{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/addadhd/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2962-markdown","title":"\tDIY Recipe: Cannabis-Infused Broccoli Cheddar Soup","slug":"diy-recipe-cannabis-infused-broccoli-cheddar-soup","content":"Winter’s winding down, but there’s a still a chill in the air. So, what better way to make it through the last bit of the cold season than to indulge in a little comfort food? One of my favorite dishes to help keep me warm is broccoli Cheddar soup.\n\nCreamy, cheesy and packed with nutritious broccoli and garlic, this hot dish is sure to leave you feeling warm and toasty. This soup was a favorite for me growing up and has kept me going through many cold and snowy winters. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nThe infused version of this dish has all of the comfort and rich flavor of the soups mom used to make. Plus, you’ll get even more relief and the warm fuzzies when the cannabis starts to take effect.\n\nTo make things even better, it’s an incredibly easy soup to make. The whole recipe uses just one pot, making cleaning up a breeze. Plus, it’s a snap to make. It only takes around 30 minutes to create, from start to finish. \n\nIf you want to get creative with it, you can add all kind of additions. The soup goes perfectly in a bread bowl, or you can cut bread into cubes and use them for dipping. Some like to add carrots to their broccoli Cheddar soup, so feel free to chop some up and throw them in when you add the broccoli. Or would you rather add some meat protein to the mix? Bacon is a fantastic addition to throw in at the very end. \n\nWhat are you waiting for? Get started, and try this quick and easy edible for yourself.\n\nRELATED: [CONSUMING CANNABIS EDIBLES TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5a567e8fc7e0180007a7826c/consuming-cannabis-edibles-to-improve-your-health)\n\n### Ingredients for Cannabis-Infused Broccoli Cheddar Soup\n\n4–6 servings\n\n* 4 tbsp cannabutter*\n* 2 tbsp flour \n* 1 cup milk\n* 12 oz shredded sharp Cheddar cheese\n* 1/2 tbsp minced garlic\n* 32 oz chicken broth\n* 14 oz frozen broccoli \n* Salt and pepper to taste\n\nOptional:\n* Bread\n* Carrots \n* Bacon\n\n*Check out our [recipe for cannabutter](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56b27915fe98a1000c000243/diy-recipe-cannabutter-or-cannabis-butter). Use your best judgment on dosing based on your previous experiences with edibles. If you have a lower tolerance to cannabis and want to make a less potent soup, you can always substitute plain butter for part of the cannabutter. \n\n#### Cooking Tools:\n\n* Large or medium cooking pot\n* Mixing spatula or spoon \n* Measuring cups and spoons\n\n### How to Make Cannabis-Infused Broccoli Cheddar Soup \n\n1. Before you begin, it’s always a good idea to make sure you have all of your ingredients and cooking tools at the ready and out on a clean surface. \n\n2. Put a medium or large cooking pot on the stove, and turn on low heat. Add the cannabutter, and let it melt (watching carefully to make sure it doesn’t start to burn or brown). \n\n3. Once melted, mix in the garlic and flour, and turn the heat up slightly. Watch for about a minute as the flour lightly browns and makes the mixture a light brown color. \n\n4. Add the chicken broth to the pot, turning the heat on high and stirring every few minutes to ensure even heating. Let the broth heat to a low boil. \n\n5. Once the broth is bubbling at a low boil, mix in the frozen broccoli and the milk. (This is also when you’d want to add in carrots if you’re using them.) Let the mixture come back up to a simmer, and then adjust the heat to keep it simmering. Continue simmering until the broccoli is cooked through and soft. You should be able to break the broccoli apart very easily with your spoon or spatula when it’s finished cooking. \n\n6. When the broccoli has finished cooking and is soft enough to break apart with your spoon or spatula, remove it from the heat and mix in all but half a cup of the cheese. Set the other half cup of cheese aside. \n\n7. Season your soup with salt and pepper to taste. The cheese already includes plenty of salt, so I just add pepper. But if you like your soup a bit more seasoned, you may want more. At this stage, you can also mix in bacon, if you’re including it.\n\n8. Serve immediately in a bowl or bread bowl, adding a touch of pepper and some of the remaining shredded cheese as a garnish on top of each bowl.