does weed help with essays

How does smoking marijuana affect academic performance? Two researchers explain how it can alter more than just moods

Associate Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Research Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Washington

Disclosure statement

Jason R. Kilmer, Ph.D. receives (and/or has received) funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), and Washington State's Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery.

Christine Lee receives (and/or received) funding from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the National Institute on Drug Abuse and Washington State's Health Care Authority, Division of Behavioral Health & Recovery.

University of Washington provides funding as a member of The Conversation US.

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In a trend that coincided with the pandemic, marijuana use among college students in 2020 reached levels not seen since the 1980s . That’s according to the latest research from Monitoring the Future – an annual survey that looks at drug and alcohol use among the nation’s young people. Below, Jason R. Kilmer and Christine M. Lee – both University of Washington School of Medicine researchers who study marijuana use among college students – explain some of the reasons behind the trend, and some of its consequences.

Why is marijuana so popular among college students as of late?

Research has consistently shown that people report using marijuana in order to feel the high, experience enhanced feelings, increase social connections or cope with certain feelings and moods.

Among young adults early in the pandemic , there were modest reductions in motivations for using marijuana for celebratory reasons and slight increases toward using marijuana because of boredom, possibly due to initial physical distancing mandates and stay-at-home orders. However, among the main reasons for using, both before the pandemic and during as well, are feelings of enjoyment or the high associated with marijuana use.

We do not yet know the impact of these shifting motivations for using marijuana or whether patterns seen during the pandemic will continue after.

How many college students are actually using cannabis?

With 18 states legalizing cannabis for non-medical or “recreational” purposes – the first of which did so in 2012 – access to marijuana has increased, especially for college students over 21 years of age. While the past three reports from Monitoring the Future – a national drug use survey conducted annually by the University of Michigan – have shown that between 43% and 44% of college students report any cannabis use in the past year, over half of college students do not report use. This is important to note because research has shown that when people think “everyone” is doing something, they are more likely to start doing it themselves or do it more .

Different from any use in the past year, researchers often look at past month use as an indicator of current use. Given that about 25% of college students report use in the past month , this suggests that three-quarters of students do not report past month use, and not using marijuana is actually the most common behavior.

How does smoking weed affect academic performance?

As researchers who work with college students, we hear students say things like marijuana is “safe,” “natural” or that it’s “just weed,” but research tells a very different story about potential risks. This is particularly true with the high potency cannabis that dominates markets in legal and medical states .

Published research consistently shows that the more frequently a college student uses cannabis, the lower their GPA tends to be, the more they report skipping class and the longer it takes them to graduate .

Probably the most direct impact to academic performance is a relationship between marijuana use and impaired attention and memory. This relationship has been documented for years, including with college students .

The good news is that studies that follow people as they abstain show that when marijuana use stops, cognitive performance improves , though it can take 28 days of abstinence. So much of this depends on how often someone uses and the type or potency of marijuana they are using. But whatever the case, it certainly seems that the more frequently people use, the more likely they are to experience challenges with attention, memory and other cognitive abilities.

In an August 2021 article about recommended guidelines for lower-risk cannabis use , the authors concluded that people who use cannabis and experience impaired cognitive performance should think about taking a break or significantly reducing how much they use, or the potency of what they use.

Are there any academic or educational benefits?

In our conversations with college students, we hear some students who typically use marijuana say that when they don’t use, they can’t sit still, or they feel restless and anxious. These students might assume that marijuana use is “helping” them.

Unfortunately, the anxiety and restlessness they experience when not using marijuana can be symptoms of withdrawal. Those things could also be indicative of addiction to cannabis, or what is called a cannabis use disorder . This might mean when students continue to use marijuana, they might feel a sense of less anxiety or restlessness, but are actually making withdrawal symptoms stop by resuming use.

We are not aware of any studies that point to academic or educational benefits of using marijuana.

Are we forgetting anything?

Science has to play catch-up on the cannabis products being sold today. Among the many cannabinoids in cannabis, THC, the psychoactive component typically associated with the “high” from marijuana, is arguably the most well studied. In the U.S., THC concentrations in the 1970s on average were under 2% , reached 3% in the 1980s , were 4% by the mid-1990s and steadily climbed to almost 15% by 2018 .

Today, especially in legal markets, we are seeing even higher concentrations. For example, in Washington state, flower products – that is, marijuana that is smoked – commonly exceed 20% THC . Concentrates, which include dabs, hash oil and other products, routinely exceed 60% THC .

“High potency” cannabis is considered to be anything over 10% THC . Use of high potency cannabis is associated with a number of outcomes, including greater risk of cannabis use disorder and adverse mental health outcomes.

[ You’re smart and curious about the world. So are The Conversation’s authors and editors. You can read us daily by subscribing to our newsletter .]

Young people seem to be particularly vulnerable . Although we sometimes hear from people that marijuana use doesn’t seem that risky, recent studies make clear that cannabis use may increase harms and risks for those who use . For college students, these issues range from having trouble concentrating and paying attention to feeling antisocial or paranoid .

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• Marijuana laws
• Cannabis use
• Higher ed attainment
• Cannabis use in teens

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Research: Does Cannabis Really Make You More Creative?

• Christopher M. Barnes,
• Yu Tse Heng,
• Kai Chi (Sam) Yam

From Steve Jobs to Lady Gaga, the idea that weed boosts creativity has permeated pop culture.

As more and more countries and states legalize recreational marijuana use, organizations may increasingly find themselves tasked with understanding and addressing the impact of weed in the workplace. In particular, many celebrities have suggested that cannabis has aided in their creative pursuits — but the authors’ recent research suggests that while weed can make you think your ideas are more creative, it doesn’t actually have any impact on your ability to come up with objectively creative ideas. As such, the authors argue that at least when it comes to roles that require clear-eyed evaluation of creative options, organizations may stand to benefit from implementing policies that respect personal freedom while encouraging employees to stay sober. That said, given the finding that cannabis use had no significant impact on actual creativity, the authors also suggest that for certain roles, prohibiting pot may be an unnecessary infringement on workers’ lives. Ultimately, it’s up to managers to ensure that their decisions and rules related to workplace cannabis use are informed not by pop culture or out-of-date assumptions, but by the latest developments in this nascent scientific field.

“The best way I could describe the effect of the marijuana and hashish is that it would make me relaxed and creative.” – Steve Jobs “I smoke a lot of pot when I write music.” – Lady Gaga

The idea that cannabis enhances creativity has permeated pop culture. Although recreational cannabis use is currently only legal in a handful of countries and U.S. states, it has become increasingly common for artists, business leaders, and other celebrities to suggest that marijuana has aided in their creative pursuits. But does pot actually make you more creative? Or does it just make you think you’re being more creative?

• CB Christopher M. Barnes is a professor of management at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. He worked in the Fatigue Countermeasures branch of the Air Force Research Laboratory before pursuing his PhD in Organizational Behavior at Michigan State University.
• YH Yu Tse Heng is a doctoral candidate in management at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business. Her research uncovers ways to humanize workplaces, with a focus on employee suffering and the promise of compassion as an effective antidote.
• KY Kai Chi (Sam) Yam is an assistant professor of management and organization at the National University of Singapore.

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Cannabis (Marijuana) Research Report How does marijuana use affect school, work, and social life?

Research has shown that marijuana’s negative effects on attention, memory, and learning can last for days or weeks after the acute effects of the drug wear off, depending on the person’s history with the drug. 52 Consequently, someone who smokes marijuana daily may be functioning at a reduced intellectual level most or all of the time. Considerable evidence suggests that students who smoke marijuana have poorer educational outcomes than their nonsmoking peers. For example, a review of 48 relevant studies found marijuana use to be associated with reduced educational attainment (i.e., reduced chances of graduating). 53 A recent analysis using data from three large studies in Australia and New Zealand found that adolescents who used marijuana regularly were significantly less likely than their non-using peers to finish high school or obtain a degree. They also had a much higher chance of developing dependence, using other drugs, and attempting suicide. 54 Several studies have also linked heavy marijuana use to lower income, greater welfare dependence, unemployment, criminal behavior, and lower life satisfaction. 55,56

To what degree marijuana use is directly causal in these associations remains an open question requiring further research. It is possible that other factors independently predispose people to both marijuana use and various negative life outcomes such as school dropout. 57 That said, people report a perceived influence of their marijuana use on poor outcomes on a variety of life satisfaction and achievement measures. One study, for example, compared people involved with current and former long-term, heavy use of marijuana with a control group who reported smoking marijuana at least once in their lives but not more than 50 times. 58 All participants had similar education and income backgrounds, but significant differences were found in their educational attainment: Fewer of those who engaged in heavy cannabis use completed college, and more had yearly household incomes of less than $30,000. When asked how marijuana affected their cognitive abilities, career achievements, social lives, and physical and mental health, the majority of those who used heavily reported that marijuana had negative effects in all these areas of their lives.

