Comments on: Marijuana treatment for ADD ADHD

By: Jeff

Jeff — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 14:53:43 +0000

More anecdotal support for Weed.
I’m 40-ish, and have been diagnosed at one time or another with clinical depression, ADHD, anxiety disorder and bi-polar disorder. Failed out of college. Did a lot of talk therapy and was proscribed a number of drugs in my twenties. Never kept up with the meds, but the talk therapy cleared up my head pretty good by the time I was thirty.

I had used pot recreationally since I was 17, once or twice a week with a couple of two year stints of abstinence, and a few 3-6 week periods of daily use.

I had given it up for a couple of years when, at thirty five, I went back to school (architecture in a top-tier program). Halfway through the first semester the old anxiety returned. It kind of smothered my natural enthusiasm for learning, and school started sucking. So I took to smoking every day before class, telling myself it might make an unpleasant experience more enjoyable.

Long story short, I graduated a stoner with honors. The degree required a long string of 60-75 hour work weeks under a tremendous amount of pressure, and marijuana helped me sustain focus for the grind. I admit that weed likely gave me an unfair advantage in a competitive program.

Now I am enjoying a rewarding second career working on relevant projects. Work should dry up soon (recession and all), but I have hedged my bets with graduate school applications and fully expect a masters with honors from a top school in time for the recovery.

I don’t smoke at work because that would freak me out. But I smoke at home – only a couple of hits a night, but then, with today’s weed a couple of hits is all it takes. I don’t pretend it’s not “abuse” because I smoke to get high. Still, positive effects carry over into the next day. I’m more settled (“fuzzy” or “slow” if you want to put a negative spin on it), and my work suffers if I haven’t smoked the night before. That may be a symptom of addiction, and it may be the marijuana working on my latent whatever-you-want-to-call-the-disorder.

Negative side effects of my daily use include some memory loss and weakened verbal acuity. The verbal slacking off might be related to the fact that I’ve shifted to a visual/spatial career. While I recently managed a 98th percentile on the GRE, that was down from my SAT scores of twenty years ago, but that may be attributed to the fact that kids are generally smarter than preceding generations. Regardless, for me the side effects of long-term use are well worth the positives (I get high and have a happy life).

I’m (very) happily married ten years. My wife has been with me through times of complete sobriety, casual use and daily use. She likes all three states, but notes that it’s a difficult couple of weeks when I transition between them. We don’t want kids, but consider that we may in the near future. In that case, my quitting is definitely on the table, and we discuss the pros and cons openly.

For those of you looking for relevant scientific studies to support the wealth of anecdotal evidence, good luck. A friend of mine runs a cancer research center at a large state university. He laments that there is simply no money out there for cannabis research, and he doesn’t expect it to appear any time soon.

Look at it this way. Medical research is market driven. The market for cannabis has been stable for at least 5,000 years. Whether or not it’s illegal, its a weed. It grows. If it helps somebody, they’ll use it. But there won’t be a government grant anytime soon, and no company would ever recoup its investment in research because they can’t compete with low street prices. I over-medicate in a big way for about $400 a year (it works out to a little more because sometimes I smoke my friends out). I could use at a “responsible” level, alleviating the symptoms of my disorder without getting high, for about $10 a month. I could grow it for free.

Who’s going to pay for a double blind study? If there had been one twenty years ago I would have thought to use pot differently, never bought any of that prozac, ritalin, zoloft or Xanax, and had a happy life a lot sooner. What pharmaceutical company wants to see that?