\n\nPhoto credit: Brent Hofacker/Shutterstock.com\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana/) index of articles. And if you have questions about cannabis, [ask them](https://www.hellomd.com/answers) and our community will answer.","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/14b42/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg","srcSet":"/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/f836f/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 200w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/2244e/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 400w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/14b42/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 800w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/47498/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 1200w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/0e329/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 1600w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/daa73/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.jpg 3648w","srcWebp":"/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/58556/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/61e93/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 200w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/1f5c5/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 400w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/58556/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 800w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/99238/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 1200w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/7c22d/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 1600w,\n/static/c9b84c66a693f89f8c5bfa37692f90b5/af520/b4baa6f5b5c924ef74f9c42f911cf9f7.webp 3648w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2008-markdown","title":"Get Started with Cannabis: A Comprehensive Overview of Medical Marijuana","slug":"get-started-with-cannabis-a-comprehensive-overview-of-medical-marijuana","content":" You’ve finally decided to take the plunge and try medical cannabis. Perhaps you’ve received your [medical marijuana recommendation](www.hellomd.com),  but are wondering “Now what?” Patients are often confused and many do not know where to start. \n\nWe recently chatted with Brant Hindman, resident Patient Guide with [Herba Buena](http://herbabuena.com/), regarding his advice for new cannabis patients. Herba Buena is a California medical cannabis collective which \"creates artisan-crafted products for solution-based medicine\". [Brant and founder Alicia Rose](http://herbabuena.com/our-story/) interact with patients through their monthly [Social Clubs](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) where members receive personalized consultations in a group setting. Social clubs allow for a tasting experience of Herba Buena's product line so each person finds the medicinal marijuana that is right for them. \n\nWe always suggest speaking to your doctor or a trusted advisor at a reputable dispensary or collective before ingesting medicinal marijuana for the first time. Below is some advice on how to obtain the right medical marijuana for you.\n\n**Find a Reputable Dispensary**\n\nIt's important to start with a reputable and knowledgeable dispensary. A reputable dispensary will do lab testing, which is important in the largely unregulated cannabis marketplace. Lab testing will check for pesticides, molds, fungus, and Ecoli among other substances that may negatively impact your health.\n\nA knowledgeable dispensary will also have people on staff capable of giving good advice. Brant says:\n\n>“In my experience, I do not believe that most people who advise in dispensaries take the time to really listen and give personalized advice to the patients who walk through the door. Finding the right dispensary should be like finding a trusted advisor. Call around, ask your friends, see who you get a good feeling from before you go in.  Go to the place that is going to take the time to listen to your questions and give you good answers that’s personalized to your specific needs. It’s also important to find a dispensary that carries a wide variety of medicinal marijuana, as not everyone can or wants to smoke to receive the effects of this amazing plant.”\n\n**Communicate Your Medical History & Symptoms**\n\nOnce you find the right dispensary, it’s important to clearly communicate your medical history (if necessary) and define the symptoms you are trying to treat. Are you looking for something to help with chronic pain, an anti-inflammatory or are you struggling with insomnia? If you have cancer are you trying to quell nausea or trying to eat more?\n\nTalk with a reputable ‘bud master’, the patient advisor within a dispensary, or doctor if available. A good advisor should be able to recommend an appropriate medicinal marijuana product for your condition. On this point, Brant says:\n\n>“When a new patient comes to us, we want understand symptoms they are experiencing, and what exactly they are trying to treat. We like to know as much as we can about their unique personal circumstance. How sensitive is their endocannabinoid system?  