Studies have also suggested specific links between marijuana use and adverse consequences in the workplace, such as increased risk for injury or accidents. 59 One study among postal workers found that employees who tested positive for marijuana on a pre-employment urine drug test had 55% more industrial accidents, 85% more injuries, and 75% greater absenteeism compared with those who tested negative for marijuana use. 60

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Can Marijuana Help You Study?

Article written by

Tina Magrabi Senior Content Writer

Content reviewed by

Dr. Lewis Jassey Medical Director - Pediatric Medicine

Table of contents

Benefits of Using Cannabis for Studying

Drawbacks and risks, how to pick the right cannabis for studying, the bottom line.

Evidence suggests that cannabis could help boost brain health to some extent, but the plant may also serve as a study aid for some students.

Discover the benefits and drawbacks of using cannabis for studying and which strains could help you focus better.

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Connect with a licensed physician online in minutes.

You may or may not experience these potential benefits when using cannabis for studying.

Higher Energy Levels

Bursts of energy after smoking or eating cannabis are not unusual. You may even feel energized enough to run a marathon. Sativa-dominant strains like Green Crack (aka Green Crush, Mango Crack) and Super Silver Haze (SSH) are reputed to be the most energizing, while indica-leaning strains like White Tahoe Cookies and Wedding Cake are said to be more sedating.

However, it is not necessarily the sativa or indica label that determines a particular variety’s effects, but the cannabinoid and terpene content measured in a strain’s content at the time. A variety lower in myrcene and higher in limonene may be more stimulating, whereas a variety high in myrcene combined with relaxing terpenes like linalool and humulene may be more sedative.

Increased Focus

Cannabis strains high in cannabidiol (CBD) may help you focus more, but this will not be the case for everyone. Some people feel fatigued when using CBD products, especially in higher doses; indeed, CBD is often used as a natural sleep aid .

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More creativity.

Fresh Toast , a marijuana news and lifestyle site, claims that the use of marijuana while studying has generated a large amount of word-of-mouth enthusiasm. A September 2020 article taking dosage and strain into consideration titled “Can Marijuana Help You Study?” suggests that cannabis might assist in focus, triggering ideas and deepening conversations.

Depending on the cannabis strain you use and your reaction to it, you may experience drawbacks rather than benefits.

For some people, being high is the ultimate way to relax. If you tend to feel sleepy when using cannabis, then the plant might not be compatible with a study session. Indica strains are traditionally considered calming, but some people may even fall asleep after using a relaxing strain like Cannatonic or Hindu Kush.

Short-Term Memory Loss

Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School published some cautionary facts about cannabis and learning in a service piece titled “The Effects of Marijuana on Your Memory.” In the studied opinion of Harvard Medical School, it is beyond question that “marijuana can produce short-term problems with thinking, working memory, executive function, and physical actions that require conscious thought.”

The Harvard Medical researchers blame cannabis’s disruption of thought processes and memory, which can raise impediments to success in study hall while on THC. As the main psychoactive chemical released by the cannabis plant, THC supposedly diminishes short-term memory by attaching to cannabinoid receptors in sections of the brain–including the hippocampus, amygdala and cerebral cortex–that are vital to retaining immediate thoughts and impressions.

However, the negative effects of THC on short-term memory can be reduced by using varieties with more moderate THC content and higher amounts of CBD. Terpenes like pinene may also help.

Agitation and Fidgeting

High-THC strains can cause anxiety and even paranoia in some people, making it difficult to sit still and complete a task. Furthermore, some people report a racing heart, especially after consuming THC-rich edibles, which can also lead to agitation and fidgeting.

To improve educational outcomes while taking therapeutic cannabis products, the basic rule is to minimize THC consumption and maximize CBD intake.

Nonprofit media network The Conversation links to a 2019 study in The Lancet Child and Adolescent Health that found THC-dominant cannabis products cause a detrimental effect on short-term memory.

In contrast, a study called “Impact of Cannabidiol on the Acute Memory” conducted by the Clinical Psychopharmacology Unit at University College London and published by the National Library of Medicine tested 134 cannabis users seven days apart for short-term memory performance: once while under the acute influence of marijuana and once while free of intoxication.

Samples of cannabis and saliva were collected from each participant and analyzed for CBD levels. In 2010, the researchers wrote that “participants smoking cannabis high in cannabidiol (CBD) showed no memory impairment,” even though THC levels were also elevated.

A more recent study, reported by the Journal of Psychopharmacology in August 2020, discovered that ingesting 600 mg of CBD edibles boosted cerebral blood flow (CBF) to the hippocampus and other brain regions key to processing short-term memory. Memory function was tested and confirmed by having participants count forward or backward by random amounts and perform prose recall exercises.

When a medical marijuana patient does decide to pursue scholastic or self-taught activities while undergoing medical cannabis therapies, follow the sage and timeless advice of consulting a physician to determine the most effective medical cannabis products for your unique endocannabinoid system .

Cannabis may help some people study more efficiently, while others may achieve more without the psychoactive plant. THC levels factor heavily into whether cannabis will help or hinder studying, with higher THC amounts likely leading to the latter.

Explore all the potential brain benefits of cannabis with a medical marijuana card. The qualified physicians at Leafwell are available to meet with you online to help you apply for a medical marijuana card in your state.

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Frequently asked questions, is it hard to study high.

It depends on how you react to being high on marijuana. If being high makes you feel sleepy and “zoned out,” then it may be very challenging to study after consuming cannabis. In contrast, if being high energizes and motivates you, then consuming cannabis while studying could prove beneficial. This can depend very much on how different varieties of cannabis affect you as an individual.

Can you focus while high?

Some people may feel an increase in their ability to focus while high, but others may not be able to focus at all. CBD-rich and low-THC strains have been shown to be the best for focusing, but no concrete evidence supports this notion.

Can being high help me study?

Being high may help you study, and cannabis could even improve brain function, according to some research. Studies published at the Journal of Pharmacopuncture and Molecules indicate that cannabis shows promise in slowing or preventing neurodegenerative diseases that affect memory and other brain-centered conditions, such as Alzheimer’s and epilepsy.

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The benefits and harms of marijuana, explained by the most thorough research review yet

A new report looks at more than 10,000 studies on marijuana. It has good and bad news for pot users.

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Marijuana has been with humans in some way or another for thousands of years. But after all this time, there is still a lot of public debate about what, exactly, pot’s risks and benefits are.

A recent review of the research from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine attempts to fill the gap in our knowledge. By combing through more than 10,000 studies published since 1999, the review, conducted by more than a dozen experts, provides the clearest look at the scientific evidence on marijuana yet.

The research finds both some strong benefits and major downsides to cannabis. It seems to be promising for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and cancer patients. But it also seems to pose a significant risk for respiratory problems if smoked, schizophrenia and psychosis, car crashes, lagging social achievement in life, and perhaps pregnancy-related problems.

The findings aren’t just for marijuana; they’re for marijuana or cannabinoids, chemical compounds commonly found in pot. It’s possible that, down the line, some of the benefits in particular will be split from the marijuana leaf itself — although many drug experts believe that there’s an “entourage effect” with marijuana in which all of its cannabinoids and chemicals, which number in the hundreds , work together to make its effects as potent as possible.

One major caveat to this: The report is, by its own admission, only a best guess for a lot of its findings, because much of the research out there just isn’t very good. The report pins the lack of good research largely on government policies — particularly regulatory barriers linked to marijuana’s federal classification as a highly restricted Schedule 1 substance — that make it hard to conduct good studies on the drug. The National Academies ultimately calls for these barriers to be cut down and more research to be funded so we can get a better idea of what pot is capable of, especially as more states legalize it for both medical and recreational uses.

