Marijuana Benefits

ADD & ADHD & Medical Marijuana

ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder) or ADD is a neuropsychiatric disorder that affect both children and adults. This disease is characterized by fragmented thought, resulting in the poor assimilation of information. ADHD is a serious issue and afflicts a large portion of Western societies. This disorder is thought to have many causes; genetic, lifestyle, drugs, trauma, aging and environment (chemicals) among others.

The number of people that were diagnosed with ADHD:

5.9 million children
12 million adults

-- Health Stats USA, 2014

ADD/ADHD sufferers have great difficulty in focusing continuously on any one thing or topic, which impares the ability to function and learn. ADHD is speculated to originate from an imbalance in brain chemistry. Brain scans also reveal abnormal brain activity that correlates with involuntary hyperactive mental function.

“You’re always moving and thinking about a whole bunch of things. But those traits work well for me in studios and in meetings about creative ideas. If you listen to the songs I write, they are the most ADHD songs ever. They have five hooks in one and it all happens in three minutes. I figured out a way of working with it.”

-- Will.i.am, Grammy-winning singer and producer

Cannabis and ADHD

Many MMJ patients and Medical Marijuana Clinics report that Cannabis alleviates ADHD symptoms. A clinical study on THC efficacy in Tourette’s syndrome, a related condition, showed an improvement of obsessive compulsive behaviour.

Currently, research in humans and models suggests that some components of Medical Cannabis slow brain metabolism and normalize mental function.

Italian researchers (1) studied ADHD in rats with ADHD like symptoms. This research team found that animals with "ADHD" had a reduced density of CB1 (Cannabinoid) receptors in the prefrontal cortex of the brain. The administration of THC, which is known to bind to the CB1 receptor, normalized the impulsive behavioural, but had no effect on normal rats.

Medical Doctor Comments on ADHD - Fox News

California pediatrician Claudia Jensen, was interviewed by the Drug Policy Subcommittee of the House Government Reform Committee on Medical Marijuana and ADHD.

Dr. Jensen (2) reported that Medical Cannabis helps ease the mood swings, improves focus, relieves anxiety and irritability in people with disorders like ADD/ADHD. "Cannabinoids are a very viable alternative to treating adolescents with ADD and ADHD, I have a lot of adult patients who swear by it."

Bill 420, MMJ and ADHD

According to California state law (Bill 420), physicians can legally recommend Medical Marijuana to patients to treat disease and associated symptoms. Meanwhile, the Federal government still declares that the use of marijuana is illegal for any purpose. However, the Federal courts ruled that physicians like Jensen cannot be prosecuted for making 420 Medical Cannabis Recommendations.

Dr. Jensen said she regularly writes Medical Marijuana prescriptions recommending for those that suffer from ADHD, pain, nausea, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma and arthritis.

In a case study, Jensen treated a long suffering 15-year-old diagnosed with ADHD. Under Jensen prescribed Medical Marijuana Edibles and reports that her adolescent patient found mental equilibrium and was able to make a productive return to school.