Marijuana is known for its effects on mood and perception. Some people report that they get relief from ADHD symptoms with marijuana use, but current research is inconclusive.
Marijuana typically refers to the dried flower and leaves of a cannabis plant that contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a psychoactive compound that may affect sensory perception and cause a sense of euphoria known as a “high.”
Marijuana’s ability to affect mood and perception has made it an area of growing interest for the treatment of a variety of conditions, including attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For some people, marijuana may help get relief from ADHD symptoms, but more research is needed.
The relationship between marijuana and ADHD is complex and not well understood at this time.
Cannabis use and cannabis use disorder (CUD)
Mainstream theories suggest there’s a neurobiological basis for this link. A study from 2022, for example, notes an imbalance in dopaminergic neurotransmission underlies both ADHD and CUD. Dopaminergic neurotransmission refers to how the neurotransmitter dopamine is produced and used in your brain.
Since ADHD is related to lower baseline dopamine levels and chronic cannabis use can alter dopamine signaling, long-term cannabis use may increase the risk of dependence and worsen ADHD symptoms over time.
Symptom management may be another reason why people with ADHD are disproportionately affected by CUD. According to a systematic review from 2023, self-medicating with marijuana to manage ADHD is often the reason why marijuana use becomes a problem.
Marijuana contains cannabinoids that can affect ADHD symptoms because they affect your body’s natural endocannabinoid system. Your endocannabinoid system helps to regulate mood, memory, learning, pain perception, and several other physiological functions.
In a 2021 study using self-reported data, the majority of people living with ADHD reported that cannabis use helped relieve ADHD symptoms related to restlessness, hyperactivity, and mental frustration. More than half of the participants reported cannabis worsened memory. However, in relation to inattention, the results were mixed. Some people stated inattention improved, while others said it worsened with cannabis use.
Even though some people report ADHD symptom relief with marijuana use, the research on its therapeutic application in ADHD is limited and inconclusive.
The 2023 systematic review states there is an established relationship between the frequency of cannabis use, the severity of ADHD symptoms, and CUD risk, but the effect of cannabis on symptoms is understudied and unclear.
A scoping review from 2023 reported similar findings. While anecdotal evidence suggests that people with ADHD reported relief in symptoms, the specific effects of cannabis on ADHD symptom pathophysiology weren’t clear. There wasn’t enough evidence to recommend cannabis as an ADHD treatment.
Another systematic review from 2023 found that cannabidiol (CBD), another form of cannabis, was effective for some types of neurodevelopmental disorders, but the review reported inconclusive findings for symptom management in ADHD. Experts recommend more rigorous randomized controlled trials to help determine the efficacy of cannabis on neurodevelopmental symptoms.
If the evidence is inconclusive, why do some people report symptom relief with marijuana?
Inconclusive evidence doesn’t weigh down the benefit of marijuana on ADHD symptoms. Inconclusive evidence means there haven’t been enough large-scale studies to say for sure that marijuana or other forms of cannabis have a positive effect on ADHD symptoms.
ADHD is a complex neurodevelopmental condition. It can affect each person differently and occurs across a spectrum of symptom presentation and severity. While marijuana may relieve symptoms for some people, it may worsen them in others, and more research is needed.
The unknown and understudied effects of marijuana and cannabis may pose risks when it comes to using cannabis for ADHD symptoms.
People living with ADHD are at a higher risk for developing CUD. Research suggests CUD can alter brain circuitry and cause impairment in executive functions like working memory, cognitive flexibility, emotional regulation, and impulse management. If you live with ADHD, developing CUD could worsen your symptoms.
Self-medicating with cannabis could also indicate ADHD isn’t being successfully managed medically — or may be left untreated entirely. ADHD is complex, and its effects go beyond your symptoms. Working with your doctor to effectively manage your symptoms helps address factors like overlapping conditions, psychosocial supports, and coping strategies.
Legal considerations
Marijuana’s legality can vary by country and state, and even where it is legalized, it may come with heavy restrictions related to recreational and medicinal use.
Before you consider using marijuana for ADHD symptoms, speak with your doctor about its legality in your area. You may need a prescription to purchase it for medicinal use.
Marijuana and other forms of cannabis may help improve symptoms of ADHD for some people — but they may also make certain symptoms worse in others. The research behind cannabis as a therapy for ADHD is inconclusive, and more large-scale studies are needed.
This doesn’t mean cannabis won’t help your ADHD symptoms, but it does mean speaking with your doctor before using cannabis for treatment is important to ensure your safety and effective management of ADHD across all areas of life.