Still, the report is the best look at marijuana yet. It is nearly 400 pages; if you want a really deep dive into the benefits and harms of marijuana, you should read it in full . But here I’ve provided a summary of what the researchers found.

What are marijuana’s benefits?

Since the mid-1990s, 28 states have legalized marijuana for medical uses. But in all that time, the benefits of pot have remained hazy. Despite some research showing that it can be good for pain and muscle stiffness, many of the claims about what pot can do for other ailments — such as epilepsy and irritable bowel syndrome — are based on anecdotal evidence and have yet to be scientifically proven.

The report can’t fully validate or invalidate all of the claims about marijuana’s medical benefits, given that there are still no studies on some of these questions, and many of the studies that are out there are bad or lacking. But it does have some solid findings.

For one, the review confirms what previous studies have found: There is “substantial evidence” that marijuana is good for treating chronic pain. This is one of the most common reasons cited for marijuana’s medical use — particularly in light of the opioid painkiller epidemic , which has spawned in part as patients turn to opioids to try to treat debilitating pain. The report concludes that marijuana can treat chronic pain. And that may allow it to substitute more dangerous, deadlier opioid painkillers.

The report also found “conclusive evidence” that marijuana is effective for treating chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Coupled with the findings on pain, this suggests that marijuana really is a potent treatment for cancer patients in particular, who can suffer from debilitating pain and severe nausea as a result of their illness.

And the report found “substantial evidence” that marijuana can improve patient-reported multiple sclerosis spasticity symptoms. But it only found “limited evidence” for marijuana improving doctor-reported symptoms of this kind.

Beyond the strongest findings, the report found “moderate evidence” that marijuana is effective for “improving short-term sleep outcomes in individuals with sleep disturbance associated with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, fibromyalgia, chronic pain, and multiple sclerosis.” It also found “limited evidence” for marijuana’s ability to treat appetite and weight loss associated with HIV/AIDS, improving Tourette syndrome symptoms, improving anxiety symptoms in individuals with social anxiety disorders, and improving PTSD. And there’s “limited evidence” of a correlation between marijuana and better outcomes after a traumatic brain injury.

The report also disproved — or at least cast a lot of doubt — on some of the claimed benefits of pot. It found “limited evidence” that marijuana is ineffective for treating symptoms associated with dementia and glaucoma, as well as depressive symptoms in individuals with chronic pain or multiple sclerosis.

And it found “no or insufficient evidence” for marijuana as a treatment for cancers, cancer-associated anorexia, irritable bowel syndrome, epilepsy, spasticity in patients with paralysis due to spinal cord injury, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, drug addiction, and schizophrenia. This doesn’t mean that marijuana can’t treat any of these — some patients, who are prescribed pot for these ailments today, will swear that marijuana helped treat their epilepsy, for example — but that there’s just not enough evidence so far to evaluate the claims.

Overall, the report suggests that, as far as therapeutic benefits go, marijuana is a solid treatment for multiple symptoms associated to chronic pain, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, and multiple sclerosis. Everything else, from epilepsy to HIV/AIDS, needs more research before pot is more definitively shown to be effective or ineffective.

What are marijuana’s harms?

Marijuana is often described as one of the safest drugs out there, in part because it’s never been definitively linked to an overdose death and it’s broadly safer than other drugs like alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, and heroin. And while the National Academies’ report doesn’t find evidence of a marijuana overdose death, it does add a few wrinkles to the narrative of marijuana as a safe drug.

For one, the report finds “substantial evidence” of marijuana’s negative effects for a few conditions. For long-term marijuana smokers, there’s a risk of worse respiratory symptoms and more frequent chronic bronchitis episodes. For pregnant women who smoke pot, there’s a risk of lower birth weight for the baby. For marijuana users in general, there’s a greater risk of developing schizophrenia and other psychoses. And there’s a link between marijuana use and increased risk of car crashes.

The report also found “limited evidence” of links between marijuana use and several other negative outcomes, including an increased risk of testicular cancer, triggering a heart attack, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and pregnancy complications. And it found “moderate” to “limited” evidence that marijuana use might worsen symptoms or risk for some mental health issues, including depressive disorders, bipolar disorder, suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among heavier users, and anxiety disorders, particularly social anxiety disorder among regular users.

Besides medical conditions, the report found evidence for some psychosocial problems. There’s “moderate evidence” that acute marijuana use impairs learning, memory, and attention. There’s “limited evidence” of marijuana use and worse outcomes in education, employment, income, and social functioning.

There was some good news: The report found “moderate evidence” of no link between marijuana smoking and lung cancer or marijuana use and head and neck cancers, which are commonly linked to tobacco. There was also “moderate evidence” of better cognitive performance among individuals with psychotic disorders and a history of marijuana use.

The report, however, couldn’t find sufficient evidence for pot’s links to a lot of problems: other types of cancer, an increased chronic risk of heart attack, asthma, later outcomes for infants born of mothers that used marijuana during pregnancy, deadly pot overdoses, and PTSD.

With the problems specifically linked to smoking marijuana, it’s worth noting that other forms of consumption — vaping and edibles in particular — may not carry the same risk. More research will be needed to evaluate that, particularly for vaping.

The report also found some “substantial evidence” that more pot use can lead to problematic marijuana use — what one typically thinks of as excessive use or even dependence. It also outlined, with “limited” to “substantial” evidence, some of the risk factors for problematic marijuana use, including being male, smoking cigarettes, a major depressive order, exposure to combined use of other drugs, and use at an earlier age. But it also cited “limited” to “moderate” evidence to rule out a few risk factors, including anxiety, personality, and bipolar disorders, adolescent ADHD, and alcohol or nicotine dependence.

It also found a “limited” to “moderate” evidence of a correlation between marijuana use and use of other illicit drugs. This is the typical evidence cited for the so-called “gateway” effect: that marijuana use may lead to the use of harder drugs.

One caveat to much of the research: correlation is not always causation. For example, in the case of the “gateway” effect, other researchers argue that the correlation between pot and harder drug use may just indicate that people prone to all sorts of drug use only start with marijuana because it’s the cheapest and most accessible of the illicit drugs. If cocaine or heroin were cheaper and more accessible, there’s a good chance people would start with those drugs first.

Still, the bottom line is that marijuana does pose some harms — particularly for people at risk of developing mental health disorders, pregnant women, those vulnerable to respiratory problems, and anyone getting into a car. And while some of these harms may be overcome by marijuana’s benefits or curtailed by consuming pot without smoking it, the evidence shows that weed’s reputation as a safe drug is undeserved.

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The Evidence—and Lack Thereof—About Cannabis

Research is still needed on cannabis’s risks and benefits. 

Lindsay Smith Rogers

Although the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law, medicinal and recreational cannabis use has become increasingly widespread.

Thirty-eight states and Washington, D.C., have legalized medical cannabis, while 23 states and D.C. have legalized recreational use. Cannabis legalization has benefits, such as removing the product from the illegal market so it can be taxed and regulated, but science is still trying to catch up as social norms evolve and different products become available. 

In this Q&A, adapted from the August 25 episode of Public Health On Call , Lindsay Smith Rogers talks with Johannes Thrul, PhD, MS , associate professor of Mental Health , about cannabis as medicine, potential risks involved with its use, and what research is showing about its safety and efficacy. 

Do you think medicinal cannabis paved the way for legalization of recreational use?

The momentum has been clear for a few years now. California was the first to legalize it for medical reasons [in 1996]. Washington and Colorado were the first states to legalize recreational use back in 2012. You see one state after another changing their laws, and over time, you see a change in social norms. It's clear from the national surveys that people are becoming more and more in favor of cannabis legalization. That started with medical use, and has now continued into recreational use.

But there is a murky differentiation between medical and recreational cannabis. I think a lot of people are using cannabis to self-medicate. It's not like a medication you get prescribed for a very narrow symptom or a specific disease. Anyone with a medical cannabis prescription, or who meets the age limit for recreational cannabis, can purchase it. Then what they use it for is really all over the place—maybe because it makes them feel good, or because it helps them deal with certain symptoms, diseases, and disorders.

Does cannabis have viable medicinal uses?

The evidence is mixed at this point. There hasn’t been a lot of funding going into testing cannabis in a rigorous way. There is more evidence for certain indications than for others, like CBD for seizures—one of the first indications that cannabis was approved for. And THC has been used effectively for things like nausea and appetite for people with cancer.

