Cannabis and ADHD

"ADHD is common and is progressively being recognized as a disorder affecting people across the lifespan. ADHD is associated with multiple negative personal outcomes, including lower education, unemployment, poor marital outcomes, and reduced mortality. Substance use disorders are also common. Almost half of all individuals with ADHD have cannabis use disorder. Some studies have concluded that this abuse is a type of self- medication to correct an imbalance in the activity at endogenous cannabinoid receptors and dopamine neurons."

"An imbalance in dopaminergic neurotransmission may underlie many aspects of these behavioral and physiological complications. Neuroimaging studies have shown that ADHD patients inherit significantly fewer dopamine transporter proteins in their basal ganglia, leading to a condition where too much dopamine collects outside the neuron. The purpose of the dopamine transporter is to remove dopamine from the synaptic cleft after it is released from the neuron, thus terminating its action."

"People with ADHD are about three times more likely to use cannabis. Their attraction to cannabis may be due to the effects of THC on dopamine function. Studies have shown that THC produces a hypodopaminergic (too little dopamine) environment in the brain. This might explain the claims that medical cannabis is a potential alternative therapy for adult ADHD. Using Cannabis to Manage Symptoms Online forums suggest that people with ADHD use cannabis to manage their symptoms or reduce the side effects of their stimulant medications, such as amphetamine analogs."

ADHD affects people across the lifespan and is associated with lower education, unemployment, poor marital outcomes, and reduced mortality. Substance use disorders are common among people with ADHD, with almost half having cannabis use disorder. Dopaminergic imbalance is implicated: ADHD patients have fewer dopamine transporter proteins in the basal ganglia, resulting in excess extracellular dopamine. THC produces a hypodopaminergic environment in the brain, which may attract individuals with ADHD to cannabis. Some individuals use cannabis to manage symptoms or to reduce stimulant medication side effects. Cannabis can improve impulsivity and mental frustration but may worsen inattention and memory.

Read at Psychology Today