Living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is difficult, and it can be even more difficult when the prescription medications prescribed to treat it don’t work.
This has led many people to seek an alternative: cannabigerol (CBG), a naturally-occurring cannabinoid in the hemp plant with mentally uplifting and clarifying effects and a range of other benefits.
While CBG isn’t a replacement for prescriptions and shouldn’t be used without guidance from your doctor, it does have benefits and effects that indicate it has some potential to help people with ADHD.
Can CBG Help With ADHD?
Research suggests CBG may improve ADHD due to its mentally uplifting properties and beneficial effects on focus and concentration. CBG may work best for ADHD when combined with CBD, which adds to its clarifying properties.
Based on the research so far, it seems CBG has therapeutic potential for ADHD.
CBG and CBD’s benefits for ADHD
A 2021 survey looked at people using CBG and CBD products to manage various problems, including ADHD.
70.8% of respondents with ADHD reported an improvement in their condition from using CBG and CBD products, while over half of all respondents reported improvements in anxiety.
Additionally, over 70% of the respondents reported improvements in their energy, attention levels, and thinking [1].
This study demonstrates that CBG may have some direct benefits for people with ADHD.
CBG’s effects on dopamine levels
People with ADHD often struggle with lower-than-normal levels of dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain. This deficiency negatively impacts reward and motivation, both of which play into the mental state ADHD involves.
Research suggests cannabinoids like CBG may promote healthy, balanced dopamine levels, which may indicate that they can support people with ADHD [2].
CBG’s effects on anxiety
While anxiety doesn’t cause ADHD, it can make it worse; the symptoms of anxiety will amplify those of ADHD, particularly restessness and difficulty concentrating.
A 2024 trial found that CBG may promote mental balance and relaxation.
The trial involved 34 healthy adults and looked at the anxiety levels of the participants (measured via several surveys and tests) before and after taking a 20mg dose of CBG, delivered via an oil tincture.
They compared the effectiveness of CBG oil to a placebo dummy oil.
The researchers observed positive results, stating that “there was a significant main effect of CBG on overall reductions in anxiety as well as reductions in stress,” relative to the placebo [3].
By promoting mental balance, CBG may support people already combatting the symptoms of ADHD.
CBG’s protective properties for the brain
Research suggests CBG may protect the brain by reducing inflammation and stress within brain cells.
While ADHD isn’t a neurodegenerative disorder, some research indicates that ADHD is related to differences in the structure and function of certain brain regions.
By supporting brain health, cannabinoids like CBG may support long-term cognitive well-being and helped to guard against changes that make ADHD worse [4].
How CBG Works for ADHD
CBG, like many cannabinoids, works primarily through your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), a receptor system that regulates all of your vital functions, including your inflammatory and pain responses. Your ECS works to keep your body in a state of balance; outside cannabinoids such as CBG help it perform its job.
There are two main types of receptors in your ECS:
- CB1 receptors – responsible for regulating mental sensations
- CB2 receptors – responsible for regulating physical sensations
CBG binds to both types of receptors, thereby promoting mental and physical relaxation and rendering therapeutic benefits.
CBG also works by interacting with neurotransmitters. As we discussed previously, CBG may help to stabilize dopamine levels, which are often irregular in people with ADHD.
Overall, by regulating neurotransmitter release and promoting balance within the ECS, CBG may address core symptoms of ADHD.
CBG Dosage for ADHD
When it comes to dosing CBG for ADHD, it’s important to understand that it’s not a proven treatment for this condition (or any other), so the recommended dosage isn’t necessarily clear.
However, based on anecdotal evidence, it makes the most sense to start with a low-strength dose of CBG for ADHD.
You can calculate your precise dose with this formula:
(0.1) x (your body weight in lbs.) = your CBG dosage, in mg.
By this formula, if you weigh 150 lbs, you’d need 15mg of CBG each day for ADHD.
After you’ve taken your dosage for a few days, you can adjust it based on how you’re feeling.
(For more on CBG dosage, here’s our guide and complete dosage chart by weight.)
Timing
When you take your dose depends on what kind of CBG product you’re using.
If you’re using CBG oil, you’ll feel the effects in just 10-15 minutes.
On the other hand, CBG gummies, capsules, and other digested products take 45 minutes to 1 hour to begin working.
With this in mind, time your CBG doses so the effects kick in just before you have to go to work, to an event, or anywhere else you need to focus.
CBG for ADHD: Testimonials from Real People
While the preliminary research into CBG for ADHD is promising, anecdotal experience from people who use CBG for ADHD – that’s posted on platforms like Reddit – also shines a light on its potential benefits.
