New Jersey workplace marijuana guidelines confuse employers. Released by the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) they have baffled workplace management over what they can and cannot do when a worker is high on the job.
Cannabis law experts and employment attorneys called the rules and their rollout vague and baffling and said the suggestions mentioned therein are impractical to implement and therefore will likely keep businesses in a “state of limbo.”
“I see a lot of risk from both the employer and the employees’ side that’s a little concerning,” said Sean Sanders, an employment attorney at Frier Levitt, reported the New Jersey Monitor.
Earlier this month, the CRC issued interim guidance while it continues to develop more permanent regulations to certify workplace impairment experts, which are required by law. Since legalization, employees can no longer be terminated solely because of a drug test positive for marijuana.
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The interim guidelines allow employers to use an observation report form issued by the agency, which when used in conjunction with a positive drug test for marijuana.
Chair of the CRC, Dianna Houenou said the new guidelines seek to strike a balance between employers’ rights and employees’ rights, but the guidance doesn’t actually do anything new.
As such, lawyers and business leaders who have been awaiting the guidelines were unimpressed and frustrated with what the commission released, now five months after the industry launched and nearly two years since voters approved cannabis legalization.
“The concern is, how do we do this? That’s the biggest question, and I wish the CRC guidance would give us a little bit more, no pun intended, guidance,” said Tracy Armstrong, an employment lawyer at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer, who serves on the New Jersey State Bar Association’s cannabis law committee.
Look For Signs Of Behavioral Impairment? Good Luck With That
The form lists signs of physical and behavioral impairment: red, swollen eyes; sniffling nose; heavy breathing; a marijuana odor; rambling speech; looking confused; excessive yawning, and more even though many of these signs can also be due to allergies or medication, or even someone having a bad day.
“You don’t want to be targeting your employees who look depressed, and certainly you don’t want to be documenting it,” said employment attorney Sanders. “That brings up a whole ‘nother can of worms with the Law Against Discrimination.”
Stress is terrible for your physical and mental health. A new study says that it can impact your relationship, even during the honeymoon stage.
It makes life more difficult, whether we’re talking about people who live alone or those who live with a romantic partner. A new study says doing this in a relationship is likely to cause stress for a couple. While it makes sense, people focusing on their partner’s bad habits is rough for people. This behavior occurred even when couples were in the “honeymoon stage” of their relationship.
The study was published in the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science and was led by a researcher from the University of Texas.
Photo by SIphotography/Getty Images
The study involved 79 heterosexual newlywed couples, who were asked to complete surveys each night for 10 days. Before the start of the study, they were asked about the stress in their lives, allowing researchers to develop an understanding of their baseline stress level. Afterward, participants filled out a chart with their and their partner’s behavior every night.
Researchers claimed they wanted a sample of newlyweds since these people tend to focus on the positive aspect of their relationship, often overlooking their partner’s flaws and negative actions. They found that an accumulation of stress was enough to make participants shift their attention from their partners elsewhere.
“We found that individuals who reported experiencing more stressful life events outside of their relationship, such as problems at work, were especially likely to notice if their partner behaved in an inconsiderate manner,” study lead author Dr. Lisa Neff told told the Daily Mail.
While the results simply reinforce that stress is bad for relationships no matter at what stage they’re at, researchers think their study shows just how impactful stress can be. “But the fact that we found these effects in a sample of newlyweds speaks to how impactful the effects of stress can be,” said Neff.
She suggests expanding the study to include people at different stages of their relationships, likely showing that stress has a stronger impact on couples that have been together for longer periods of time.
In this modern age of marijuana, what happens to the part of the plant that doesn’t get you high? There are many options.
Endless time, money and thought go into exactly what to do with marijuana buds once they are ripe for the picking. There are ever-evolving methods of extraction, and always a new and exciting way to consume cannabis. But the THC rich buds, or flower, are a small fraction of the towering cannabis plant. What happens to marijuana scraps?
After the plant has been cured and trimmed, there remains a large mound of natural cannabis scraps that must be dealt with. Years ago, in the olden days of cannabis cultivation, this pile could have been added to a compost pile out back, or burned safely in a controlled burn. Those unregulated days are a thing of the past.
