On the surface, using cannabis to treat anxiety symptoms seems like an obvious option. Smoking a joint or eating an edible would result in relaxing times on the couch, maybe scrolling Netflix until another puff helps a person fall asleep.
This particular belief is pervasive: According to a 2017 national survey in the U.S, about 47 per cent of respondents believe marijuana helps manage anxiety.
Used effectively, cannabis can certainly benefit anxiety patients. A study published in 2018 in the Journal of Affective Disorders reported that about 90 per cent of participants experienced a reduction in symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression in the short term. Repeated use, though, did not result in any long-term reduction in baseline symptoms and could increase depression over time.
At high doses, some studies show that cannabis can worsen anxiety. This is due to THC, the cannabinoid that causes weed’s psychoactive effect. THC makes the heart beat faster and can lead to racing thoughts, both of which can exacerbate anxiety.
Sometimes, you hear someone with anxiety smoking a joint at a party, thinking it will relieve symptoms. Instead, it causes the person to feel worse and reject cannabis as therapeutic.
A 2015 review concluded that “current evidence indicates CBD has considerable potential as a treatment for multiple anxiety disorders.” This, in part, explains why new emphasis exists on CBD for anxiety patients in recent years. Higher doses of CBD work effectively in reducing anxiety symptoms, the review found, without any of the negative side effects associated with THC.
At high doses, some studies show that cannabis can worsen anxiety. / Photo: RJohn97 / iStock / Getty Images Plus
CBD is thought to work for different types of anxiety as well. A 2019 Japanese study followed older teenagers diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. Using the Fear of Negative Evaluation Questionnaire and the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale, researchers concluded CBD significantly decreased anxiety in both measures.
Some recommend using high-CBD, low-THC cannabis strains to treat anxiety will produce the best results. But it’s important to remember: Using a little goes a long way. If you consume too much, you might regret it.
The FreshToast.com, a U.S. lifestyle site that contributes lifestyle content and, with their partnership with 600,000 physicians via Skipta, medical marijuana information to The GrowthOp.
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