There are other indications where the evidence is a lot more mixed. For example, pain—one of the main reasons that people report for using cannabis. When we talk to patients, they say cannabis improved their quality of life. In the big studies that have been done so far, there are some indications from animal models that cannabis might help [with pain]. When we look at human studies, it's very much a mixed bag. 

And, when we say cannabis, in a way it's a misnomer because cannabis is so many things. We have different cannabinoids and different concentrations of different cannabinoids. The main cannabinoids that are being studied are THC and CBD, but there are dozens of other minor cannabinoids and terpenes in cannabis products, all of varying concentrations. And then you also have a lot of different routes of administration available. You can smoke, vape, take edibles, use tinctures and topicals. When you think about the explosion of all of the different combinations of different products and different routes of administration, it tells you how complicated it gets to study this in a rigorous way. You almost need a randomized trial for every single one of those and then for every single indication.

What do we know about the risks of marijuana use?  

Cannabis use disorder is a legitimate disorder in the DSM. There are, unfortunately, a lot of people who develop a problematic use of cannabis. We know there are risks for mental health consequences. The evidence is probably the strongest that if you have a family history of psychosis or schizophrenia, using cannabis early in adolescence is not the best idea. We know cannabis can trigger psychotic symptoms and potentially longer lasting problems with psychosis and schizophrenia. 

It is hard to study, because you also don't know if people are medicating early negative symptoms of schizophrenia. They wouldn't necessarily have a diagnosis yet, but maybe cannabis helps them to deal with negative symptoms, and then they develop psychosis. There is also some evidence that there could be something going on with the impact of cannabis on the developing brain that could prime you to be at greater risk of using other substances later down the road, or finding the use of other substances more reinforcing. 

What benefits do you see to legalization?

When we look at the public health landscape and the effect of legislation, in this case legalization, one of the big benefits is taking cannabis out of the underground illegal market. Taking cannabis out of that particular space is a great idea. You're taking it out of the illegal market and giving it to legitimate businesses where there is going to be oversight and testing of products, so you know what you're getting. And these products undergo quality control and are labeled. Those labels so far are a bit variable, but at least we're getting there. If you're picking up cannabis at the street corner, you have no idea what's in it. 

And we know that drug laws in general have been used to criminalize communities of color and minorities. Legalizing cannabis [can help] reduce the overpolicing of these populations.

What big questions about cannabis would you most like to see answered?

We know there are certain, most-often-mentioned conditions that people are already using medical cannabis for: pain, insomnia, anxiety, and PTSD. We really need to improve the evidence base for those. I think clinical trials for different cannabis products for those conditions are warranted.

Another question is, now that the states are getting more tax revenue from cannabis sales, what are they doing with that money? If you look at tobacco legislation, for example, certain states have required that those funds get used for research on those particular issues. To me, that would be a very good use of the tax revenue that is now coming in. We know, for example, that there’s a lot more tax revenue now that Maryland has legalized recreational use. Maryland could really step up here and help provide some of that evidence.

Are there studies looking into the risks you mentioned?

Large national studies are done every year or every other year to collect data, so we already have a pretty good sense of the prevalence of cannabis use disorder. Obviously, we'll keep tracking that to see if those numbers increase, for example, in states that are legalizing. But, you wouldn't necessarily expect to see an uptick in cannabis use disorder a month after legalization. The evidence from states that have legalized it has not demonstrated that we might all of a sudden see an increase in psychosis or in cannabis use disorder. This happens slowly over time with a change in social norms and availability, and potentially also with a change in marketing. And, with increasing use of an addictive substance, you will see over time a potential increase in problematic use and then also an increase in use disorder.

If you're interested in seeing if cannabis is right for you, is this something you can talk to your doctor about?

I think your mileage may vary there with how much your doctor is comfortable and knows about it. It's still relatively fringe. That will very much depend on who you talk to. But I think as providers and professionals, everybody needs to learn more about this, because patients are going to ask no matter what.

Lindsay Smith Rogers, MA, is the producer of the Public Health On Call podcast , an editor for Expert Insights , and the director of content strategy for the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

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10 Reasons Why Smoking Weed Is Actually Really Good For You

You might not know about all the benefits to lighting up.

There’s been a renewed focus on wellness recently, which makes total sense given *gestures broadly at the world*. After all, we’re living through a literal pandemic, so it’s only natural that health, both physical and mental, has been at the top of your mind. Of course, you can’t talk about health and wellness without mentioning cannabis. With expanding legalization across the U.S., marijuana is losing its bad rep , and for good reason. It turns out that weed can actually be really good for you, and these benefits of smoking weed include everything from decreasing symptoms of depression to lowering your risk of diabetes .

It is important to note that research on marijuana is still rather limited due to federal regulations since it’s classified as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it has no “currently accepted medical use.” In fact, since 1968, researchers in the United States have only been allowed to study cannabis sourced from a single facility . The facility in question is located at the University of Mississippi , and it wasn’t until 2021 that Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) announced it was in the process of registering several other American companies to produce MJ for medicinal and scientific purposes. It’s about time.

However, despite the limited amount of information that’s currently available, preliminary studies are very promising and show that potential health benefits of cannabis use (both mental and physical) are totally worth being explored further. Cannabis experts and medical professionals alike also attest to the pros of smoking weed. To learn more, Elite Daily spoke to Dr. Hervé Damas , a physician and cannabis researcher, and Spencer Ekl, an Operations Manager at Gage Cannabis , to get the lowdown about the benefits of weed, as well as how different kinds of cannabis can affect you.

1. Cannabis May Bring Your Creativity To New Highs

Pot may be the creative assistant you’ve been looking for. However, individual personality may play the biggest role in cannabis’ overall influence on one’s creative abilities.

While there are many ways researchers measure levels of creativity, one such way is something called “divergent thinking.” Essentially, divergent thinking quantifies creativity by tallying how many solutions to a problem someone can think of. It’s believed that the more solutions one comes up with, the more creative they probably are.

“Marijuana has long had a reputation amongst many musicians, artists, writers and other creatives for having the ability to help them create or overcome ‘blocks,’” Dr. Damas says.

Authors of a 2012 study found that divergent thinking increased in subjects who smoked weed who did not consider themselves creative to begin with. However, those who did consider themselves to be very creative from the get-go didn’t see an overall increase in their creativity after smoking.

Looking at the data from the research, Dr. Damas hypothesized that this difference might be due to the fact that the creatives used a 1% stronger strain of THC than the non-creatives in the study. In addition, the creatives reported using cannabis an average three days more per month, so their tolerance is most likely higher, meaning they won’t feel the effects as strongly.

“This data set would lead towards creatives having greater tolerance to the effects of THC. This tolerance is the result of their more frequent and more potent use and is demonstrated in the scores,” explains Dr. Damas.

If you’re looking to potentially increase your creativity with cannabis, Dr. Damas says the strain you choose can make a difference. “Sativa strains are known to provide the ‘head high’ that people associate with fostering creativity,” he says.

2. Cannabis Can Be Used To Treat Depression.

Research has shown that not only can cannabis treat depression, but consuming cannabis can also lower your risk of developing depression.

A study conducted by Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience in 2013 found that THC "reduces the negative bias in emotional processing," which means weed can be used to help people cope with depression and other psychiatric disorders.

In addition, a study published by USC and SUNY Albany 2015 found that "those who consume marijuana occasionally or even daily have lower levels of depressive symptoms than those who have never tried marijuana."

Dr. Damas says this is due to the presence of one compound.

“Within the cannabis plant is a compound called Cannabidiol, which we commonly know by the abbreviation CBD. CBD is known to be a very effective anxiolytic (anxiety reliever) and antidepressant when used long term,” he says.

Just FYI, indica-dominant strains are highest in CBD ratio compared to sativa-dominant strains. So, if you're feeling blue, brighten up your day by packing a bowl with an indica-dominant strain.

3. Lighting Up May Lower Your Risk Of Diabetes, but the jury is out?

A study published in The American Journal of Medicine in 2013 found that people who smoke marijuana had lower insulin levels and insulin resistance levels by 16 and 17%, respectively.

This suggests that cannabis may play a role in regulating blood sugar, which can decrease your risk of developing diabetes.