In today’s legal and highly regulated market, you can’t just toss marijuana scraps in the back of the greenhouse. So, in this modern age of marijuana, what happens to the part of the plant that doesn’t get you high?
What Is Cannabis Waste, Exactly?
When you picture cannabis waste, the visual you have is likely a tidy mound of plant stalks and unusable leaves. This does make up a large portion of cannabis waste, but there are other forms of waste as well that can be a bit trickier and less green. “Cannabis waste can be any material that has come in contact with cannabis throughout the cultivation, production, manufacturing, or retail process,” according to theEcoWaste, a cannabis waste disposal service.
There are the sponges and chemicals used to clone and propagate plants. There are other unused products, and used testing samples. This hodgepodge of cannabis waste can make it a bit trickier to dispose of.
Cannabis Waste Requires Strict Record Keeping
Perhaps you live in a place where trash pickup is a bit of a pain. Maybe you need to separate trash in 4 different bins and bring it all the way to a recycling facility. If you think that is annoying, imagine having to keep records of everything you throw away. That, essentially, is what most farm managers are responsible for at their facilities. You cannot simply sweep up a mess and dump it, or light it ablaze and tell authorities it has turned to dust. There must be records, and documented proof that the cannabis waste has, indeed, been completely and properly disposed of.
Photo by CRYSTALWEED cannabis via Unsplash
“Unlike other agricultural industries, cannabis growers in most areas must keep exhaustive records of every ounce of material they discard,” according to an article inBioCycle, a resource for organic recycling and composting. The article continues, stating that some laws are so strict and exact that “Some jurisdictions require that each plant get its own identification and tracking tag, or that senior managers from the producer accompany the wastes to any external disposal site.”
BioCycle also mentions how some states require video footage of cannabis waste areas be held for up to 90 days, in order to prove there is no discrepancy between written records and video proof. Needless to say, this is not your typical trip to the dump.
Composting Is Best, But Sometimes Complicated Option
Composting cannabis waste is often the best option for the environment and the growers. The problem is, you can’t simply throw cannabis waste into a compost pile and walk away. In addition to proper documentation, you need to grind, chop and mix the cannabis waste with non-cannabis waste to make sure that it no longer resembles anything that could be sold as a cannabis product.
In fact, according toGreen Mountain Technologies, “Many state regulations for the disposal of cannabis waste require the cannabis to be mixed at least 50%-50% by volume with non-cannabis waste in order to render the cannabis waste unusable.” Once you achieve this mixture, you still need to find a suitable facility to take this compostable waste. This can be an adventure in itself.
Other disposal methods include:
Bokashi Process
The Bokashi process is another compost-style method of recycling cannabis scraps, but involves using a vessel, an organic additive, and time. The process was invented in Japan in the 1980s, and, like competing, is a natural way of breaking down organic materials and turning them into a re-usable substance.
According toThe Spruce, “Unlike traditional composting, which is an aerobic process that requires oxygen, Bokashi is an anaerobic process that requires that you isolate the materials from oxygen as much as possible.” This is an organic process fit for smaller operations, but for those with very large growing facilities, it would involve a large investment to build vessels large enough to get rid of all the organic waste.
Cannabis Disposal Companies
As the cannabis industry continues to boom, all industries surrounding it are also growing and expanding — this even includes the waste treatment sector. All over the United States and Canada, small and large businesses are forming to help deal with cannabis waste removal. Some of these businesses focus on logistics and ease of surface, while others are focused on the organic route with the goal of lowering the cannabis industry’s carbon footprint. This is still a new frontier, and as the cannabis industry grows (along with the regulations that come with a legal cannabis market), these cannabis disposal companies are likely to multiply.
Landfills
While the last place you would expect or want cannabis waste is in a landfill taking up space, this is a legal option and potential final resting place for cannabis scraps. Sure, many growers are environmentally friendly at heart, but the fact remains that there is no incentive apart from one’s own environmental morality to compost cannabis rather than send it to a landfill. In fact there are a few reasons cannabis is more likely to end up in a landfill than a compost facility.