Have they had any bad experiences with medicinal marijuana before? What are their preferred or prescriptive methods of ingesting cannabis? We need to understand their medical history, as well as their symptoms, so the recommendations that are made are a pairing of both the most recent scientific research and the best organic medicine that can be found/created.” \n\n**Your Reaction to Cannabis is Unique**\n\nPeople respond to cannabis in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to THC, the psychoactive component within cannabis. Other people are less sensitive and can tolerate larger doses.  Before selecting a medicine, it is important to think about whether you are comfortable with the ‘high’ you may feel with a medicine that is THC-heavy. Some people prefer to ingest products that have zero psycho-activity.\n\n>“As an advisor, I strive to understand what experience the patient may be comfortable with. We always suggest that people new to marijuana start with an elixir (sublingual tincture) and then perhaps later they can move to a vaporizer, which is going to deliver more of a punch. We know that everyone has different sensitivity to cannabis and how his or her unique system reacts with cannabis will be different to the next person. The molecules from cannabis work differently in each person’s brain, so the result is not always consistent from person to person.”\n\n**Understand Cannabinoids and Their Effect** \n\nCannabinoids are what make the cannabis plant so unique. The two most prevalent cannabinoids in the marijuana plant are THC and CBD. THC is what makes marijuana psychoactive. CBD (cannabidiol) has been found to have analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties, and it is not psychoactive. There are upwards of 100 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant, but CBD and THC are the biggest stars. \n\nWhat’s interesting about cannabinoids is that they all work together to provide a synergistic effect within the body’s endocannibinoid system.  Cannabinoids work together to create stability and optimal health within our body. Some refer to cannabis as an adaptagenic medicine due to its ability to balance the body’s internal system. \n\nWhen you ingest cannabinoids they travel through the body and end up in your brain, binding to one or both CB1 and CB2 receptors. Depending on which receptor the cannabinoid prefers, it will alter the kind of relief you may feel. Both CBD and THC work together to create a balanced system, in conjunction with the myriad of other cannabinoids. This is what is referred to as the ‘entourage’ effect, meaning that the different cannabinoids work together to produce an overall effect.\n\nDepending on your symptoms, you may want more THC or more CBD. To this point, Brant commented:\n\n>“If someone has cancer they may want to have a medicine that is higher in THC. There are studies that show [THC can target some types of cancerous tumors](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f4574a3366380006540000/government-cancer-study-shows-cannabis-kills-cancer-cells). It is also a well known treatment for the nausea associated with chemotherapy.  [CBD is also being used as a treatment for some types of cancer](https://www.projectcbd.org/cancer) due to its ability to attach to cancer cells, causing them to destroy themselves. Ultimately, finding the right forms and ratios of CBD to THC is important in the treatment of your condition.  \n\n>If a person has insomnia, they may think about a higher THC ratio. Personally, I’d recommend a product such as our low dosed [‘Lullaby’](http://herbabuena.com/product/lullaby-nighttime-cannabis-elixir/) which  is functionally dosed to be effective, yet does not leave any hangover effects the next day.  CBD, is just a wonder drug.  It can drastically reduce the amount of seizures people with epilepsy experience. CBD helps people from a pain and inflammation standpoint, people with arthritis and fibromyalgia and anecdotally, it has even shown promise as a treatment for some skin cancers as well.” \n\n**Look at Ratio of CBD to THC – It Matters**\n\nCBD is non-psychoactive and THC is psychoactive, and almost all products are a combination of these cannabinoids. Flowers or strains, will always display a percentage of THC to CBD. For the most part, dispensaries almost exclusively sell flowers that are THC-heavy. Other medicinal products such as tinctures, drinks and edibles will present products with a ratio in milligrams of THC to CBD. \n\nIf you are looking for a non-psychoactive product you will look for a high ratio of CBD to THC. Conversely, if you are OK with psycho-activity you will seek a product that either has an equal ratio or one where the THC is higher than the CBD. Brant commented: \n>“Sometimes people can feel anxious or paranoid with too much THC. CBD counteracts and is an antidote to THC. It does not lower the level of THC in your body but the THC becomes less impactful as a psychoactive. The CBD can actually ground you and your nervous system. Understanding the ratio of THC to CBD in your product will help you better understand the overall effect you may experience with the cannabis you ingest.”