Doctors who diagnose ADHD generally prescribe behavioral therapy, medicine, or both. Treatment can include stimulants, such as Adderall and Ritalin, or non-stimulants, like Clonidine or Guanfacine. Stimulants are usually prescribed first, and if they don’t work, then non-stimulants may be tried.

However, for some parents of children with ADHD (and some adults), this treatment approach doesn’t produce the desired results—or can cause unwanted side effects.

For example, in one study, 21% of parents ceased giving ADHD medication to their children because of psychological side effects or the perception that the medicine wasn’t working. Behavioral therapy can also be limited in its results as it doesn’t change the symptoms of ADHD, but teaches skills to manage the condition more easily. What’s more, both treatment approaches can be costly.

Instead of these conventional medications, increasing numbers of individuals choose to self-medicate with cannabis. Unfortunately, research into cannabis as a treatment for ADHD is scarce. There’s currently no robust clinical data that clearly supports the idea that cannabis is therapeutic for ADHD. However, an absence of clinical data doesn’t necessarily mean it doesn’t help.

Case studies, surveys, and anecdotal reports often suggest that cannabis can help support sleep, focus, anxiety, or slowing thoughts.

For example, a study of 401 online forum threads about ADHD and cannabis found that 25% (99 posts) of contributors felt that cannabis improved ADHD or its symptoms. In contrast, 8% found that it was harmful (31 posts). Five percent believed that it was both therapeutic and detrimental (19 posts), and 2% shared that it didn’t affect their condition.

A 2022 case study reported that three adult men who added cannabis to their treatment regimen found it offered diverse therapeutic benefits. Scores on attentiveness rose by up to 30%. Two of the men also shared that they were able to improve their performance in their job and take on more responsibility.

Also in the study, depression improved by up to 81%, anxiety scores lifted by up to 33%, emotional regulation scores elevated up to 78%. The men varied in the type of cannabis they used: one preferred high-THC low-CBD, and another preferred low-THC and high-CBD.