The Neurointense Brain and the Appeal of Cannabis

What Is a Neurointense Brain?

At Like Minds, we use the term neurointense to describe individuals whose brains are more reactive to environmental, emotional, and cognitive stimuli. This often includes those diagnosed with:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Sensory Processing Disorder

• Highly Sensitive Persons (HSPs)

• Other learning or processing differences

Neurointense individuals often experience:

• Heightened anxiety or internal restlessness

• Overactive thinking and difficulty sleeping

• Rejection sensitivity and emotional intensity

• Executive dysfunction and overwhelm

Cannabis offers temporary relief from these challenges. It slows the mind, blunts emotional sharpness, and provides a sense of control. For many, it feels like the first breath of calm after years of suffocating under overstimulation.

But this comes at a cost.

Cannabis Use Among Neurodivergent Populations

Cannabis is widely used by people with ADHD and Autism:

• People with ADHD are 3x more likely than neurotypical peers to use cannabis regularly.

• Roughly 1 in 3 adolescents with ADHD report marijuana use.

• Up to 50% of daily cannabis users report symptoms of ADHD.

Why?

1. Dopamine Deficit: THC temporarily increases dopamine, which is in short supply in ADHD brains.

2. Self-Regulation: Cannabis mimics a “regulation” tool for managing social anxiety, rejection sensitivity, and sleep problems.

3. Stimulant Alternatives: Some people reject pharmaceutical interventions but still seek symptom relief.

4. Cultural Messaging: Cannabis is increasingly marketed as natural, safe, and even “medicinal” for anxiety and attention issues—especially in states with legalization.

What THC Does to a Sensitive Brain

THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive compound in marijuana, affects the endocannabinoid system—a key regulator of mood, memory, appetite, and stress response. While neurotypical users may experience mild side effects, neurointense brains often experience amplified impacts due to heightened sensitivity.

Short-Term Effects

• Temporary anxiety relief

• Reduced social inhibition

• Slowed thinking and speech

• Increased dopamine (pleasurable "reward" effect)

Long-Term and Cumulative Effects

• Impaired motivation (amotivational syndrome)

• Working memory loss, especially in under-25 users

• Executive function decline, such as planning, organizing, and multi-step problem-solving

• Interference with ADHD medications, reducing their effectiveness

• Increased risk of psychosis, paranoia, and panic attacks

• Sleep disruption over time (THC reduces REM sleep)

Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD) and Neurodivergence

Cannabis is addictive. Neurodivergent individuals are especially vulnerable.

• 9% of regular users will develop CUD

• That number rises to 17% for adolescent users

• CUD is twice as common in people with ADHD

Signs of Cannabis Use Disorder

• Needing more to get the same effect

• Failed attempts to quit

• Using despite negative impacts on work, relationships, or health

• Loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities

• Withdrawal symptoms like irritability, insomnia, anxiety

Many of these symptoms mimic or exacerbate ADHD, Autism, depression, and anxiety, making it difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins.

The ADHD and Autism Connection

Cannabis impacts frontal lobe development, which is already delayed in ADHD brains. This area controls impulse regulation, planning, and motivation—functions often impaired in ADHD.

For autistic individuals, cannabis may initially blunt sensory input or reduce social anxiety, but over time:

• Sensory sensitivity may rebound and become more intense

• Emotional regulation may worsen

• Communication and cognition may become foggy

• Dependency on the substance may reduce the ability to develop true coping skills

Why We Self-Medicate: The Real Need Behind the Weed

Cannabis isn’t the problem. It's the solution we reached for when we didn’t understand our brain.

At Like Minds, we believe self-medication points to unmet needs:

• A need for rest in an overstimulating world

• A need for connection and relief from rejection

• A need to manage internal chaos

• A need to feel okay, just as we are

Cannabis appears to meet these needs—but only temporarily. Our work is to understand the need underneath and meet it in ways that build long-term well-being, not short-term escape.

Our Approach: Psychoeducation, Coaching, and Support

At Like Minds, we don’t take a “just say no” approach. Instead, we help our clients:

1. Understand Their Brain

Through psychoeducation, we explain how dopamine, sensory processing, and executive function work in neurointense brains. Understanding reduces shame and increases agency.

2. Identify Triggers

We help clients recognize what situations or emotions lead to cannabis use—social anxiety, sensory overload, or emotional pain—and explore healthier coping strategies.

3. Rewire the Nervous System

We focus on nervous system regulation techniques: breathwork, grounding, sleep hygiene, nutrition, and movement practices that bring balance.

4. Reduce the Need, Not Just the Substance

When the need is met by a healthier practice, the desire to use cannabis naturally fades. We don’t force abstinence—we guide clients into sovereignty over their choices.

5. Provide Ongoing Peer Coaching

Our certified peer coaches have lived experience with neurodivergence. We walk alongside our clients with compassion, not judgment.

The Hope: You Are Not Broken. You Are Wired Differently.

We believe neurodivergent people don’t need to be “fixed.” You need to be understood.

Cannabis may have felt like your only lifeline. But there are others—rooted in knowledge, connection, self-trust, and a growing community of people who know what it’s like to feel too much, think too fast, and want to escape.

We’re here to show you that you can thrive as you are, with the right tools, support, and self-awareness. There is another way—and it starts with understanding your brain, not numbing it.