\n\n**You Don’t Need to Smoke Your Medicine-Necessarily**\n\nBrant says “People are often shocked that they don’t need to smoke flowers in order to imbibe with their medicine. [There is an enormous amount of choice](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7e6426264330006310000/methods-of-administering-medical-marijuana) in the market today and all kinds of products a patient can choose from.” Among the myriad of choices are edibles-both food and drink, tinctures, sublingual (under the tongue) sprays, pills, topicals, among others. Some forms of medical cannabis are faster acting, such as smoking and sublinguals. [Edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55f44cbb33663800064d0000/essentials-about-edibles-that-you-need-to-know) can take as long as an hour to take effect, but can also last longer, sometimes up to 3-6 hours. When considering different types of medicine, consider that not all dispensaries offer a wide choice of products. In fact many dispensaries will only offer flowers (bud) for sale.\n\n**Microdose Your Medicine**\n\nBrant says his approach to dosage, is always to proceed with caution in the beginning. “At Herba Buena we are very big on micro dosing, or taking small doses at first until you find the right dosage for you.” As every person reacts differently to both CBD and THC, it is wise to start with a smaller amount and slowly ramp up to larger dosages. Brant says:\n\n>“Over time, finding your tolerance to THC is very important. When you start with a new product, start small. If it is a vaporizer, take a tiny puff and wait 15 minutes. Taking a one second puff is radically different from taking three or four puffs. If you are new to cannabis, you may suddenly find that you are extremely uncomfortable for a good stretch of time. It’s important to know what effect you ultimately want. We always suggest that first time users start with our elixirs (tinctures) as they have very small amounts of THC, so a person can work up from there.”\n\nAlthough cannabis products often come with recommended dosages, it is highly dependent on the person as well as that particular batch of medicine. The percentage of THC and CBD can vary from strain to strain, crop to crop and batch to batch. Lab testing has shown that not all products are accurately labeled. In addition, the FDA does not currently regulate cannabis products. Brant gives the following advice:\n\n>“Edibles are a great example of where microdosing is imperative.  A typical dose may be 85 mg but often a person will not tolerate more than 10mg. It can take up to an hour for an edible to take effect so often people will eat too much of a chocolate bar for instance, and then feel terrible for a 3 to 6 hour time period. Read the label, use caution and start small.”\n\n**Organic vs. Industrial Farming**\n\nAccording to Brant, it is important to know how your cannabis is grown. He says:\n\n>“Outdoor, organic farming creates a full flower medicine, which also equals healthier medicinal marijuana overall. The stars and the soil and the air are integrated systems, which help in the creation of that superior medicine. This is opposed to an industrial setting in an artificial environment, artificial lighting and hydroponics. Ultimately, this is a laboratory creation made on top of concrete.”\n\nThere is no doubt that non-organic, industrial farming sometimes relies on the use of pesticides and other dubious chemicals to produce larger more visually appealing buds. Brant says:\n\n>“Often non-organic flowers sell better because they actually look better. It is analogous to a body building competition. Before the competition the body builder will use more steroids, spray tan and artificially pump themselves up before going on display. This is the same with cannabis flowers for sale. We live in the age of Frankin-Weed. All of this can be avoided, by finding the right collective to join and trusted advisors to guide you along your way.” \n\n**Do Your Homework**\n\nIn summary, doing your homework and proceeding with caution will most likely result in finding the best medicinal marijuana for you.  Seek out a trusted advisor, whether that is your primary care doctor, a medical cannabis doctor, a naturopath or a reputable dispensary with a knowledgeable bud master. Taking the time to find the right medicinal marijuana for your symptoms can often give excellent results and be a pleasurable rather than confusing experience.