“One of the prevailing theories is that Cannabinoids allow for greater entry of glucose into the cell. The jury is still out on this one since there have been some studies that show no correlation,” says Dr. Damas. One such study that showed no correlation is a 2020 study that looked into the effects of recreational cannabis in those with type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

4. Sparking Up Is A Great Social Activity

Weed can reduce social anxiety . During a 2020 study, researchers gave participants with social anxiety 400 mg of CBD before giving a speech and saw reduced social anxiety compared to the control group who did not consume 400 mg of CBD. While the sample size for this study was small, it is promising research that shows marijuana can help with social anxiety, specifically in regards to cannabinoid CBD found in the marijuana plant.

5. Pot Can Make Your Periods Suck Less.

When it comes to managing premenstrual symptoms, marijuana can be a natural alternative to Midol.

Studies have found that THC is an analgesic and antinociceptive agent that can alleviate the pain of those killer cramps and pounding headaches. Plus, marijuana has also been found to have anti-inflammatory properties that can help with the bloating that occurs around that time of the month.

Dr. Damas says cannabis is a common pain reliever. “Surveys of medical marijuana patients find that upwards of 40% reports using cannabis for the treatment of pain, from nagging aches, episodic pain (menstrual cramps) to chronic conditions like fibromyalgia,” he says. “Cannabis users tend to decrease their consumption of prescription analgesics as well as over the counter pain medications.”

6. Getting High Can Lead To Better Sex.

“Studies have shown that cannabis can be an aphrodisiac [by] increasing pleasure [and] intimacy while decreasing anxiety amongst partners,” explains Dr. Damas.

In fact, in 2019, a study looked into sex for women specifically and concluded that marijuana improved satisfaction with orgasms. Another 2017 study found an increase in sexual frequency, for both men and women, and that it didn’t appear to lessen sexual function.

7. Smoking A Bowl Can Boost Your Energy.

While there's a stigma that marijuana use can make you lazy, not all strains of cannabis turn you into a complete couch potato.

Research has supported a link between the brain's CB-1 and CB-2 cannabinoid receptors and dopamine. Essentially, small doses of marijuana won't hurt your efficiency level, and an increase in dopamine levels gives you the focus you need to get your stuff done. However, over-doing it can actually harm productivity and motivation, so keep it in check.

If you're looking for a little pick-me-up, swap out your coffee and smoke a Sativa-dominant strain like Sour Diesel or Jack Herer, instead.

“‘Yellow Fruit Stripe’ is one of my favorite sativa-dominant strains, and it is perfect for morning or during the day when you are still trying to get things done or go out and do any sort of activity,” Ekl says.

8. Smoking Weed Can Also Help You Fall Asleep -- To A Certain Extent

While there is considerable debate over the long-term effect marijuana has on sleep cycles , some feel that smoking a bowl before bedtime acts as a better sleep aid than other substances like alcohol and certain sleep-inducing medications.

“Indicas are known for their relaxing properties. This is a result of their unique chemical composition of phytocannabinoids (THC, CBD, CBN, etc.), as well as their concentration of other substances like terpenes (linalool, myrcene),” explains Dr. Damas.

Terpenes, such as linalool and myrcene, are the oils found in cannabis. They’re what cause the aroma of the plant and give certain strains their distinct flavors. Terpenes also can affect the unique roles of different cannabis strains , aka whether they’re more relaxing or heightehning. However, more research is still necessary to truly understand the extent of their involvement.

Unfortunately, though, it's been seen that marijuana's effectiveness as a sleep aid decreases with increased usage. That said, a cannabinoid found in marijuana, CBD, is a great aid for sleep.

“CBD can also be used for sleep because of its effect on receptors that cause sedation (GABA),” says Dr. Damas.

“One of the benefits of using CBD for sleep is that you won't be ‘high’ like you will if you use an indica.”

“Some indica strains that I think work well are ‘GMO,’ ‘Garlic Cookies,’ and ‘Grand Daddy Pluto.’ These also work great for pain relief or injuries,” Ekl says.

9. Smoking Weed Makes You Worry Less.

Susan A Stoner, PHD, a research consultant at the University of Washington, looked into the effects of marijuana on mental health . Dr. Stoner reported that using marijuana can contribute to short-term anxiety relief. The article also mentioned that small doses of THC act as a sedative, decreasing symptoms of anxiety. If you’re feeling anxious, smoking may be of help. (Just don’t go overboard, as smoking too much can actually give you anxiety or paranoia.)

10. Ripping The Bong Can Actually Be Good For Your Lungs.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 2012 indicated that marijuana smoke is not detrimental to your lungs.

In fact, past studies found lighting up can briefly increase your lung capacity in the short term... you know, from all that inhaling you're doing.

Experts Cited:

Dr. Hervé Damas , Founder of Dr. Damas Wellness and cannabis researcher

Spencer Ekl, an Operations Manager at Gage Cannabis Co

This article was originally published on 10.12.16

Usage and Effects of Marijuana Essay

Introduction, reasons for discussion, origins and history, effects and properties, production, use, legalization.

Cannabis, or marijuana, has been a subject of discussions for decades. Emerging from earliest societies, the drug has had considerable presence in all kinds of industries and applications – ranging from medical to spiritual uses. In the modern world, more and more countries are recognizing the role of cannabis in bringing benefits to the population. As a result, discussions of legalization and decriminalization emerge with increased force. However, the actual relationship between society and marijuana is complex. The substance can have both positive and negative effects on the population. For some, it is a source of relief, for others it is a difficult habit that affects their daily functioning. For the purposes of better understanding the drug and navigating the modern realities, it is necessary to discuss marijuana in more detail.

As mentioned previously, marijuana plays an increasingly large role in society. Efforts or legalizing the drug bring forth challenges connected with the best way to regulate its distribution, usage and production. In cases of decriminalization, governments also struggle to choose the correct way to implement their policies. The process is hampered by the need to navigate the needs of diverse populations. In order to build a structure upon which the distribution and production of marijuana can be built, legislators must consider the wishes of companies and the populace alike.

At the same time, the population itself reaches a new level of understanding cannabis use. After a considerable period of being considered taboo and misunderstood, marijuana is entering the mainstream thought. Researchers, scholars and enthusiasts alike are searching for more ways of applying the plant, while also discussing its effects on the population.

Cannabis has a storied history. First appearing in Asia, the plant was popularized by Chinese emperors. From China, it quickly spread to surrounding countries, such as India, where it became a prominent part of culture and myth. Earliest uses of the substance are connected with medical remedies and rituals to appease gods. Europeans got into contact with marijuana much later, closer to the 19 th century, when explorers, seafarers and travelers started interacting with China. Much like the Asian continent, Europeans and Americans used marijuana for its medicinal purposes. However, it was slowly pushed out of the market by taxation and regulation.

Cannabidiol is one of the two primary active part of cannabis, one that is responsible for affecting individual’s nervous and cardio systems. Instead of stimulating receptors, like it was assumed, the substance works as an antagonist, potentially affecting the effectiveness of HTC, another active ingredient in cannabis.

The effectiveness of consuming cannabis or its extracts depends on how they entered the body – inhaling or smoking works quicker than eating products containing marijuana.

There are a number of potential effects that a person will feel after consuming cannabis. Depending on the individual, cannabis can produce different effects. Altered sense of smell, sense or perception is common, as well as an inability to properly understand time. The individual usually feels relaxed, or experiences quick mood changes. In addition, speech impairment, trouble moving and hallucinations can be common symptoms.

Each country chooses how to handle the process of legalizing/decriminalizing cannabis differently. Depending on the president/ruling party, the process can be restrictive or overarching. In some countries, focus is made on managing marijuana use, while in others possession itself is the target.

• Cannabis is difficult to discuss or ascribe morally.
• The drug affects a person’s mental and physical condition.
• Antagonizing one’s brain receptors, cannabis has relaxing properties.
• Efforts of decriminalization and legalization help populations that need cannabis.
• Certain populations are endangered by marijuana decriminalization.

Barton, Allen W., et al. “Trajectory classes of cannabis use and heavy drinking among rural African American adolescents: multi-level predictors of class membership.” Addiction , vol. 113, no. 8, 2018, pp. 1439-1449.

Carliner, Hannah, et al. “Cannabis use, attitudes, and legal status in the U.S.: A review.” Preventive Medicine , vol. 104, 2017, pp. 13-23.

