The Role of Cannabis in Treating Anxiety

Guest Post by Eliza Brooks

For someone living with anxiety, it's almost impossible not to have heard of the hype surrounding marijuana as a possible treatment for anxiety symptoms. Ever since several US states and the entirety of Canada legalized medicinal cannabis use, a lot of people with anxiety have been considering the drug for their treatment. In fact, a survey done in 2017 involving 9,000 American adults found that 81% believe marijuana to have one or more health benefits. And half of the respondents listed stress, anxiety, and depression relief as one of the potential benefits that marijuana offers.

But there have also been a lot of people who are claiming that marijuana can make anxiety worse, as evidence by the number of people searching “ontario weed online”. With all these opposing opinions, one can't help but wonder who's telling the truth. To answer this, we must turn to hard facts and research.

Overview of Cannabis Effects

Unlike other drugs like methamphetamine, cannabis is not a single chemical compound. Being a plant, marijuana is made up of more than 500 compounds, often referred to as cannabinoids. Only a very small percentage of these cannabinoids have been studied. It is generally accepted and understood that the substance that's responsible for cannabis' intoxicating effects is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short. Cannabinoids affect the body through the recently discovered endocannabinoid system.

Humans and animals have cannabinoid receptors all over their bodies and are able to create endogenous cannabinoids that help regulate the effects of neurotransmitters and other cellular functions. This new finding has generated a lot of interest around cannabis as potential targets for the development of drugs, including drugs for mental health.

Besides THC, another common cannabinoid found in the cannabis plant is cannabidiol (CBD). CBD is nonpsychoactive which means it doesn't get users high much like THC but CBD does appear to have psychotropic properties as it appears to offer benefits to people suffering from anxiety, schizophrenia, depression, and even addiction.

ECS and Anxiety

The endocannabinoid system is present in all parts of the brain that play a role in fear, anxiety, and stress. Recently, the role that cannabinoid signaling plays within the brain and the body when it comes to controlling anxiety, stress, and fear is slowly being explored. The ECS ensures an appropriate response to stressful events and also serves as a buffer for emotional responses.

 Endocannabinoids, through the ECS, appear to exert effects on the stress and reward networks of the body. Similar to exercise and social interaction, cannabis intoxication produces a state of calmness mediated by the anxiolytic effects of increased oxytocin and cannabinoid receptor activation.

 Cannabis and Anxiety

 The initial effects of cannabis on people typically include a sense of relaxation but this isn't always the case. Other benefits of cannabis-related to anxiety include an increased sense of calm and better sleep. A lot of people who turned to cannabis for their anxieties reported that they experience a greater sense of peace of mind and a significant reduction to the symptoms of anxiety they find unbearable. In particular, cannabis seems to relieve symptoms of:

●      social anxiety

●      agoraphobia

●      post-traumatic stress disorder

●      panic disorder

●      sleep disruptions

●      phobias

As of the moment, research on the risks of using cannabis has not yet shown a direct link between its use and psychosis or death. And the notion that cannabis is a gateway drug offered mixed findings.

Moreover, anxiety has not been listed as a qualifying condition to receive a medical marijuana card. In a study with 1746 patients coming from different medical marijuana evaluation clinics within California, 37.8% reported that they use cannabis to relieve anxiety, 16.9% say they use it for panic attacks, and 55.1% is for improving relaxation.

Another study surveyed 1429 medicinal marijuana users between December of 2013 and January of 2016 in Washington State. They were asked about the conditions medical cannabis was used for treatment, their use patterns, and their perception of effectiveness. More than half of them, 58.1%, reported that they use it for their anxiety. In general, study participants have felt that using medicinal marijuana helped improve symptoms of anxiety.

A review was done in 2016 on the literature on the use of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of anxiety. It concluded that there is evidence the supports the anxiolytic effects of the drug. The researchers were able to identify 8 cross-sectional studies that reported a reduction in anxiety symptoms was either the primary or secondary benefit of using cannabis. One study, however, noted that symptoms of anxiety returned once cannabis use was stopped.

When considering cannabis for the treatment of anxiety, one should keep in mind that the regular use of cannabis will result in tolerance to its medicinal effects which may put the user at risk of rebound anxiety once cannabis use is stopped and fostering dependence.

Negative Effects

While cannabis appears to benefit people with anxiety, it could have the opposite effect on others. Some may simply fail to notice any significant effects while for others, symptoms could worsen.

 For the most part, THC seems to be the likely culprit for this discrepancy. High levels of the cannabinoid have been linked to increased symptoms of anxiety including but not limited to racing thoughts and an elevated heart rate. In addition, it also appears that cannabis doesn't offer any long-term effects compared to other treatments for anxiety. Using cannabis may bring some temporary relief but the moment the treatment is stopped, there is a likely chance symptom could recur.

AUTHOR BIO:

 Eliza Brooks is a passionate blogger and informative content writer who loves to research on the trends in the cannabis industry and share her knowledge through blogging. She is currently working with GreenSociety, the leading online dispensary in Canada, which offers premium quality weed online.