For one, landfills are often more accessible than compost facilities. This means, logistically, landfills are a much easier option for some companies. It is also important to note that you can only compost cannabis waste if it is mixed with equally organic materials, like dirt, grass or other organic waste. While this might be no problem for a large outdoor growing farm in a moderate climate, organic waste might be harder to come by in the middle of the winter for an indoor growing operation.
Cannabis disposal facilities offer an alternative to landfills, but they are not currently as prevalent an option. One can only hope that since these strict laws of marijuana waste disposal don’t seem to be going anywhere, perhaps we can at least find a simple and organic way to take care of the scrappier side of cannabis cultivation.
The Michigan State Police/Forensic Science Division (MSP/FSD) recently halted THC toxicology testing for drivers suspected to be driving under the influence of marijuana. This came after a “technical issue” that revealed that previous test methods allowed for the conversion of CBD into THC leading to false positive results.
THC, the intoxicating cannabinoid in marijuana, is believed to impair driving by prolonging one’s reaction time. CBD on the other hand is non-intoxicating and federally legal.
With the recent findings by the MSP, it appears that dozens of drivers who might have consumed CBD have been wrongfully penalized for testing positive for THC erroneously.
The MSP/FSD tests approximately 200,000 samples for alcohol and other drugs each year. An evaluation launched by the body on August 19, 2022 revealed that the current test for THC could result in a positive test even when a sample contains pure CBD. Following this discovery, MSP ordered an immediate stop to THC testing until this issue had been resolved.
Upon further investigation, the MSP believes that this error might have been carried forward since March 28, 2019 when CBD became legal in the state. Lab data indicates that about 3,250 samples have been affected by this error.
The MSP has escalated the issue to the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB) which is the accrediting body. In addition, MSP has halted the disposal of all blood samples to preserve evidence in case there will be a need for re-analysis in the future.
Marijuana rentals are becoming more and more common, with hosts offering their guests a string of unique and memorable activities.
A weed getaway is more complicated than it sounds. While you may live in a legal state, the drug’s status of your destination matters. Marijuana is also federally illegal, meaning that transporting it across states lines is prohibited, even where it’s legal. So, it seems niche marijuana vacation rentals are catching on.
Marijuana-vacation rentals are a fraction of the market, yet one that’s been slowly on the rise. While there are some locations that simply allow you to rent the place in your (legal) state and smoke your own pot without worrying about your neighbors or your sheets, there are others that take creative routes to make guests feel welcome and meet the expectations of a true weed getaway, including providing the weed.
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Websites like BudandBreakfast.com are facilitating these transactions, connecting guests with hosts who allow marijuana use on their properties. While having a much smaller pool of locations than websites like Airbnb, these services are in demand and are finding more and more customers.
CNBC spoke with various hosts that provide these services, who provided a breakdown of their establishments and what makes their rentals stand out from the rest.
“I’ve really just tried to give people what they’re used to, just with the added element of cannabis,” said Nicole Butler, who rents a cannabis bed and breakfast. With a price point that starts at $420 per night, Butler provides her guests with a fully stocked cannabis bar and activities like yoga, CBD massages, and more.
“I think the pandemic made people really appreciate experiences, self-care, and just doing things that make them feel good,” she said.
Similar listings provide people a place where they can comfortably smoke cannabis, whether it’s BYOB or provided in the location. Listings also provide guests with important information on local dispensaries and cannabis events going on in the area, all in the hopes of getting people excited to smoke some weed on their vacation.
While cannabis tourism remains a niche activity and something that demands significant research ahead of time, more and more people are growing interested in the idea, looking for ways of monetizing it, and providing customers with a good experience.
As more states legalize recreational marijuana, more weed rental locations will pop up, especially those that merge wellness and that healthy slant that many cannabis users are searching for.
Some of the most powerful cannabis strains have THC percentages in the teens. But they are falling out of favor as the market embraces strains that test above 30%.
A recent Forbes article suggested that THC percentage is the cannabis industry’s biggest lie. True enough, the industry is polarized on this issue which unfortunately impacts heavily on the product that ends up on dispensary shelves.
