Does Medical Marijuana Have Any Benefits for ADHD?

Medical marijuana is being used for more conditions, though NIH says good evidence exists for only a few, and research on many others is at an early stage.

Here we look at the links between marijuana and ADHD. Is it worth taking medical marijuana for ADHD and does weed help with ADHD symptoms? Short answer: there is no proven benefit yet. A 2017 randomized trial of a THC and CBD spray in 30 adults with ADHD missed its main goal, no children were studied, and CDC notes cannabis can impair attention.

What is ADHD?

First, it helps to have an understanding of ADHD.

In the United States, about 7 million children aged 3 to 17 (11.7%) have a current ADHD diagnosis, according to CDC, as do an estimated 15.5 million adults (6.0%). ADHD can make it tough to stay quiet and difficult for sufferers to focus on things. This can mean they often fidget or act in a way that suggests restlessness.

ADHD has a big impact on work and school life and can also make social interactions tough. While the condition is often treated with Ritalin or Adderall, many people are starting to use marijuana.

The theory behind this is that ADHD sufferers may have low levels of dopamine in the brain. Medications like Ritalin can help to moderate this. Some people believe marijuana does something similar with fewer side effects, but a 2017 trial did not show that.

Research on Marijuana and ADHD

Research on medical marijuana for ADHD is still small. Some people ask whether certain strains such as sativa or indica suit ADHD better, but the 2017 trial tested a THC and CBD spray, not strains.

Surveys of adults with ADHD show that some use cannabis to self-treat symptoms, according to the 2017 trial’s authors.

A 2017 trial in 30 adults found no significant effect of a THC and CBD spray on its main measure; small gains in hyperactivity did not hold up after statistical correction. No children were studied.

There is not enough research for doctors to recommend cannabis for ADHD. Research is growing, but the randomized trial evidence so far does not show that cannabis improves ADHD symptoms.

Can Medical Cannabis Help Patients with ADHD?

Not on current evidence. Some researchers think cannabis may affect dopamine signaling, but that has not been shown to treat ADHD, and CDC notes cannabis can impair attention. The 2017 trial did not show reliable short-term relief of ADHD symptoms from cannabis.

Some people with ADHD, mostly adults, use cannabis on their own and say it helps. Those are personal reports, not trial results, and legal access in more states has not changed that.

Cannabis is not prescribed for children who have ADHD and there are risks attached (explored below).

Some people still swear by it based on their own experience. Different people may respond in different ways to medical marijuana being used for ADHD. Their experience matters to them, but it is not evidence that cannabis treats ADHD.

Are there any risks?

Cannabis products carry some risk in many situations. Whether cannabis leads to other drug use is debated; NIDA notes that cannabis, alcohol and tobacco are usually the first substances people try.

What we do know is that the use of marijuana isn’t necessarily suitable for children and young adolescents. It can slow their development in a number of ways. A study following 1,037 people from birth found that persistent cannabis use starting in adolescence was linked to a decline in thinking skills by age 38. The 2017 trial studied adults only, and in Florida any certification for a patient under 18 needs a second physician to agree and a parent or guardian’s written consent.

Also, you should be aware of drug interactions with cannabis. These can easily occur with some ADHD medications. Methylphenidate (MPH) already carries heart warnings, and the FDA says CBD can change how other drugs work, so ask your prescriber before combining cannabis with any ADHD medicine.

More research is needed; for now the evidence that cannabis helps ADHD is anecdotal, and a randomized trial in adults did not meet its main goal.