Goode, Erich. “ Pot and the Myth of Shen Nung .” The New York Review of Books , Web.

Halperin, Alex. “ Cannabis Capitalism: Who is Making Money in the Marijuana Industry? ” The Guardian , Web.

Kicman, Aleksandra, and Marek Toczek. “The Effects of Cannabidiol, a Non-Intoxicating Compound of Cannabis, on the Cardiovascular System in Health and Disease.” International Journal of Molecular Sciences , vol. 21, no. 18, 2020, p. 6740.

Knaappila, Noora, et al. “Changes in cannabis use according to socioeconomic status among Finnish adolescents from 2000 to 2015.” Journal of Cannabis Research , vol. 2, no. 1, 2020.

“Legality of cannabis by country.” Map. Wikimedia Commons , Van De Voorde, Nick T., et al. “Denver’s Green Mile: Marijuana gentrification as a process of urban change.” Journal of Urban Affairs , 2021, pp. 1-19.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

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Marijuana’s Health Effects Are About to Get a Whole Lot Clearer

Rescheduling weed will clear the way for scientists to study it more directly.

Earlier this week, news leaked of the biggest change in federal drug policy in more than half a century. The Associated Press reported —and the Department of Justice later confirmed —that the Drug Enforcement Administration plans to recategorize marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act. Since the 1970s, it’s been placed in Schedule I, a highly controlled group that includes drugs like heroin, with a high potential for abuse and no medical use. But cannabis will soon be moved to the much less restrictive Schedule III, which includes prescription drugs such as ketamine and Tylenol with codeine that have a moderate-to-low risk of addiction.

Currently, recreational cannabis is legal for adults over the age of 21 in 24 states, which are home to more than half of the U.S. population. According to a recent Harris poll , about 40 percent of Americans use cannabis, and a quarter do so on at least a weekly basis. And yet, researchers and physicians told me, scientific consensus on the drug’s precise effects—especially on the heart and lungs, mental health, and developing adolescent brains—is still lacking. Rescheduling marijuana will broaden access further still, which makes finding better answers to those questions even more crucial.

Conveniently, rescheduling marijuana is also likely to spur in-depth study, in part by expanding research opportunities that were previously limited or nonexistent. Easing restrictions will ultimately mean learning a lot more about the potential harms and benefits of a drug that for decades has been both popular and demonized.

Historically, the scope of cannabis research has been fairly limited. The National Institute on Drug Abuse, a major federal research funder, has a directive to study the harms of cannabis use rather than any potential benefits, says Amanda Reiman, the chief knowledge officer of New Frontier Data. (New Frontier is an analytics firm focused on the legal cannabis industry.) In 2018, research on the potential harms of cannabis use received more than double the funding that research on its medicinal or therapeutic use did in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. In 2020, a spokesperson for NIDA told Science that although the agency’s traditional focus was on marijuana addiction, it has started exploring the therapeutic potential of compounds in cannabis to treat addiction to other substances.

U.S. policy has also made marijuana research of any sort very difficult. Until recently, scientists had to obtain their supply from NIDA’s high-security Mississippi facility. (Six more sources were approved last year.) Researchers regularly complained that the marijuana was moldy, and far from the quality that regular consumers could purchase legally at their local dispensary, with less THC and CBD.

Read: The government’s weed is terrible

Most existing research on how cannabis affects our hearts, our brains, and our society at large is based on self-reported survey data, Peter Grinspoon, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and a medical-cannabis expert, told me. Such data are “notoriously inaccurate,” he said. But researchers have been forced to rely on these methods because cannabis is a Schedule I drug, so no studies that receive federal funding can simply give marijuana from state-approved dispensaries to people and record what happens.

As a result, the field lacks the number of high-quality studies necessary for researchers to agree on their implications, says Nick Cioe, an associate professor at Assumption University in Massachusetts who has studied the effects of marijuana on traumatic brain injuries. Randomized controlled trials are the gold standard of determining a given drug’s harms and benefits, but for weed, they’ve been nearly impossible. The FDA has approved a handful of cannabis-derived products to treat conditions such as seizures and chemotherapy-induced nausea, but that’s not the same as understanding the effects of recreational weed.

After marijuana is officially rescheduled, researchers will have a far easier time studying the drug’s effects. Researching any federally controlled substance is difficult, but obtaining the proper licenses for using Schedule III drugs in the lab is much less arduous than for Schedule I. Scientists will also have far more opportunities to obtain federal grant funding from all sorts of governmental bodies—the National Institutes of Health, the EPA, even the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration—as policy makers rush to understand the implications of legalization.

Human trials won’t start the second that the DEA makes marijuana’s new status official. Researchers will have to wait for guidance from federal agencies like the FDA and the NIH, says R. Lorraine Collins, the director of the University at Buffalo’s Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research. And given the limitations around Schedule III drugs, scientists still won’t be able to simply purchase the same cannabis that millions of Americans are consuming from their local dispensary.

Read: Almost no one is happy with legal weed

Schedule III won’t “magically alleviate the bureaucratic headaches” associated with researching cannabis, Grinspoon said. But “it’s going to be a lot easier to say, ‘Let’s give this person cannabis and see what happens to their blood pressure.’”

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Marijuana and ADHD: What the Research Says

There's little evidence it helps—and it might actually create more problems

Zuva Seven is a freelance writer and editor focused on the nuanced exploration of mental health, health, and wellness.

John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

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• What Is ADHD?
• Can Marijuana Help ADHD?
• What the Research Says
• Combining Medication and Cannabis

Can I Use Cannabis Instead of ADHD Medication?

• Potential Risks
• Side Effects

Because marijuana is linked to relaxation, there has been a growing interest in how it might benefit certain ADHD traits like restlessness and impulsivity. There is a growing number of individuals who sometimes use marijuana as a self-treatment option for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). They state that marijuana usage is therapeutic and particularly helpful in limiting distractions and helping with focus, anxiety, and ADHD medication side effects.

However, while it can be helpful for some individuals, much of the research online advises against its use as a primary treatment option. This is because the research into its utility as short-term relief has been mixed.

In addition, research is limited, and more clinical trials must be conducted before anything can be confirmed. Nevertheless, here is what we know so far.

At a Glance

Some of the components of marijuana, including THC and CBD, may affect the brain in a way that can help people with ADHD. However, marijuana can have negative health effects. While it has been legalized for medical and recreational use in some states, it is also important to note that it is still illegal at the federal level. Experts also caution that you should avoid self-medicating and that marijuana should never be a first-line treatment. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between marijuana and ADHD, as well as the potential benefits and risks.

What Is ADHD?

In order to understand how marijuana and ADHD are connected, it can be helpful to start by learning more about ADHD itself. ADHD is a common neurobehavioral condition that causes changing levels in hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors.

While many people experience changes in energy and attention, these tend to happen to a greater degree to those with this neurotype. For example, it can interfere with the daily functioning of that individual’s life or their achievements.

It is important to note that ADHD is commonly diagnosed in children; however, it also persists in adulthood. For example, it is estimated to affect 11% of school-aged children and an estimated 4.4% of adults.

It is also important to recognize that ADHD is a form of neurodiversity that reflects differences in how the brain works. It is classified as a neurobehavioral condition because the traits associated with it are poorly accommodated in a neurotypical society.

ADHD Symptoms

To understand how marijuana and ADHD may interact, it's also important to recognize the different ways that ADHD traits tend to occur. Such patterns are diagnosed as one of three different forms of ADHD.

The "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" (DSM) is the handbook used by clinicians and psychiatrists in the United States to diagnose psychiatric illnesses . As it stands, the DSM-5 identifies 18 total symptoms of ADHD and three possible presentations for ADHD:

• Predominantly inattentive : This type is characterized by problems regulating attention. Symptoms of this subtype include: being easily distracted by noises and sights, chronic boredom, forgetfulness, trouble organizing tasks, issues staying on task , and regularly losing belongings.
• Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive : This type is characterized by impulsive and hyperactive behavior . When discussing ADHD, this is usually the subtype most people know of, and symptoms include: restlessness, loud and disruptive behaviors, excessive talking , difficulty staying still, and feelings of constantly being in motion.
• Combined type (ADHD-C) : This type is diagnosed when symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity are present.