In response to a post about CBG, one person said, “Love it! I have ADHD, it feels like my executive function is [improved] when I take it. I don’t procrastinate and my mental energy feels limitless.”
Another person explained their experience with CBG, saying, “I think it truly varies from person to person depending on brain chemistry. For me CBG is like caffeine. It wakes me up and stimulates me but I think I’m the odd man out. [For] most people, it does the opposite – [it] helps them wind down. I worked at a large CBD company and my coworkers thought I was crazy with how much CBG I’d consume strictly because it wakes me up.”
People also highlight how CBG is able to promote focus and energy in a way that other popular supplements (such as caffeine!) can’t: “CBG does have stimulating effects so it does give you a boost of energy. But it’s not as strong as caffeine and doesn’t make you jittery.”
As these testimonials show, CBG impacts everyone differently. While it isn’t a proven treatment for ADHD, anecdotal evidence suggests it has therapeutic potential and highlights the need for further research.
Should You Take CBG and CBD Together for ADHD?
CBG by itself may be beneficial for ADHD, but you might see even better results if you combine it with cannabidiol (CBD), another naturally occurring cannabinoid in hemp.
One of the studies we referenced above involved giving patients a mixture of CBD and CBG together for ADHD.
While CBG alone is effective, using it with CBD can render more comprehensive benefits. CBD is relaxing, while CBG is uplifting, and both cannabinoids have generally supportive effects.
This is due to the entourage effect – a phenomenon in which consuming the various compounds in hemp tends to be more effective than taking isolated cannabinoids.
Conclusion: Is CBG A Natural Supplement to ADHD Medications?
Although CBG is clearly beneficial for those dealing with ADHD, it isn’t a recognized replacement for ADHD medications such as Adderall and Ritalin.
This is because CBG and other cannabinoids haven’t undergone the type of clinical testing that are typically required for medications.
But this doesn’t mean CBG doesn’t have some potential in this area – many researchers have actually spoken about its ability to supplement more traditional treatment methods.
So we recommend you try CBG – just be sure to talk to your doctor beforehand about whether it’s a good fit for you and, if so, how you should be using it.
Looking for more options? Learn more about delta 8 for ADHD.
CBG for ADHD: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions we get from customers about using CBG for ADHD.
Does CBG help ADHD?
Yes, research suggests CBG may help people with ADHD by promoting focus and mental balance. However, more research is needed before CBG can be considered a treatment for this condition.
Does CBG help with focus?
Yes, some people report that CBG helps them with energy and focus. However, this is anecdotal evidence, and CBG hasn’t been researched specifically for its effects on focus — it’s beneficial for many people, but there are no hard guarantees.
Which cannabinoid is best for ADHD?
Research has indicated that cannabidiol (CBD), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN) all have potential therapeutic benefits for ADHD, however, it’s not known which is the most effective or how their efficacy compares.
Does CBG increase dopamine levels?
Yes, research suggests CBG may increase dopamine levels. This is one of the ways it may render support for people with ADHD.
Is CBG a stimulant?
Yes, CBG may have some mild stimulant-like properties. Many people report feeling a sensation of balanced energy after taking it.
Is CBG good for ADHD in kids?
CBG may have beneficial effects for people with ADHD of all ages. However, it’s not an approved treatment for ADHD and should not be given to children without the guidance of a medical doctor.
Sources
[1] Kaufmann, Robert. (2021). Nano-processed CBG/CBD effect on pain, adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 14. 235-240. 10.15406/ijcam.2021.14.00567.
[2] Dawson, David A & Persad, Clare. (2021). Targeting the Endocannabinoid System in the Treatment of ADHD. Genetics & Molecular Medicine. 3. 10.33425/2689-1077.1006.
[3] Russo, E. B., Cuttler, C., Cooper, Z. D., Stueber, A., Whiteley, V. L., & Sexton, M. (2022). Survey of Patients Employing Cannabigerol-Predominant Cannabis Preparations: Perceived Medical Effects, Adverse Events, and Withdrawal Symptoms. Cannabis and cannabinoid research, 7(5), 706–716. https://doi.org/10.1089/can.2021.0058
[4] Gugliandolo A, Pollastro F, Grassi G, Bramanti P, Mazzon E. In Vitro Model of Neuroinflammation: Efficacy of Cannabigerol, a Non-Psychoactive Cannabinoid. Int J Mol Sci. 2018 Jul 8;19(7):1992. doi: 10.3390/ijms19071992. PMID: 29986533; PMCID: PMC6073490.
