Who in their right mind would give dangerous chemicals to a child? Millions of parents do this every day, often at the behest of their children’s school officials, when they give strong pharmaceutical drugs to their children with ADHD, ADD and other psychiatric disorders.

Who in their right mind would give marijuana to a child? If those same parents gave their children controlled doses of cannabis they would likely be arrested if found out, but a recent article from the New York Times suggests that medical cannabis can be quite helpful in the treatment of people who suffer with autism, ADD, ADHD and similar conditions. The most commonly-prescribed pharmaceuticals: methylphenidate (Ritalin), amphetamine and dextroamphetamine (Adderall), and pemoline (Cylert) are known to produce serious side effects including, but not limited to, nervousness, headache, depression, rapid heartbeat, blood pressure instability, abdominal pain, cardiac arrhythmia and even stunted growth. Moreover, these substances can lead to dependency and addiction. Ritalin is very similar to cocaine. Cases in which the use of Ritalin has led to death have been recorded.

Why would parents do this to their kids? The answer can only be that they are desperate for help for their children who are struggling with the distressing symptoms of their emotional disorders. The child with the condition is not the only family member who suffers from his ADD/ADHD, autism, or other psychiatric affliction. The stress of living with such a child can negatively affect the entire family.

Mounting anecdotal evidence appears to verify that cannabis produces beneficial results in the treatment of certain mental health disorders, while scientific reports of positive results are emerging from studies conducted abroad. As a “Schedule One” substance, cannabis is illegal in the U.S. even when used as medicine, so medical research may not be carried out on it. Previous research in the U.S. has been done primarily to illustrate the “harmfulness” of the substance.

Certainly, marijuana—like other mind-altering substances—is not without its drawbacks. It must not be ignored that some research results hint at the potential for negative outcomes among young, chronic users, emphasizing the need to proceed with caution when working with younger subjects. Still, the early consensus seems to be that the potential therapeutic benefits of cannabis outweigh the potential risks for most patients. For example, in a recent case in Berkeley, Dr. Frank Lucido authorized marijuana use for a 16-year-old patient with ADHD for whom Ritalin was not effective. The patient just could not seem to stay out of trouble. Aware of cannabis’s safety record and certain that he would be doing his young patient no harm, Dr. Lucido decided to try the patient on cannabis to see whether it might help him.

Dr. Lucido reported that within a year of beginning treatment not only had his patient improved his grades, he was elected president of his class. The patient stated that his brain had started working and, for the first time, he was able to think.

The Medical Board of California questioned Dr. Lucido about his decision to try his patient on cannabis but in the end decided against disciplining him for it. Another doctor, Dr. Edward M. Hallowell, a psychiatrist and author of several books on these behavioral disorders goes so far as to say that marijuana can be a “godsend” for certain patients with ADHD, but he goes on to say that because of the legal issue he discourages his patients from using it. Dr. Hallowell also reports that in some people he has observed a loss of initiative to do anything but get stoned. There is no question that much more research needs to be done before the therapeutic benefit of cannabis treatment for behavior disorders can be established beyond all doubt, but with the major policy reversal announced in November by the American Medical Association, calling for the reclassification of cannabis so that studies on it may commence, it is likely only a matter of time until the medicinal usefulness of the cannabis plant becomes apparent to all.

One thing on which we can all agree is that there needs to be much more medical research into this issue. We encourage Congress and the President to take the advice of the AMA from two weeks ago which urged that “the Schedule I status of marijuana be reviewed with the goal of facilitating clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medicines, and alternate delivery methods.” Another point of agreement: arresting, fining, and imprisoning parents and doctors who are agonizing over health care decisions involving cannabis therapies for their children is unnecessary and cruel.

Dr Claudia Jenson, who is a consultant pediatrician from USC, has come up with a novel way of treating ADD/ADHD, WITHOUT any of the unwanted side effects which can result from using popularly prescribed medicines.

Attention deficit disorder, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADD/ADHD) is a biological, brain based condition that is characterized by poor attention and distractibility and/or hyperactive and impulsive behaviors. It is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. Symptoms can continue into adolescence and adulthood. If left untreated, ADHD can lead to poor school/work performance, poor social relationships and a general feeling of low self esteem.

Who's Who in Medical Cannabis - Dr. David Bearman