Welcome to Living in the Weeds, a series that explores the experiences of neurodivergent people who consume cannabis.

In today’s episode, Lucy and Jessica continue conversing with Cate Osborn, AKA Catieosaurus on all things weed and neurodivergence.

We talk about:

• The limitations of scientific studies on cannabis that mostly focus on men and THC
• How the stigma around cannabis hinders productive conversations
• Why high THC percentages can hurt neurodivergent people
• How minor cannabinoids like CBD and CBG may help neurodivergent people
• How far behind scientific research is on use cases of cannabis for neurodivergent people
• Why there is such a strong focus on high THC products at the expense of the other cannabinoids
• The increased risk of Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) for neurodivergent people due to utilization behavior
• The types of neurodivergent that shouldn’t rely on THC products
• How cannabis can help with rejection sensitivity dysphoria
• Why ADHD is not just something that “makes you disorganized”

Join Cate’s Community: https://catieosaurus.com/

Ready to start tracking your cannabis consumption? Grab one of Lucy’s Tracking Journals here and save 10% off at checkout with code CANNABISWRITER: https://lucysnaturalremedies.com/product-category/journals/

Why I Love This Episode with Catieosaurs

Some episodes are all about the guest I’m talking to, and some are more conversational. This is one of those conversational episodes where Cate asked us to take her on a deep dive into cannabis science – why there are such high THC percentages, the limitations on scientific studies, and other cannabinoids that could be beneficial.

The Nuances of Cannabis Use and Neurodivergence

I love talking weed science – that is no secret, and I was happy to jump into this conversation and info dump my cannabis knowledge on an interested audience.

We talk about the limits of scientific studies on cannabis, and how most of them focus on THC percentages, without examining the dose delivered, the delivery method, the timing in the day, and the full chemical composition of the weed. Smoking a half-gram joint of type II cannabis with 12% THC and 8% CBD at 8 a.m. is not the same as a 1-gram bowl pack of 30% THC flower. Taking a CBD tincture in the afternoon is not the same thing as popping an edible.

There is so much nuance that needs to go into the cannabis conversation, especially around neurodivergent people, because the best cannabis routine for you is intensely personal and necessitates trial and error to find.

We can’t examine cannabis use through the lens of “marijuana” that contains THC like that’s all the plant has to offer – there is a veritable pharmacy of compounds contained in this tiny plant, and we have to provide context.

How the Focus on High THC Products Can Be Harmful

Cate asked me why THC is the focus of so many cultivators, and the shortest answer to that is because of prohibition. There was a complete moratorium on cannabis research for the better part of 80 years in the US, which puts us at a disadvantage to understanding the plant. So when people did seek weed out, they needed to know that it was going to work. Low THC levels, type II flowers – these can produce a “weaker high” or lower feelings of intoxication. That doesn’t mean they aren’t beneficial or working – but it can be less noticeable – and subtlety was not a benefit to “fire flower” when you could face jail time for simply possessing an eighth. That high feeling can be addicting, for both neurodivergent and neurotypical people. So for the past several decades, the cannabis industry has chased higher highs.

Cate also brings up the important point of acknowledging our privilege in these conversations, and she’s absolutely right. Lucy was a part of the true legacy market, but Cate and I were not. None of us have been in jail for cannabis-related charges, and ours were not the communities targeted by the police during the War on Drugs.

Cannabis Use Disorder & ADHD

We also broach the conversation of cannabis use disorder in this episode. This is a tricky conversation to have, because neurodivergent people, especially those with ADHD have been erroneously diagnosed with CUD for decades just for self-medicating. But as Cate points out, neurodivergent people have utilization behavior, or “I see it, I do it.” This dopamine-seeking behavior can lead to over-consumption of cannabis, particularly with high-potency products that get you really high, really quickly. There must be a degree of self-control over THC consumption because it can control you if you’re not careful.

The Risks of Cannabis Use & Schizophrenia

Much of our conversation on this series has (and will) focused on ADHD and autism, but these are not the only types of neurodivergence. Cate brings up several more examples, including Down Syndrome, Bipolar Disorder, and schizophrenia. Each of these diagnoses has its own set of challenges, and cannabis is not equally equipped to help with each.

In particular, there is a higher risk of psychotic breaks in certain types of neurodivergence like schizophrenia with high-potency THC products. While the media loves to run with fear-mongering headlines about “cannabis causing psychotic breaks” the reality is that certain genetic predispositions can be triggered to psychosis by potent THC products if you’re not aware.

Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria & Cannabis Use

Cate also dives into what exactly rejection sensitivity dysphoria is, and how it is not a diagnosable symptom, but rather a result of collective neurodivergent trauma. We explore how cannabis can help neurodivergent people deal with RSD by creating the ability for introspection and reflection.

This was incredibly interesting to me as someone who has been paralyzed by the idea of rejection for my entire life. I have avoided relationships, ghosted friends, and hidden my writing away from the world rather than risk facing rejection. To hear Cate explain so eloquently that this is incredibly common (an estimated 97% of people with ADHD have RSD) was affirming. Cannabis’ ability to slow racing thoughts and ease anxious thoughts can be a great tool for people with ADHD to help themselves get out of an RSD doom spiral.

ADHD Doesn’t Just Make You Disorganized

That last point Cate makes in this episode may just be the most important one – and it has nothing to do with cannabis. The narrative around ADHD is often focused on disruptive children, especially loud, rambunctious boys – but ADHD is not just the inability to sit still or something that “makes you disorganized.”

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a high rate of comorbidities that affects you every moment of every day, from the time that you are born until the time that you die. It is heavily influenced by internal and external environmental factors and it can fluctuate throughout your life (especially if you have an estrogen-based endocrine system.) It is an ongoing learning process, and there is nothing “wrong” with you.