Photo by Styves Exantus
Medical marijuana (MMJ) has been legal in Maryland since 2014. But as the medicinal benefits of cannabis are further studied and the culture becomes increasingly mainstream, more people are turning to cannabis to help with a range of symptoms and medical conditions.
While marijuana has historically been associated with pain relief for conditions such as arthritis and glaucoma, there’s been a recent surge in the use of medical cannabis to help with symptoms of ADHD.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a neurological disorder that affects one’s ability to pay attention or control their behavior, typically due to hyperactivity. While ADHD is more common in children and adolescents, the condition also has a lifetime prevalence rate of 8.1% for adults between 18 and 44.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with ADHD, keep reading to find out if you’re eligible to get a medical marijuana card in Maryland this year to help control your symptoms.
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Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in Maryland
To qualify for medical marijuana in the state of Maryland, adults must be over the age of 18 or have a registered parent or guardian over 21 apply on their behalf. Additionally, each patient must have their doctor or healthcare provider recommend medical cannabis as a treatment option for a qualifying condition.
According to the official state website, the qualifying conditions for medical marijuana in Maryland include:
- Seizures
- Cachexia
- Anorexia
- Glaucoma
- Wasting syndrome
- Chronic pain or nausea
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Other conditions for which traditional treatments have not been effective
So Can You Get a Medical Card for ADHD in Maryland?
You might be able to!
Although the state’s website does not explicitly mention ADHD on its list of qualifying conditions, there is a final provision for persistent or chronic conditions that have been unresponsive to other treatments.
This means that doctors in Maryland can make judgments on a case-by-case basis and are allowed to prescribe medical cannabis for various psychological and emotional reasons, including ADHD, especially if traditional medication and treatment methods have proven ineffective.
For those diagnosed with ADHD who want to explore alternatives to help alleviate symptoms or reduce their consumption of pharmaceutical medications, getting a medical marijuana identification card (MMIC) in Maryland might be an option.
The Effects of Cannabis on ADHD
The therapeutic effects of cannabis on the brain are often associated with relaxation, pain relief, and alleviating anxiety. Microdosing cannabis—consuming cannabis in extremely low doses–has also been linked to increased learning, focus, consolidation, and retrieval, effects that directly counter the symptoms of ADHD.
But while there aren’t sufficient studies that directly link a positive correlation between the effects of cannabis on ADHD, early indications and findings are hopeful.
This study suggests a correlation between cannabis and a reduction in using prescribed ADHD medication. Some patients even reported a complete cessation of all ADHD drugs after a period of cannabis use. Two small-sample studies from Canada and Finland also show similar findings, indicating that cannabis plays a complementary role in alleviating ADHD symptoms.
As far as anecdotal evidence goes, results are just as encouraging. In this qualitative analysis of online discussion forums on cannabis use and ADHD, a quarter of respondents indicated that cannabis is therapeutic for the symptoms of their ADHD.
There’s a consensus for needing more extensive studies linking cannabis use and ADHD relief. However, based on the preliminary data, combined with the various benefits already associated with medical cannabis, its effects on attention deficit and hyperactivity are likely to be positive.
Schedule an Appointment with a Medical Marijuana Doctor in Maryland Today!
If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD and live in Maryland, there might be treatment options you weren’t aware of.
While medical marijuana isn’t recommended as a complete substitute for traditional ADHD medications, it can complement your treatment regimen to help reduce symptoms and dependence on pharmaceuticals.
At Green Health Docs, our mission is to help people feel better by relieving pain and alleviating the symptoms of a host of medical conditions. Dr. Anand Dugar founded Green Health Docs as a response to the growing opioid crisis in the country, and the first medical cannabis clinic opened in Maryland in 2017.
Today, we operate in multiple locations across fifteen states with the aim of bringing safe, natural remedies to medical conditions to as many people who need them.
Schedule an appointment with one of our doctors to see if you’re eligible for a medical marijuana card for ADHD in Maryland today.
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.