One dispensary owner told me recently, “The rush for THC numbers is so bad that some consumers will not buy anything that is less than 30% THC. We have to sell what the market demands and not what we think is right for the market.”
First things first, delta-9-THC is the chemical that bestows cannabis that typical euphoric feeling. A few more intoxicating cannabinoids such as delta-8 and delta-10 have emerged recently, but they exist in minute quantities in cannabis. Hence, THC is the main intoxicating cannabinoid that’s sought after for that extra cerebral oomph.
Of course, THC has therapeutic benefits that compete well against those offered by the model cannabinoid CBD which though psychoactive, is completely non-intoxicating. However, THC stands out for its intoxicating benefits that are hyped to boost creativity and culminate in boundless laughter. For recreational users, that should be the it factor, right?
Is THC Percentage the ‘It Factor’ for Dope Cannabis?
Tommy Chong, who is hailed as one of the cannabis greats doesn’t seem to believe so. A few other legends, especially the proponents of the entourage effect, hold a similar belief. And so does the Forbes article mentioned above that suggest that THC numbers are a scam after all.
If it’s true that THC doesn’t matter, then why don’t we go right ahead and smoke CBD flower and get high?
It’s all in the terpenes.
Tommy Chong/Photo via MyCannabis.com
Entourage Effects: Terpenes Over THC
The entourage effect is a term that was coined by two founding fathers of cannabis, Raphael Mechoulam, and Shimon Ben-Shabat in 1998. It is the suggestion that when terpenes are added to cannabinoids such as THC or CBD the resulting effect is both amplified and prolonged in such a way that “the whole is greater than the sum of parts.” This is what makes the argument that when it comes to the strength of a strain, terpenes have to be taken into consideration and not just THC alone.
Some of the most powerful cannabis strains have THC levels in teens (not exceeding 20). But unfortunately, they are falling out of favor as the market embraces strains that test above 30%.
To create products that are endeared to this market trend, unscrupulous manufacturers are bumping THC numbers. Consequently, there have been reports of consumers “feeling nothing” after consuming “potent” cannabis strains with labels reading over 35% THC. This is causing a lot of confusion in the market.
Terpene Profile Over Potency
When purchasing a cannabis product, the terpene and cannabinoid profile should be prioritized above the THC percentage alone. In Nevada for example, it is now mandatory for producers to list the top three terpenes in each product. This information should guide the consumer on the kind of effects to expect from each strain.
Science has now revealed that CBD may offset some of the negative effects caused by THC, allowing the user to enjoy the best of both worlds through the entourage mechanism. Some consumers have found that THC with CBD (with each exceeding 10%) can be a powerful combination for both medical and recreational use. Gradually, we expect consumers to become increasingly sensitized about the “truth in terpene profiles and lies in THC numbers.”
This should lead to the discovery of the most effective cannabinoid and terpene combinations for certain medical or recreational goals. It should also herald the demise of the rush towards 40% THC.
Meanwhile, should we smoke CBD because THC doesn’t matter?
Not at all. While THC does matter in a strain, it’s not everything. For recreational use, some legends swear by the 15% mark if any level of intoxication is to be achieved. Anything below might as well be considered hemp. Increasing THC above that level for stronger effects might be a gamble as well. It’s the terpenes that add the extra chutzpah. But well, further science is needed to back these claims.
As marijuana policy reform picks up steam across the country, Booker is urging the federal government to get with the program, especially in terms of equity.
Democrats Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman (D) continue to push hard for cannabis policy reform.
“With a majority of Americans on both sides of the aisle in support of legalization, we know that this has opportunities,” said Booker in a pre-recorded video at the Cannabis Opportunities Conference. He added that there is hope for policy change considering state and nationwide support for marijuana legalization, reported Marijuana Moment. “We need, though, to continue to evolve our focus, vision, and strategies to make sure that economically, socially—and especially within our criminal justice system—we are expanding fairness, equality and opportunity.”
The event’s policy summit was led by PA State Sen. Sharif Street (D).