\n\nIf you are interested in attending one of [Herba Buena’s Social Club](http://herbabuena.com/the-social-club/) events in the San Francisco Bay Area, [become a member](http://herbabuena.com/the-collective/membership-application/) of the collective. \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png","srcSet":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/69585/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/497c6/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/ee604/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f3583/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/f90fa/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.png 1365w","srcWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/61e93/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/1f5c5/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 400w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/58556/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 800w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/99238/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1200w,\n/static/6288c614ce32cdaa67777c207901c230/5e0b8/8cf1582f55fcc601be0b5d5817cca422.webp 1365w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1931-markdown","title":"Cannabis and ADD/ADHD","slug":"cannabis-and-addadhd","content":"Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is fraught with\r\ndistractibility and hyperactivity. Attention deficit disorder, or ADD,\r\nhas similar symptoms but without the hyperactivity. The [Centers for\r\nDisease Control and\r\nPrevention](http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html) reports these two\r\nconditions cost \\$3.7 billion a year in lost work. Both are treated\r\nmedically with psychostimulants like Adderall, Ritalin and Concerta, but\r\nthey come with side effects including headaches, loss of appetite,\r\nrestlessness, agitation, dry mouth, constipation and insomnia, In some\r\ncases, these drugs can cause heart palpitations and increase blood\r\npressure. They may also be habit forming.\r\n\r\nHow ADD/ADHD Affects the Brain\r\n------------------------------\r\n\r\nOne of the key physiological issues with ADD/ADHD is the shortage of\r\ndopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical neurotransmitter utilized\r\nin cognitive processes like attention, memory retention and focus.\r\nConditions like Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia and restless leg\r\nsyndrome tie back to dopamine levels as well.\r\n\r\nWhy Cannabis May Work as an Alternative\r\n---------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAlthough there is not a lot of research to prove that medical marijuana\r\nis a suitable alternative treatment, initial trials show that it is a\r\npossibility. Current therapeutic treatments stimulate dopamine\r\nproduction, improving attention in the process, but it comes at a cost\r\ndue to the potentially serious side effects. David Bearman, MD, a\r\npioneer in the field of administrative medicine and cannabinology,\r\nsuggests that the cannabinoids found in marijuana interact with the\r\nbrain's dopamine management system by increasing the availability of the\r\nneurotransmitter.\r\n\r\nWith ADHD, the brain becomes overwhelmed with information. If taken\r\ncorrectly, medical marijuana could work therapeutically to correct the\r\ndopamine balance. Cannabis and Ritalin have different mechanisms, but\r\nproduce very similar results.\r\n\r\nDrugs like Ritalin bind with dopamine to prevent a breakdown of the\r\nchemical, in a sense increasing the level available as well. The\r\ncannabinoids found in cannabis could correct the dopamine deficiency by\r\nincreasing its availability when properly dosed. The effect is similar\r\nto psychostimulants, but without unpleasant side effects.\r\n\r\nMedical science is currently looking deeper for anecdotal evidence that\r\ncannabis is an effective and safe treatment for ADD/ADHD, adding these\r\ntwo conditions to the long list of benefits from the therapeutic use of\r\ncannabis.\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/ellea/4955341641/in/photolist-8xTqqR-4akN1M-5FN43a-9fMEnF-pPDNC-nF6g2k-6eUi6S-8b5N4M-eb4z1n-7ky25p-b8MpFk-dSUpFP-kN6GJk-kC3drB-dc7hie-hW9Du-8GVrXg-8GVq6V-8GYxBL-8GsJok-8GVujV-8GYApE-8GVtwi-8GVtrg-8GYBfm-8GVtfi-8GVt86-8GVt2X-8GVsSz-8GYADU-8GVsCP-8GVsq2-8GYAdd-8GVse6-8GYzZC-bk9tfm-4cdCjt-8GYzJf-8GVrDV-8GVrsk-8GVrkn-8GVqhZ-8GVqci-8GYxY9-8GVpSK-8GYxJs-8GVpr4-8GVpkR-8GYxeG-8GVpbc)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.5384615384615385,"src":"/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/14b42/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.jpg","srcSet":"/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/f836f/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.jpg 200w,\n/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/2244e/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.jpg 400w,\n/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/14b42/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.jpg 800w","srcWebp":"/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/58556/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/61e93/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.webp 200w,\n/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/1f5c5/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.webp 