By: Barb

Barb — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 03:04:26 +0000

I admit that many of my best ideas come to me after a puff or two. It seems to help me focus – really! And even though more mundane tasks may suffer, my primary creative work benefits tremendously

By: Andre'

Andre' — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 16:42:26 +0000

I’ve read all the comments here and to all that are for it medicinally, kudos. What we are missing is what Don stated. It should be done on a case by case basis and also the different strains as well. I wasn’t diagnosed with add until this past year and have been living with it all this time with no proper diagnosis until now. When I was 22 I smoked my first joint and what a difference, no anxiety, better focus and appetite. I admit smoking recreationally is bad and like any other medication it is not for everyone. We fail to realize that this is a natural not man made medication that deserves it’s due. I’ve personally researched it for the last five years and have found different strains play different roles. All the meds that I have seen for treatment and their side effects still make me more leary on taking them than the effects of mj. As said before if used properly and controlled it can be beneficial, the problem is the perception of it not the reality.

Andre’

By: Don K Potochny

Don K Potochny — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:52:50 +0000

Marijuana should be analyzed on a case by case basis. In my case, it was the only self-medication method that diminished the distraction and hyperactive symptoms of undiagnosed ADHD.

The gateway drug is alcohol. ADHD stimulant medications have similar effects as cocaine. I would like to see the energy that is put into refuting marijuana be channeled into debunking the myth that ADHD stimulants are a panacea.

The ADHD establishment is all about black and white. Marijuana is a gray area that works for some people. Discounting its positive effect is a disservice to those who thrive using the drug.

Don

By: jon

jon — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:12:16 +0000

I am an adult with ADHD and was given this lable when i was 13. I started a health food diet, including zero sugar or artificial items. This seemed to work for the hyperactivity, but did nothing for the attention disorder. Up till this point my grades were bad. This is when the same health doctor recomended to my parents to try pot. With the combanation of health food and the natural drug marijuana i beat ADHD. I graduated top of my class in Grosse Pointe, and went on to study condensed matter physics becoming one of the smartest person in the state on bcc crystal structures. Everyone else I knew that took perscription drugs such as ritalin ended up working some crappy job like McDonalds. Its NEVER the DRUG, it YOU!! You can’t be someone your not no matter what any doctor gives you, you’ll alway be you.

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:01:28 +0000

It’s funny that because of the stigma placed on Marijuana in this country by the “Reefer Madness” generation, that only NOW is someone finally seeing the benefits of Medicinal Marijuana in ADD/ADHD/AADD.
I was placed on Ritalin at age 5 for severe ADHD. I was impulsive, aggressive and at times, violent. The Ritalin was effective in keeping me in my chair at school but it had lasting social effects. I was withdrawn, shy and overly self-aware. I didn’t like being a zombie but for 10 years was force-fed my little white pill.
As a teen, I quit taking it but as usual began my search (unbeknownst to me) for a replacement.
After trying every illegal drug known to man, Marijuana became my drug of choice. After a 9 year stint in the Military as a Non-Commissioned Officer I got out got my degree in Science and am now a successful Emergency Room Registed Nurse in a busy Veterans Hospital.
I will enroll next year to finish my Masters Degree. I am also a successful songwriter, Guitarist, Father, Christian, Brother and son.
Granted, there are unpleasant side-effects for it’s overuse but simply put the benefits, in this case and so many others, out-weigh the risks, even in a state where Marijuana remains illegal.
To me it’s no different than popping a Xanax, Valium or a number of other anti-anxiety meds. Most of which are highly addictive and more readily abused. A far as alcohol, I believe it’s already proven to be a much greater stain on our moral fiber than Marijuana.

By: Raual

Raual — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 10:08:55 +0000

I think, based on years of casual research, that the chemical cannabidiol (CBD) helps with ADD. THC is fun but has negative side effects.
I have been through a similar experience to those described here. Before I started using everyday I did poorly in school. I learned loads, and read more than was required; but my grades were horrid. I tried marijuana the first time before I started college; and have since become an every day user. A couple of semesters ago I stopped using marijuana and my grades went down (two Bs!). I started using it again and have maintained a 4.0.
The CBD is what calms us down to the point that we can switch data streams at will and utilize enhanced hyper focusing. Personally my reading speed doubles and my comprehension increases.
THC seems to be dangerous for long term use, but no more dangerous than tobacco and alcohol. It does help foster out of control appetites. It does create paranoia. It does seem to have a causal relationship with mental illness later in life.
A strong mind can deal with the effects of THC in order to take advantage of CBD. But THC is addictive. Like I said it is fun. It amplifies our ability to “manipulate time.” It provides rapid-fire idea shifting and increased “out of the box” thinking.
What needs to be done is legalization and then an anti-abuse effort. Plants then need to be breed that produce only CBD.