Booker, Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) introduced the outline of the Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act (CAOA) in July 2021. The proposal seeks to decriminalize marijuana at the federal level by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), expunging prior convictions and allowing people serving time for applicable crimes to petition for resentencing.
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) (C), joined by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) (L) and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) / Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images
As marijuana policy reform picks up steam across the country, Booker is urging the federal government to get with the program, especially in terms of equity.
“This legalization movement has really got to continue to focus on removing barriers to justice for marginalized communities,” he said. “This movement has got to be about expanding economic opportunities and democratizing those opportunities well. This movement has to be about not allowing us, in any way, to move backward, but continuing to take strides forward towards justice.”
Fetterman Continues To Push For Reform
To that end, Fetterman, a longtime cannabis advocate, talked about expungement — a “one-time, large-scale pardon effort” from Gov. Tom Wolf and Fetterman, who chairs the state Board of Pardons. Under the program that got underway earlier this month, Pennsylvanians convicted of possessing small amounts of marijuana can apply to get their records cleared.
“Pennsylvania is a place for second chances,” Fetterman said, adding that the joint effort “will help people get pardons quickly for stupid weed convictions.”
Fetterman, who is running for a Senate seat, recently urged President Biden to deschedule marijuana from a Schedule I drug and work to decriminalize it. Shortly after, Fetterman and the President crossed paths in Pittsburgh and discussed potential changes to the status of cannabis under the CSA prior to Biden’s Labor Day at a union hall.
If this poll is any indication of how republicans nationwide view cannabis policy, there could be lots to discuss, and possibly celebrate, when it comes to cannabis legalization in states throughout the country.
With the midterm elections on the horizon, many political issues are taking center stage as November inches closer into view. Cannabis reform and legalization has already entered the conversation in several races, and its legalization will be on the ballot in several states this election.
But where many issues are very polarizing, a new poll suggests that republican voters might actually favor marijuana access and reform more than you might think, in ways that align them closer to democrats than is typically seen in today’s political climate.
Thepoll, which was conducted on behalf of the National Cannabis Roundtable in late August and surveyed 1,000 Republican voters, found the majority of republicans surveyed support a number of progressive cannabis policies. For one, according to the poll, 3 and 4 of the GOP voters surveyed believe that cannabis companies should have the same rights as any other type of business.
The Fresh Toast had the chance to ask the NCR a few questions about the poll, including whether they think Republican lawmakers with conservative views will start changing their stance on cannabis policy. “Members of congress are elected to represent the viewpoints of their constituencies and these poll numbers overwhelmingly show that there are more voters in favor of cannabis reform than against,” said Saphira Galoob, executive director, National Cannabis Roundtable. “So I think we’ll see some positions on things like access to banking, US Capital Markets, and tax reform start to change with Republican lawmakers.”
The poll found that 2 out of 3 republicans surveyed believe that cannabis companies should have banking system access and should be able to use bank accounts like a normal business. Meanwhile, there still has not been a cannabis banking bill that has passed with bipartisan support, even after many attempts.
Some believe this change in tune and point of view will be reflected as early as this November, when people show up to vote. “We’ll likely see support for legal cannabis continue to increase this November when Republicans in at least a half dozen states and counties vote on legalization and other issues,” said former Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO), an NCR advisory board member, in apress release.
This point of view has not always been held by republican leaders or even republican voters. But it seems as if while the nation in general has started to look more favorably at marijuana legalization, republicans have bridged the gap and started to share not-to-distant opinions from the democrats across the aisle. We asked the NCR what factors they think are inspiring this growing rate in acceptance among republican voters.
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“I think with more states coming online with medical programs and broader recreational availability, the stigma of cannabis is weakening, and people realize the benefits of cannabis far outweigh whatever pre-conceived opinions there might have been in the past,” Galoob wrote.
With so many interesting and often unexpected results within the survey, we asked the NCR what results they found most surprising. “I was surprised by the broad support for criminal justice reform relating to cannabis offenses in states where cannabis is legal,” Galoob wrote. “The support for sentence review and record expungement was over 70% from Republican voters and I think that’s very significant.”
