Photo by Andrew Patrick
While Texas is known to have some of the strictest regulations on cannabis, that doesn’t mean medical marijuana is off the table entirely. Thanks to the Compassionate Use Program introduced in 2015, millions of Texans are now eligible to get access to medical marijuana.
So can you get a medical card for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)? The short answer is no — the list of eligible conditions in Texas doesn’t include ADHD. However, the state has been recently expanding eligibility to new disorders, meaning that there are still conditions associated with ADHD that could potentially qualify you.
Let’s explore the nuances of medical marijuana law in Texas, as well as how ADHD could fit into the picture in 2024.
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Texas
The past decade has brought sweeping cannabis reform to the United States. Texas may be well-known for its strict marijuana laws, but even the Lone Star state isn’t exempt from the push for legalization.
Passed in 2015 and more recently expanded in 2019 and 2021, the Compassionate Use Program (CUP) allows certain licensed physicians to prescribe cannabis products for medical purposes — as long as the prescriptions contain low levels of THC.
However, those prescriptions are limited to patients suffering from qualifying medical conditions. As of January 2024, those conditions include:
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Multiple sclerosis
- Spasticity
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Autism
- Terminal cancer
- Incurable neurodegenerative disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
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So Can You Get a Medical Card for ADHD in Texas?
Unfortunately, ADHD isn’t one of the qualifying conditions under Texas’s medical card requirements. That means patients who only have ADHD — with no other qualifying conditions — can’t access a medical marijuana card as of 2024.
However, ADHD is just one of many conditions that may benefit from medical marijuana. In fact, some qualifying medical conditions may be more likely to present alongside ADHD. For example, 50 to 70% of people on the autism spectrum also present with ADHD. Autism is one of the few conditions that would qualify you for a medical marijuana prescription in Texas.
First, have a conversation with your doctor about your ADHD symptoms, as well as your general medical history. You could still qualify for the Compassionate Use Program through a different diagnosis.
Even if you don’t have another qualifying condition, there’s still hope on the horizon for future expansion of Texas’s program. A recent bill gaining traction in the Senate seeks to expand the Compassionate Use Program to include the treatment of chronic pain, along with eased restrictions on higher-dose THC products. The law may eventually expand to include neurological conditions like ADHD.
The Effects of Cannabis on ADHD
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that can cause hyperactivity, impulsiveness, and attention difficulty. It impacts an estimated 8.4% of children and 2.5% of adults.
Common medications for ADHD are available to help balance levels of a neurotransmitter called dopamine in the brain. However, these medications can be habit-forming and come with unpleasant side effects.
Some people with ADHD turn to marijuana — on its own or alongside traditional treatment — for relief from their symptoms. Reports show that more and more people are self-medicating using marijuana to improve focus, boost day-to-day productivity, and calm racing thoughts. One survey of an online forum found that 25% of posts indicated that users found cannabis therapeutic for ADHD.
Research on ADHD and marijuana is still in its early stages, however. A 2017 study explores the dopamine-releasing action of the THC in cannabis, which could potentially counteract the effects of ADHD. Another trial from 2017 tested cannabinoid medication on people with ADHD and found small improvements in findings, although the changes were not enough to be statistically significant.
It may take further research and review to fully explore the effects of marijuana on ADHD. While some patients have reported positive benefits, it’s important to note that it may not be for everyone. Some studies have even found that high-THC strains can impair executive dysfunction rather than improve it. Not everyone responds to cannabis the same way — for some, it could worsen symptoms like hyperactivity and anxiety. Always consult with a physician before you seek out any treatment for your ADHD, including medicinal cannabis.
Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Texas Today!
Texas may be stricter with its marijuana regulations than many other states, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for access to medical marijuana. Depending on your other diagnoses, you could still be eligible. If changes are made to Texas’s Compassionate Use Program, ADHD could very well become a qualified condition soon.
Think you may qualify for medical marijuana, in Texas or anywhere else in the U.S.? Get connected to one of our medical cannabis doctors for a quick and risk-free evaluation.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.