Cannabis and ADHD

Cannabis to Treat ADHD

Cannabis is sometimes used as a treatment by individuals with ADHD. Advocates for cannabis as a form of treatment say the drug can help sufferers handle some of the more severe symptoms, such as agitation, irritability, and lack of restraint. Of course, cannabis must be legalized in that state/country, although this is true for many places Arizona law lets dispensaries give free weed to patients, for example.

While there are established benefits for some mental health disorders, research is still inadequate when it comes to neurological disorders or behavioral conditions.

If you are interested in treating ADHD with CBD, looking at the research that does exist can help.

Research on treating ADHD with CBD

A 2015 study showed a connection between cannabis use, depression and ADHD in young college students.

While the results of the study were inconclusive, it did find some evidence that cbd and cannabis use contributed to an increased ability to cope with the symptoms of these disorders.

ADHD and substance abuse

Various studies have found that those who suffer from ADHD are at risk of drifting into substance abuse.

A study for the year 2014, for instance, found that the more the attention deficit that was noticed in childhood, the greater was the chance of severe substance abuse in adulthood. In another study conducted in 2017, close to 200 students with ADHD were assessed for their impulsivity and their drug abuse potential.

This study also concluded that people who suffered from ADHD were likely to use illegal drugs.

Is CBD Safe for Teens?

Compared to the long term side effects of stimulant medications and the possibility of illegal drug use for teens with ADHD in the future, CBD is a much better choice.  

The World Health Organization has said that CBD is completely safe for use. 

The conclusion to draw from these studies is that ADHD is more than just a difficult symptom experience; it also induces dangerous behavior. It is for this reason that it is important to treat it. Adults with ADHD as well as children and teens may find positive effects from CBD use.

CBD Oil for ADD/ADHD: CBD oil may offer advantages over conventional medications for ADHD

Conventional ADHD drugs can be either the stimulant type, or the non-stimulant type. Three out of four children in America who are prescribed ADHD medication receive the stimulant-type drug. These are preferred, but they do come with difficult side effects such as weight loss, dry mouth and insomnia. Non-stimulant medications come with these unintended effects, too, although they are rare.

When CBD oil is used to treat people with ADHD, it comes with nearly no side-effects.

While some people experience drowsiness or an upset stomach, most complain of few incidental effects. Doses of up to 1,500 mg a day are shown to be well-tolerated. Cannabidiol (CBD) oil can be fast acting, as well. In many cases, it acts within 20 minutes of ingestion.

Using CBD oil for ADHD

CBD oil is typically consumed through the oral route, but it is not swallowed. Instead, a drop, or several drops depending on therapeutic dose, is placed under the tongue in order to expose the mucous glands to the substance. This method is called Sublingual dosing.

Ingesting CBD – The oil, when swallowed or ingested, is quickly digested, and provides approximately half the effective dose as sublingual due to the liver and digestive process filtering the effective dose.

Mucous glands, wherever they may be, offer the best route for ingestion of the oil. Vaping and nasal spray are the most effective ways to consume this medicinal product.

Starting CBD

When starting CBD, it is very important to start with a low dose and slowly increase. For help with starting CBD and shopping for CBD products, check out this article “CBD: The Journey Begins – How to Start Using CBD“.

It is important to find the best quality products for your individual needs. We vetted hundreds of brands and put a CBD trusted brand list together to help your research.