As November quickly approaches, many are interested to see how America votes, as it can potentially shed light on the pulse of many citizens, both liberal and conservative. If this poll is any indication of how republicans nationwide view cannabis policy, there could be lots to discuss, and possibly celebrate, when it comes to cannabis legalization in states throughout the country.
Cannabis and ADHD have a complex relationship, but there is compelling evidence that marijuana helps treat the chronic condition.
If marijuana can be used to enhance your focus, does cannabis help treat ADHD? In this article, we’ll look at what the science says about cannabis and ADHD, including recent research that suggests that ADHD may be connected to the endocannabinoid system.
While scientists are still exploring weed and ADHD, there is some early evidence that suggests cannabis may be a helpful therapy.
Cannabis and ADHD: An Overview
Before we get into how weed affects Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), let’s define what we are discussing.
ADHD is a neurological condition that makes it difficult to focus and can lead to impulsivity and hyperactivity. ADHD is the official medical diagnosis, whereas Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a now-outdated term that describes people with primarily inattentive symptoms. At present, one in nine children are diagnosed with ADHD and an estimated 6.76% of adults display ADHD symptoms.
People with ADHD may encounter trouble in school or work. However, many successful individuals with ADHD — such as business mogul Richard Branson or the award-winning journalist Lisa Ling — view their ADHD as an advantage, so this condition affects everyone differently.
While there is no cure for ADHD, there are treatments that can help manage symptoms. Common treatments include medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes. The most common medications prescribed to treat ADHD are stimulants, specifically methylphenidate (e.g. Ritalin) and amphetamines (e.g. Adderall).
However, some people do not respond well to medication or cannot tolerate the side effects. As a result, many people turn to natural treatments like cannabis and CBD to treat their ADHD symptoms.
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Why might cannabis help with ADHD? Cannabis is a complex plant that produces hundreds of biologically active cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Different cannabis products, ingestion methods, doses, and active ingredients allow cannabis to create a wide range of effects — some of which might treat ADHD symptoms. But which compound is responsible for the benefits — is it CBD, a specific terpene, or does THC help with ADHD?
Researchers have noted that “the complexity created with whole plant products…eludes simplistic conclusions about the effect of [cannabis] on” ADHD symptoms. So, what does the science say? Does weed help with ADHD?
Weed and ADHD: Pros and Cons
There is not much rigorous research into cannabis and ADHD due to federal restrictions that limit cannabis research. However, there is some evidence to suggest that marijuana helps with ADHD in some individuals.
A small case report out of the University of Saskatchewan in Canada described how cannabis self-medication affected three males with ADHD. Each of the males were in their late teens and early twenties, taking standard ADHD medications, and had successfully incorporated cannabis into their treatment regime.
The subjects were provided with cannabidiol (CBD), a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in some strains of cannabis, and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an intoxicating cannabinoid found in some strains of cannabis, at a ratio of 20:1 CBD:THC. The participants ingested the cannabinoids orally, but were permitted to self-direct their use.
Two of the three patients reported taking cannabis once daily, whereas the other patient preferred a twice-daily regimen. Two patients preferred smoking cannabis rather than taking it orally. One patient opted to change the cannabis product he was given to one with high THC and no CBD.
The researchers found that each person exhibited positive benefits regardless of the ingestion method, dosage, and cannabinoid ratio. Each participant found he was able to keep his “emotions in check” and that his quality of life increased.
Photo by Katja Kircher/Getty Images
Due to federal restrictions, researchers have had to get creative to study weed and ADHD. For example, researchers looked at online forums to determine how people with ADHD discuss cannabis. In one study, researchers analyzed 401 forum threads and found that:
25% of people felt cannabis improved their ADHD symptoms
8% of people felt cannabis was harmful to their ADHD symptoms
5% of people felt cannabis both improved their ADHD symptoms and was harmful to their ADHD symptoms
2% of people felt cannabis did nothing to improve or harm their ADHD symptoms
As a result of their online forum assessments, researchers noted that “despite [the fact] that there are no clinical recommendations or systematic research supporting the beneficial effects of cannabis use for ADHD, online discussions indicate that cannabis is considered therapeutic for ADHD.”
