Can Legal Medical Marijuana Help Fight ADHD Symptoms?

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that 11% of American children (ages four to 17) have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). On average, boys are nearly twice as likely as girls to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD as well.

Though children are diagnosed with ADHD much more often than adults, the disorder certainly doesn’t discriminate. In fact, the prevalence of this attention disorder in adults might be significantly higher than statistics show because many adults have gone undiagnosed. When it comes to actual diagnosed adults, roughly 4.4% have ADHD.

For these adults struggling with ADHD issues, both diagnosed and undiagnosed, legal medical marijuana could help fight certain symptoms.

According to Medical News Today, many patients are already using legal marijuana to help relieve ADHD symptoms.

A person with ADHD often finds it difficult to focus on tasks, is restless, and has trouble remaining quiet or sitting still. Though these issues can be a nuisance and impact academic, professional, and even relationship success, they aren’t immediately dangerous. Because people with ADHD do not experience any adverse effects, marijuana is better for treating ADHD than traditional medications with other more harmful side effects.

“Cannabis appears to treat ADD and ADHD by increasing the availability of dopamine,” said Dr. David Bearman, a cannabis researcher. “This then has the same effect but is a different mechanism of action than stimulants like Ritalin (methylphenidate) and dexedrine amphetamine, which act by binding to the dopamine and interfering with the metabolic breakdown of dopamine.”

Salon also reports that legal medical marijuana has been shown to significantly help those struggling with ADHD focus better.

After a 2013 study surveying about 280 cannabis users, the researchers found that a higher proportion of users reported experiencing symptoms of ADHD when they were not self-medication (with legal marijuana).

ADHD and other disorders should not be ignored and need to be addressed right away. If you want to find out more about legal medical marijuana or speak to local medical marijuana doctors here in Florida about your options, contact Peace Medical today.