People with hyperactive or impulsive traits may be more likely to utilize marijuana to self-medicate challenges with restlessness and impulsivity. Those with the inattentive type may self-treat with marijuana to help improve their ability to focus.

How Could Marijuana Help With ADHD Symptoms?

There are two components of cannabis that are important to know in order to understand how it might provide relief to those with ADHD:

• Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) : THC is the psychoactive component that causes people to feel high when they use marijuana. It works by attaching to the body’s cannabinoid receptors , which are found throughout the brain and nervous system.
• Cannabidiol (CBD) : CBD is a nonpsychoactive component in cannabis and hemp. It acts on different areas of the brain and has been found to counteract the effects of THC. It also doesn’t produce a "high;" therefore, it is not addicting. This is one reason it has grown in popularity over recent years.

While most people commonly believe that different strains of cannabis produce different effects, research has shown these differences may not be completely accurate due to extensive cross-breeding.

Nevertheless, indica strains are thought to have a higher proportion of CBD, which research has found to be the most beneficial component for those with ADHD. Also, CBD alone is not addictive; therefore, choosing products without THC may be the better route.

Does Cannabis Effectively Treat ADHD Symptoms?

As mentioned above, the perception that marijuana is therapeutic for ADHD is growing in popularity. For example, a 2016 qualitative analysis of online discussions around cannabis use and ADHD confirmed this trend, finding that overall online discussions indicated that cannabis is considered therapeutic for ADHD.

In addition, a 2020 study on adults with ADHD who took medical cannabis found that those who took a higher dose of medical cannabis components, like CBD, reduced their ADHD medication intake. However, this study was very small; therefore, its results can’t be seen as generalizable to the entire population.

Still, while this view may be gaining popularity over the internet, there is little clinical support for these claims. Research has shown that marijuana use is connected to worse executive function and greater IQ deficits. In addition, a 2019 medical review of 83 studies on the matter found that there was insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of cannabis in treating mental health conditions, including ADHD.

So, where does this leave us?

According to Dr. Rebecca Siegel , a licensed psychiatrist, cannabis medical advisor, and author of "The Brain on Cannabis: What You Should Know About Recreational and Medical Marijuana," caution is recommended.

"I have heard from people above the age of 21 that it can help with focus and limit distractions, but I still wouldn’t recommend it as a first-line treatment option," she says.

She advises people to follow traditional ADHD treatment options until more clinical trials have been conducted on the issue. "Until then, I cannot draw any conclusions on the optimal ratio of CBD: THC," she finishes. 

Can You Take ADHD Medication and Use Cannabis at the Same Time?

According to Dr. Siegel, the answer to this is complicated.

Rebecca Siegel, MD

I have heard that some adults with ADHD take a combined approach — they use cannabis in addition to other types of options such as medications and/or therapy, but I can’t stress enough the importance of seeking proper treatment before self-medicating.

This is because it can lead to people running the risk of suffering from unwanted side effects from mixing cannabis with other medications. For example, a 2015 study of adults without ADHD found the mixture of Adderall and marijuana produced a unique effect on cardiovascular function — that was neither positive nor negative — when compared with either medication taken alone.

While this study wasn’t conducted on people with ADHD, it does highlight the necessity to be cautious. In addition, it highlights the lack of research on whether this treatment method would be useful or practical. For example, using both could potentially limit the efficacy of the medications.

Switching your ADHD treatment away from medication to cannabis is strongly unadvised.

This is because marijuana has not been researched extensively enough to be considered a safe and effective treatment option for ADHD.

However, should you be considering it, it is very important to reach out to your healthcare provider about your thoughts and concerns. Finding a healthcare provider with knowledge on the benefits and risks of using cannabis instead of ADHD medication could be very beneficial to your overall treatment plans.

Risks of Using Cannabis to Treat ADHD Symptoms

It has been estimated that around 30% of people who use marijuana may have some degree of marijuana use disorder.

Research has found that around 33% to 38% of teens with cannabis use disorder also have ADHD. ADHD is the most common comorbid psychiatric condition among those with ADHD, and the second most common comorbid condition among those with marijuana dependence. Among adults seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder, 34% to 46% also have ADHD. Therefore, the risks of using the drug can disproportionately affect those with ADHD.

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) — a diagnosis given to those with a problematic pattern of cannabis use linked to clinically significant impairment — is more likely to occur in those with ADHD. But why?

"Cannabis use for [the] treatment of ADHD symptoms can evolve into CUD if you stray from your initial intention of using cannabis to treat your ADHD symptoms and start to consume it more frequently for unrelated reasons," says Dr. Siegel.

She states that this is likely due to frequent use evolving into a routine, which can lead to dependence. "Potentially, you may no longer see improvement in your ADHD symptoms if you are consuming it all day long," she warns, which can lead to people using more cannabis to compensate. Or even an exacerbation of ADHD symptoms. 

Can Using Cannabis Make My ADHD Worse?

Cannabis works by activating the brain’s reward system, releasing dopamine at higher levels than usual. People with ADHD tend to have low levels of dopamine, which is why THC can feel so rewarding. 

So, while using cannabis may make you feel better in the short term, it could lead to CUD and cannabis dependency. Therefore, it is best to stay away from cannabis (or THC products) to be safe, particularly if you are susceptible to substance abuse .

People with ADHD who misuse marijuana also experience higher levels of hostility, suspiciousness, and thought disturbances.

Marijuana and ADHD are connected in a few different ways. First, some people believe that using marijuana may help them manage certain ADHD traits or the side effects of ADHD medications. However, marijuana dependence is also more common among those with ADHD, and some evidence indicates that self-medicating with marijuana can actually make many ADHD traits more challenging or produce other unwanted side effects.

The bottom line is that there is still not enough solid evidence that marijuana should be used to help with ADHD characteristics. It is also important to remember that ADHD is a neurotype and that you can manage your ADHD traits effectively with the appropriate support and accommodation.

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). ADHD & Recreational Marijuana: What’s the Attraction? .

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Diagnosis of ADHD in adults .

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is ADHD?

National Institute of Mental Health. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) .

American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.

McPartland JM. Cannabis sativa and cannabis indica versus "sativa" and "indica. " In: Chandra S, Lata H, ElSohly MA, eds. Cannabis Sativa L. — Botany and Biotechnology . Springer International Publishing; 2017:101–121. DOI: 10.1007/978–3–319–54564–6_4

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). CBD oil for ADHD? What the research says .

Mitchell JT, Sweitzer MM, Tunno AM, Kollins SH, McClernon FJ. "I use weed for my ADHD”: A qualitative analysis of online forum discussions on cannabis use and ADHD . PLoS One . 2016;11(5):e0156614. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0156614

Hergenrather JY, Aviram J, Vysotski Y, Campisi-Pinto S, Lewitus GM, Meiri D. Cannabinoid and terpenoid doses are associated with adult ADHD status of medical cannabis patients . Rambam Maimonides Med J . 2020;11(1):e0001. doi:10.5041/RMMJ.10384

Bourque J, Potvin S. Cannabis and cognitive functioning: From acute to residual effects, from randomized controlled trials to prospective designs .  Front Psychiatry . 2021;12:596601. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2021.596601

Black N, Stockings E, Campbell G, et al. Cannabinoids for the treatment of mental disorders and symptoms of mental disorders: a systematic review and meta-analysis [published correction appears in Lancet Psychiatry. 2020 Jan;7(1):e3].  Lancet Psychiatry . 2019;6(12):995-1010. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30401-8

Kollins SH, Schoenfelder EN, English JS, et al. An exploratory study of the combined effects of orally administered methylphenidate and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Thc) on cardiovascular function, subjective effects, and performance in healthy adults . J Subst Abuse Treat . 2015;48(1):96–103. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2014.07.014

National Institute on Drug Abuse. Is marijuana addictive?

Gujska JH, Silczuk A, Madejek R, Szulc A. Exploring the link between attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and cannabis use disorders: A review .  Med Sci Monit . 2023;29:e939749. doi:10.12659/MSM.939749

By Zuva Seven Zuva Seven is a freelance writer, editor, and founder of An Injustice!—an intersectional publication based on Medium—who writes along the intersections of race, sexuality, mental health, and politics. She has a Diploma in Health Sciences from the University of Leeds and has written for several publications, including Business Insider, Refinery29, Black Ballad, Huffington Post, Stylist, ZORA, Greatist, and many more.

