/iStock)
A recent observational study conducted by a team of UK-based researchers found that medical cannabis may be beneficial for people with ADHD. In the rare study, researchers tracked specific cannabis patients with ADHD for 12 months, and observed improvements in their anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The patients tolerated the cannabis well: Less than one-fifth of them reported negative side effects, most of which were moderate. The authors argue that these results—while not definitive—nonetheless provide strong motivation for future studies on cannabis and ADHD.
“An association between [cannabis] treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general HRQoL was observed in patients with ADHD. Treatment was well tolerated at 12 months.”Ittiphakorn, 2023, Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
Expanding ADHD treatments with cannabis
The haze hybrid Blue Dream has a focusing effect some patients report helps with ADD. (David Downs/Leafly)
ADHD—or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—is a neurodevelopmental condition usually characterized by uneven focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity. While traditionally classified as a disorder, many experts now define it as a type of neurodivergence (a natural human variation in how different brains process information).
Viewed from this perspective, ADHD presents unique benefits such as creative thinking, high energy levels, and hyperfocus. Yet the diagnosis comes with its share of difficulties, too: Not just difficulty focusing, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, but higher incidence of sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. These difficulties can negatively impact quality of life, school, work, and social relationships.
The National Health Interview Survey estimates that over 10% of the US population has ADHD. While some medications have proven somewhat effective in mitigating ADHD symptoms (such as Adderall, Ritalin, or Wellbutrin), many of them cause negative side effects. Due to risks like decreased appetite, insomnia, emotional dysregulation, irritability, and adverse cardiovascular events, many individuals diagnosed with ADHD avoid taking these medications.
Given these challenges to treating ADHD, researchers have wondered whether cannabis might present an effective alternative, without such a high risk factor. Cannabis is known to activate the endocannabinoid system, which ADHD may impair, according to pre-clinical research. Additional research indicates that cannabis could help boost concentration, motivation, learning, memory, hyperactivity and impulsivity in individuals with ADHD.
Other studies, however, have observed that cannabis can worsen cognitive function for ADHD patients.
ADHD and cannabis: 12-month study
To examine the long-term outcomes of cannabis use for people with ADHD, researchers in the recent study analyzed data on 68 patients with ADHD from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Eighty percent of the patients were already cannabis consumers.
Health
Study: ADHD patients benefited from medical cannabis
Emily EarlenbaughPublished on January 22, 2024 · Last updated January 21, 2024
Many medical cannabis users self-report efficacy against ADD/ADHD. (melazerg/iStock)
A recent observational study conducted by a team of UK-based researchers found that medical cannabis may be beneficial for people with ADHD. In the rare study, researchers tracked specific cannabis patients with ADHD for 12 months, and observed improvements in their anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life. The patients tolerated the cannabis well: Less than one-fifth of them reported negative side effects, most of which were moderate. The authors argue that these results—while not definitive—nonetheless provide strong motivation for future studies on cannabis and ADHD.
“An association between [cannabis] treatment and improvements in anxiety, sleep quality, and general HRQoL was observed in patients with ADHD. Treatment was well tolerated at 12 months.”Ittiphakorn, 2023, Neuropsychopharmacology Reports
Expanding ADHD treatments with cannabis
ADHD—or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder—is a neurodevelopmental condition usually characterized by uneven focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity. While traditionally classified as a disorder, many experts now define it as a type of neurodivergence (a natural human variation in how different brains process information).
Viewed from this perspective, ADHD presents unique benefits such as creative thinking, high energy levels, and hyperfocus. Yet the diagnosis comes with its share of difficulties, too: Not just difficulty focusing, hyperactivity and impulsiveness, but higher incidence of sleep issues, anxiety, and depression. These difficulties can negatively impact quality of life, school, work, and social relationships.
Does weed help with ADHD?
The National Health Interview Survey estimates that over 10% of the US population has ADHD. While some medications have proven somewhat effective in mitigating ADHD symptoms (such as Adderall, Ritalin, or Wellbutrin), many of them cause negative side effects. Due to risks like decreased appetite, insomnia, emotional dysregulation, irritability, and adverse cardiovascular events, many individuals diagnosed with ADHD avoid taking these medications.
Given these challenges to treating ADHD, researchers have wondered whether cannabis might present an effective alternative, without such a high risk factor. Cannabis is known to activate the endocannabinoid system, which ADHD may impair, according to pre-clinical research. Additional research indicates that cannabis could help boost concentration, motivation, learning, memory, hyperactivity and impulsivity in individuals with ADHD.
Other studies, however, have observed that cannabis can worsen cognitive function for ADHD patients.
ADHD and cannabis: 12-month study
Sour Diesel is another strain with focusing effects for ADD, patients report.
To examine the long-term outcomes of cannabis use for people with ADHD, researchers in the recent study analyzed data on 68 patients with ADHD from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Eighty percent of the patients were already cannabis consumers.
Looking at patient-reported outcome measures (as well as patients’ daily CBD and THC doses) at 1, 3, 6 and 12-month benchmarks, they determined that patients’ levels of anxiety, sleep quality, and health-related quality of life improved.
only 11 of the 68 participants reported any negative side effects at all. Nine patients actually stopped using their other ADHD medications during treatment.
Notably, anxiety and sleep quality metrics improved at each check-in throughout the 12 months. Significant improvements were also found in health-related quality
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