A D D marijuana perception conundrum

Thanks ..... that is very interesting since posters report a DECREASE in their ADD symptoms... And, I would think that ACh should be unregulated for any ADD treatment. So perhaps the mechanism for ADD is what you described earlier - as a potentiation of DA in the nucleus accumbens ?

 

Yes. If there really is any decrease in ADD symptoms (which, note, only occur in SOME people, not even most), it is pretty much undeniably due to the potentiation of DA in the Nucleus. Since the dopamine pathways extend from the midbrain structures like the Nucleus TO the prefrontal cortex (see the mesocortical pathway), the potentiation of DA in the Nucleus would increase DA "down the road" in the cortex, where ADD symptoms are implicated.

Also, recall that Cannabis has CBD in it, which acts as an atypical sedative type substance. It's pharmacology is mysterious still. However, it could potentially "calm down" hyperactive people, and, when added to the mesocortical DA increase, help ADD symptoms.

The main thing to take away is that Cannabis is not a real ADD medicine. It MAY help some people, but if it were tested by the FDA in a double blind study for ADD, it would likely not be approved. However, like all drugs, it should still be available in case psychiatrists would want to prescribe it as an off-label treatment for ADD. Just my thoughts. That is why it needs to be a Schedule II drug not Schedule I. More research NEEDS to occur, and it can't being a Schedule I.

 

I know EXACTLY how you feel. That's why I got such good grades in high school - I was stoned all the time.