High times we're living in.
Getty Images/iStockphoto (via Google images)
It's
no secret that an increasing number of states and cities are
decriminalizing, and even legalizing, recreational marijuana use. And
new medical studies on the effects of the drug are quickly following
suit—some positive, and some not so positive.
The
latest one comes from Germany, where scientists studied the effects of
cannabis on 30 patients with ADHD who had limited success with
conventional treatments for the disorder (Adderall and Ritalin). All 30
reported “improved concentration and sleep” and “reduced impulsivity”
after using medicinal cannabis, according to the case report.
Moreover, 22 out of the 30 patients decided to forgo their previously
prescribed medications once the study was over and continue using
medicinal marijuana to manage their symptoms.
Albeit
with a very small sample group, this study provides some of the first
clinical data on the potential of marijuana in treating ADHD, which, as
we know, is characterized by difficulty concentrating, hyperactivity,
impulsivity, and forgetfulness.
Dr. David Bearman, a so-called
figurehead of cannabis research, a.k.a. a "cannabinoidologist," explains the effects of marijuana in treating ADHD symptoms as having to do with the brain’s dopamine levels.
"Cannabis appears to treat ADD and ADHD by increasing the availability of dopamine," Bearman explains (via Leafly).
"This then has the same effect but is a different mechanism of action
than stimulants like Ritalin and dexedrine amphetamine, which act by
binding to the dopamine and interfering with the metabolic breakdown of
dopamine."
Translation:
Weed (more specifically, the cannabinoids in weed) possibly corrects
dopamine shortages in the brains of people with ADHD. As of now, two
states in the United States—California and Colorado—allow the
prescription of medical marijuana to treat ADHD, but if more studies
prove out the results in this one, don't be surprised if more states
follow suit.
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