By: Michele

Michele — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 13:27:44 +0000

I was diagnosed with ADHD at 43, and was prescribed Adderal. Nothing more than legal speed. Did it help me focus – you bet it did and it also removed my personality and there is no freakin’ way this stuff can be good for your heart. I hated it and the crazy thing is when people found out I had script for it, they wanted to buy it. Each that asked had a different reason – weight loss, need to study, etc. NONE of these people ever want my weed. When taking Adderal, people said I seemed different. When I smoke weed no one notices anything different about me, except me – I’m not ridden with anxiety, I don’t feel overwhelmed, I enjoy working and am not distracted by every thing in my path. The SPEED did nothing more than help me focus. It also exacerbated my anxiety and made it difficult for me to switch gears and multitask – I would get so focused on something that I’d get almost mad if I had to stop and do something else. If science proves that marijuana helps me, I know it helps me and I’m TELLING you that legal speed scares me and I hated how it made me feel! I know several people that say their Adderal script also enticed them to drink alcohol like a fish – it seems to make you bullet proof – this cannot be good. Ritalin is nothing more than legal cocaine. I am shocked that parents give any of this stuff to their kids. Marijuana is not a “gateway” drug. I am proof. While it may not be beneficial to people without a medical need, I think it’s ridiculous for anyone to try and deny me the one thing that DOES help me. Most people are oblivious to the fact that I smoke weed. Perhaps this is because I make more than 70,000.00/year. The stereotypes regarding marijuana use are ridiculous. YES there are users who are losers or dimwits. There are also many DRINKERS who are losers/idiots – and I’d venture to guess that there are far more of these………….

By: TOB

TOB — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:59:46 +0000

Wow…..My son is ADHD and was diagnosed at 5years old; he is now 15years old we have used natural meds to treat his ADHD and never adderal or any other drug doctors wanted to put him on. His grades were always low but passing. He’s extreamly bright and has always been grown up for his age which has always made him out spoken and challenges authority especially when he knows they are incorrect about ANYTHING. My son has been using MJ for at least 2 years but, I just found out about it about a year ago; although I would prefer he did not use I have seen a huge change in his moods and anger. He is alot calmer, easier to talk with & his GPA has been at a 3.5 or better. My son knows how I feel about his use; being a child he thinks he knows it all. I don’t want him using MJ and at the same time I see a good change in him……..

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 04:57:45 +0000

I think it is really hard for people to think about treatment like this with a ‘clear mind’, without all of the baggage that comes along with cannabis (marijuana).

While many may very well know people that have had a hard time with smoking marijuana and turning into ‘user’, what you need to consider is that if they are smoking street marijuana. Due to its prohibition, it is grown and engineered to have a very high amount of THC to make the drugs street value higher per weight. Also by smoking it, it is hitting the body in a very strong way in completely uncontrolled dosages, which are certainly much higher than would be beneficial to help someone with a condition like this.

The current stimulant prescriptions like Adderall, that most patients take daily, carry far more potential danger than THC. As you know, stimulants are very dangerous at high doses and when taken in a street manner like marijuana, are often deadly. Methamphetamine, Adderall’s close cousin, has had disastrous effects on people when smoked/ injected or taken for non-medical purposes.

It is a shame that some people are genuinely finding help– from a natural source no less– but have to violate laws and rely on questionable street sources to do so. Particularly shameful because the main reason this isn’t being studied or accepted is because of generally accepted and unquestioned falsehoods, misconceptions and history related to cannabis.