So, it seems weed can help ADHD for some individuals. Below is a brief summary of the pros and cons of weed for ADHD, according to the available data:
Pros of using weed for ADHD:
May help keep emotions in check
May help individual obtain and excel at a new job with more responsibility
May help to lessen the amount of ADHD medication taken
May improve executive function
May lessen symptoms of ADHD
May reduce anxiety
May replace prescription stimulant medication for some individuals
Cons of using weed for ADHD:
May cause sleepiness
May impact short-term memory
May impair the ability to drive and operate machinery
May interact with medications (including ADHD medication)
May lead to cannabis use disorder
May not be safe for people with certain medical conditions (such as heart palpitations or a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia)
Not recommended for children or adolescents, as it could interfere with brain development
May worsen executive function
Does Weed Help with ADHD?
Cannabis and ADHD have a complex relationship, but there is compelling evidence that marijuana helps ADHD.
The relationship is complex because ADHD is associated with increased risk of substance use, abuse, and dependence. Between 34-46% of adults seeking treatment for cannabis use disorder have ADHD. Researchers have found that individuals with ADHD are 7.9 times more likely to use cannabis in their lifetime than an individual without ADHD.
But what if individuals with ADHD are self-medicating with cannabis? Remarkably, that’s what the data suggests.
Photo by Ozge Yagmur / EyeEm/Getty Images
For example, a 2008 case report from Germany described a 28-year old male who was “very maladjusted and inattentive while sober,” but who appeared completely “inconspicuous” while having very high levels of THC in his blood plasma.
The researchers conducted a battery of performance tests and found that the subject had better results in driving related performance when he was using cannabis. They concluded that “it has to be considered, that in the case of ADHD, THC can have atypical effects and can even lead to an enhanced driving related performance.”
So, weed might help with ADHD — and cannabis may affect people with ADHD differently than neurotypical individuals.
In 2017, there was a small study on cannabis and ADHD called EMA-C (Experimental Medicine in ADHD-Cannabinoids) that found similar results. EMA-C was a pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled study of Sativex, an oromucosal spray with a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio.
Thirty participants were randomly assigned to take Sativex or a placebo. Researchers wanted to determine the effects of cannabinoids versus a placebo on cognitive performance and ADHD symptoms in a small group of adults with ADHD.
For cognitive performance, no significant differences were found between the two groups. But Sativex was associated with a “nominally significant improvement in hyperactivity/impulsivity…and a trend towards improvement for inattention and emotional lability.” These improvements were not statistically significant following “adjustments for multiple testing.”
However, the researchers concluded that “adults with ADHD may represent a subgroup of individuals who experience a reduction of symptoms and no cognitive impairment following cannabinoid use.”
They note that the results of the study were not definitive, but do provide preliminary evidence supporting the “self-medication theory of cannabis use in ADHD.” As a result, the researchers call for further studies to explore the role of the endocannabinoid system in ADHD.
Can You Get Medical Marijuana for ADHD?
A study from 2017 indicates that a small number of psychiatrists in the United States have recommended medical cannabis for the treatment of ADHD.
In states where marijuana is legal for medicinal purposes, ADHD is not listed as a qualifying condition that can result in a physician issuing a medical marijuana card. However, many people with ADHD self-medicate with cannabis and find great benefit.
Can CBD Help with ADHD?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is being investigated as a treatment for a wide range of conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), social anxiety, and schizophrenia.
A 2020 literature review summarized clinical outcomes of CBD or nabiximols (a whole-plant extract of CBD:THC in a 1:1 ratio) for psychiatric disorders, and found that CBD has a Grade B recommendation for ASD, social anxiety, schizophrenia, and ADHD.
A Grade B recommendation means that clinicians are recommended to provide this service, and that there is a high certainty that this treatment provides a moderate benefit, or a moderate certainty that it provides a moderate-to-high benefit.
So, the latest research suggests that CBD may have a moderate benefit for some individuals with ADHD. Can you take CBD in place of Adderall? That’s a question you’ll need to ask your doctor as it beyond the scope of this article.