400w,\n/static/1a3ab3ee615bddb8a74543352328ab46/58556/ccafe1aa1046767f6867c6e85686bf5b.webp 800w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1885-markdown","title":"Fighting ADD/ADHD with Medical Marijuana","slug":"fighting-addadhd-with-medical-marijuana","content":"The rate at which Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is\r\nbeing diagnosed has skyrocketed over the last 25 years. ADHD is a\r\ncondition characterized by hyperactivity, distractibility, and poor\r\nimpulse control. Children with ADHD may be fidgety and unable to sit\r\nstill, have difficulty concentrating, and may speak or act out at\r\ninappropriate times. Sufferers often have high levels of anxiety and\r\ndepression.\r\n\r\nThe Prevalence and Symptoms of ADHD and ADD\r\n-------------------------------------------\r\n\r\nAs of 2011, the CDC reported that [more than one child out of ten\r\nbetween the ages of 4 and 17](http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/data.html)\r\nhas been diagnosed with ADHD. This is a shocking number, and it is\r\nincreasingly concerning when we consider that the standard treatments\r\nfor ADHD use powerful stimulants that are chemically similar to\r\nmethamphetamine. [Conventional\r\ntreatment](http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2011/10/14/peds.2011-2654.full.pdf)\r\nrecommends medications such as Adderall, Ritalin and Vyvanse as the\r\nfirst line of treatment for children between the ages of 6 and 18.\r\n\r\nThe condition also affects adults, although they commonly fail to\r\nexhibit the hyperactive component. Adult ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder\r\nwithout hyperactivity) [most often manifests as an inability to\r\nconcentrate](http://www.helpguide.org/articles/add-adhd/adult-adhd-attention-deficit-disorder.htm).\r\nAdults with ADD are often disorganized and forgetful, prone to\r\nrisk-taking and sometimes even hyper-focused, meaning the person\r\nconcentrates with laser-like intensity on a task to the exclusion of\r\neverything else.\r\n\r\nThe Efficacy of Medical Marijuana\r\n---------------------------------\r\n\r\nAlthough not completely understood, ADHD/ADD seems to result from a\r\ndysfunction in dopamine neurotransmitter release and uptake. Dopamine\r\nreceptors interact with the endocannabinoid system in many parts of the\r\nbrain, which makes medical marijuana a possible treatment option for\r\nthose suffering from ADHD/ADD. Cannabinoid receptors are concentrated in\r\nthe amygdala and hippocampus areas of the brain. Those areas are linked\r\nstrongly with attention deficit disorders, high anxiety, depression, and\r\nphobias. These centers also have a high concentration of CB1 receptors,\r\nwhich cannabis can target to help control these symptoms.\r\n\r\nRecent research into [marijuana use by those with\r\nADHD/ADD](http://informahealthcare.com/doi/abs/10.3109/10826084.2013.841251)\r\nsupports the theory that cannabis can be an effective treatment for\r\nADHD, although there is still a scarcity of formal studies on the topic.\r\nSublingual administration is the fastest route of administration. CBD products, with extremely low levels of THC (the physco-active component in medical marijuana), are most suitable for young patients suffering from ADHD. CBD products, similar to those children take to ease epilepsy symptoms, can help children focus without any possible physco-active side effects.  \r\n\r\n[Photo Credit.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/51607907@N03/8574916468)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3333333333333333,"src":"/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/14b42/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.jpg","srcSet":"/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/f836f/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.jpg 200w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/2244e/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.jpg 400w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/14b42/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.jpg 800w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/16310/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.jpg 1024w","srcWebp":"/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/58556/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/61e93/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.webp 200w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/1f5c5/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.webp 400w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/58556/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.webp 800w,\n/static/45011dfe6b83cb7b8b10eeb624dd7754/cc834/f93d03e80db15e6c845043d582f8b451.webp 1024w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":4918,"name":"Add/adhd","slug":"addadhd","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}