The Reality of Teens and Weed

The risks and consequences of marijuana use for young adults..

Posted May 1, 2024 | Reviewed by Gary Drevitch

• Millions of teenagers in the United States use marijuana.
• “Weed” may be the only emotional relief, albeit temporary, some teens can find.
• Young people who are depressed are more likely to use marijuana, but it can make their depression worse.
• The adult SUD and overdose crisis has its roots in teen and young adult use that targets and changes brains.

Child and adolescent psychiatrist Sarah Y. Vinson says some adolescents use marijuana because it’s the only “medicine” they can access. For some teens, marijuana is to emotional pain as acetaminophen is to physical pain. A major reason for this lies in the difficulty of obtaining adequate (or any) mental health care and/or medications for adolescents.

According to Vinson, chair of the psychiatry department at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, “The reality for the poor traumatized kids I treat, and their parents and caregivers, is marijuana is a whole lot more accessible than high-quality, trauma-informed, culturally and structurally sensitive mental health care.”

She adds, “Marijuana is culturally sanctioned as a treatment for anxiety , depression , boredom , and a range of other psychiatric problems. Cannabis had been proposed as a treatment for most of the DSM and is the only treatment most of my patients can get regardless of whether it is safe or effective for any of these problems.”

I asked child and adolescent psychiatry and addiction experts Vinson and Marc Potenza about the consequences of teen use of marijuana, and both said the impact of cannabis on the developing brains and behavior of young people is a special concern.

According to Potenza , the Steven M Southwick Professor in the Yale Child Study Center and of Neuroscience ; and director of the Yale Program for Research on Impulsivity and Impulse Control Disorders :

“Increasing knowledge about the harmful effects of alcohol may be decreasing alcohol consumption among some younger groups. Cannabis legalization has been accompanied by greater social acceptance of cannabis use, and these perceptions seem prominent among younger individuals. We see impacts on mood, psychiatric illness, increases in risky behaviors like unprotected sex , gambling, other drug use and driving under the influence of cannabis, THC, and or other drugs or alcohol.”

A recent study at Columbia found casual teenage use of marijuana increased risks for depression and suicidal behavior , as well as problem behaviors such as truancy, poor grades, and trouble with law enforcement. The researchers found that about 2.5 million teens were casual users. Casual users were up to 2.5 times more likely than non-users to have behavioral and mental health problems.

Facts on Teenage Weed Use

In 2022, 1.2 million adolescents ages 12-17 began using marijuana for the first time. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), 6.4% of 12-17-year-olds (4.3 million people) used marijuana in the past month in 2022.

It’s also important to note that, in 2017, among adolescents aged 12-17 who used marijuana, 22% were depressed. A psychiatric disorder, particularly depression, also may increase the risk of marijuana abuse. According to SAMHSA, some adolescents (5%) had marijuana use disorder in 2022, which means they experienced adverse consequences of their drug use and yet couldn’t give the drug up.

How Marijuana Is Used Is Changing

Adolescents aged 12-17 used various means to ingest marijuana in 2022; the most popular was smoking (77%), followed by vaping (60%). (Some teens used multiple routes but chose the route with the greatest dose of THC delivered to the brain in the shortest time.) Overall, there's not much difference between smoking and vaping, as inhalation is highly addicting—pharmacologically, like intravenous injection. Also popular was eating or drinking the drug (36%) or using dabbing waxes and concentrates (23%). Some adolescent users applied marijuana in a lotion, cream, or skin patch or used drops, lozenges, strips, and other means of administration.

Reducing Risk for Psychosis From Marijuana

It is known that marijuana use may lead to psychiatric issues and even psychosis . In an article by Benedikt Fischer and colleagues, the authors explored key issues linked to an increased risk for a psychotic break in adolescents who use marijuana. For example, early use of marijuana (at age 16 or younger) was a risk for psychosis and thus should be avoided. They also noted that high-potency marijuana increases the risk of psychosis and should be avoided by adolescents. (However, teenagers may perceive high-potency marijuana as even better than “regular” marijuana.)

Frequency of use was another risk factor for psychosis, such as weekly or daily use, with those using the drug daily at elevated risk for serious psychiatric problems such as psychosis. In addition, individuals who use other addictive substances in addition to marijuana, such as tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, have a greater risk for psychosis, as well as a worse outcome, such as more frequent treatment relapses or worse cognitive symptoms.

Individuals with traumatic events in their past risk psychosis with marijuana. There is also a genetic component; if biologically related family members became psychotic after marijuana use, this may mean adolescents are at risk and likely should avoid the drug altogether.

Sometimes, marijuana affects how well psychiatric treatment drugs work; for example, individuals who receive antipsychotic medications may find their medication ’s efficacy reduced when they use marijuana.

Adolescent Marijuana Users May Become Lifelong Consumers

Some purveyors of marijuana perceive adolescents as highly attractive consumers. “It shouldn’t surprise us THC is sold as gummy bears or 'Krondike' bars, or that vaping fluids with flavors like pineapple or mango come in thinly disguised packages that attract young people,” says Deepak Cyril D’Souza, Albert E. Kent Professor of Psychiatry at the Yale School of Medicine and a leading expert on the pharmacology of cannabinoids. “The idea is if you have a young customer, you have a lifelong customer.”

Driving and Adolescent Weed Use

It’s illegal for anyone to drive under the influence of marijuana, although state laws vary considerably. The point is that some teenage marijuana users do drive under the influence. A 2017 study found that nearly half of adolescent drivers had driven a vehicle after using marijuana , and 1 in 8 (12.5%) reported driving under the influence of marijuana in the past month.

Teenagers may perceive driving under the influence of marijuana as safer than driving while intoxicated with alcohol; however, driving under the influence of any mood-impairing drug is dangerous. In addition, most adolescents are inexperienced drivers who need their mental acuity to decrease the risks of poor judgment causing car crashes. It is also important to avoid being a passenger in a car where the driver has ingested marijuana; individuals should refuse to enter a car in that situation. Admittedly, such a refusal may be difficult in the face of social pressure but it may be a life-saving choice.

The United States is confronting a public health crisis of substance use disorders and overdose deaths. We need to refocus and reenergize prevention and educational initiatives and support psychiatric treatment alternatives for youth. Addiction often begins with use in the teenage years, and 90% of all adults with substance use disorders began using alcohol, nicotine, or marijuana before age 18. Also, using any one substance (alcohol, nicotine, marijuana) significantly increases the likelihood of using the other two. A growing body of scientific evidence shows that even a one-year delay in drug use during adolescence can lower future trajectories of use for years to come. Brain researchers believe teenagers are extremely vulnerable because adolescent and young adult brains are still developing. Although marijuana is perceived as harmless by many, the dangers outlined in my prior post are amplified with much more dire consequences in youth.

Also note that there is some good news: A growing percentage of teens are using little or no alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, or other drugs. This approach should be encouraged for teens and young adults to help them reduce risks, develop to their full potential, and not join the adult SUD and overdose risk group. Even among less frequent users, we should encourage longer non-use periods. Lastly, improved mental health access for adolescents in the United States is urgently needed.

To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory .

Ghafouri M, Correa da Costa S, Zare Dehnavi A, Gold MS, Rummans TA. Treatments for Cannabis Use Disorder across the Lifespan: A Systematic Review. Brain Sci. 2024 Feb 28;14(3):227. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14030227. PMID: 38539616; PMCID: PMC10968391.

Tan B, Browne CJ, Nöbauer T, Vaziri A, Friedman JM, Nestler EJ. Drugs of abuse hijack a mesolimbic pathway that processes homeostatic need. Science. 2024 Apr 19;384(6693):eadk6742. doi: 10.1126/science.adk6742. Epub 2024 Apr 19. PMID: 38669575.

Sultan RS, Zhang AW, Olfson M, Kwizera MH, Levin FR. Nondisordered Cannabis Use Among US Adolescents. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(5):e2311294. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.11294

Mark S. Gold, M.D., is a pioneering researcher, professor, and chairman of psychiatry at Yale, the University of Florida, and Washington University in St Louis. His theories have changed the field, stimulated additional research, and led to new understanding and treatments for opioid use disorders, cocaine use disorders, overeating, smoking, and depression.

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