Photo by Vanessa Nunes/Getty Images
CBN for ADHD
While many of the studies referenced in this article focus on combinations of CBD and THC, one study also looked at CBN. (If you aren’t familiar with the cannabinoid CBN, check out What is CBN?)
This study found that individuals who consumed more CBN had lower ADHD symptom frequency. This finding is interesting because previous research has indicated that CBN in combination with THC is associated with increased psychoactive effects. Perhaps ADHD is related to the endocannabinoid system in currently unknown ways. As more research comes out, we will update this page.
Is Weed Bad for ADHD?
Many people wonder if cannabis is bad for ADHD. Cannabis can reduce attention, cause sleepiness, and excessive use may affect motivation. Additionally, some literature suggests that ADHD symptoms are associated with increased cannabis craving, dependence, and earlier initiation of use. However, the only controlled trial of cannabinoids and ADHD found that “no ADHD symptoms worsened.”
It is worth noting that purposeful cannabis consumption has a greater benefit for ADHD than using cannabis to “get high.” Jointly is an app designed to help you discover purposeful cannabis consumption. With the Jointly app, you can track how precise doses and cannabinoids affect you. You can choose your experience (like Focus or Stimulate Appetite), get matched with products that Jointly users rate highly for that experience, and learn how the 15 Factors impact you.
Can Weed Cause ADHD?
A large-scale study was conducted to determine how genes, cannabis use, and ADHD interacted. The researchers found evidence that ADHD predicts lifetime cannabis use, but that cannabis use does not predict whether or not an individual has ADHD.
In short, the researchers found “no support for the idea that cannabis use increases the risk of ADHD.” Weed does not cause ADHD, although it may worsen symptoms for some individuals.
Weed and Adderall
If you are interested in cannabis and ADHD, it is likely you are also wondering about weed and Adderall, weed and Vyvanse, or weed and Ritalin. You may wonder if you can replace ADHD meds with weed, or if it is safe to combine prescription stimulants with cannabis. Please consult with your doctor if you want to know if it is safe for you to combine cannabis with your prescribed ADHD medication, or replace your medication with cannabis and CBD.
One study looked at the combined effects of weed and Ritalin (methylphenidate), and found that the combination “produces unique effects on cardiovascular function, subjective effects and performance measures.” For example, Ritalin reduced the variability of reaction time, but THC mitigated these effects.
The saga of “The Lord of the Rings” has the undisputed love of stoners throughout the land. This is due, among many other reasons, to the comical nods to marijuana in this spectacular work. And, although Tolkien did not delve into this concept, the creator of the film series, Peter Jackson, took the liberty to do it. So, how high were the hobbits in Lord of the Rings?
However, this is not the only reference to the plant in the films.
For example, a deleted scene from the movie “Return of the King” shows Merry and Pippin (the giggling hobbits and fan favorites) finding a hidden storeroom in Isengard, Saruman’s lair. There, in addition to coveted food, the hungry hobbits find two barrels of weed.
“Yes, it is!” replies Pippin, visibly excited after sniffing the dry leaves. “It’s the best pipeweed in South Farthing!”
This hilarious scene can be seen in the extended version of the film, and also here:
Hobbits and Marijuana: Round II
Later in the same film, in the scene where Merry and Pippin meet up with their fellow in the Fellowship of the Ring, they can be seen smoking, laughing dreamily, and eating on top of a rock.
However, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan, the actors who play these characters, recorded many shots, some of which show them much more stoned than what ultimately came out on film.
According to a video uploaded to Twitter by Mundo Tolkien, in the extra materials of the film you can see Boyd (Pippin), Monaghan (Merry), and Peter Jackson himself explaining that, in each shot, the actors adopted a different state. Thus, in some, they appear “slightly stoned” and in others “very stoned”, while in other shots they can be seen “slightly high” and “very high”.
“It was a fun scene, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan gave us a lot of variations on how stoned the characters were, and there were some really funny ones where they looked like they were incredibly high. And, although shots that are more conservative were finally used, some very funny shots were recorded, explained the director in the extra materials of “The Return of the King”.
Well now we have an idea of how high were the hobbits in Lord of the Rings!
