Learn Why it is Important to Understand Cannabis When Using For Anxiety

I spent my early childhood in San Joaquin Valley, and during the ’80s we couldn’t have thought that today we’d have such a disciplined format for using marijuana for medical purposes. I renewed my medical cannabis card Fresno last week and was realizing how things have changed since then. However, it’s true that anxiety issues have long been ignored by the majority of folks, even today. And stats suggest that anxiety affects almost 40 million adults in America.

Despite anxiety disorders being highly treatable, more than 60 percent of these cases go untreated.

Cannabis has shown excellent results on anxiety levels and a research containing 5000 medical users, around 3200 people were found using marijuana products for managing their anxiety issues. Today, through telemedicine services, it’s an easy process to get cannabis consultancy. I reach out to my cannabis doctor Fresno for my monthly appointment from the comfort of my home.

Though it’s true that, using cannabis for anxiety doesn’t come as simple as it may sound. The effects of the herb on anxiety are as complicated as the condition itself.

Let’s unwind this through the following points.

How Does Cannabis Affect Our Anxiety Levels?

Cannabis contains more than a hundred cannabinoids that interact with the receptors present in both our central and peripheral nervous systems. These receptors are a part of our endocannabinoid system(ECS); an intercellular communication system responsible for managing many self-regulating functions occurring in our bodies. Such as mood regulation, temperature control, stress levels, and several functions of the immune system, etc.

THC and CBD are the two most abundant cannabinoids of the plant which stimulates our neuron activity upon interaction with the cannabinoid receptors in the ECS.

Do you wonder why two different types of strains produce different effects?
 

Yes, because of their distinct cannabinoid profile. However, you gotta be a bit more careful when using cannabis for anxiety. Research suggests that cannabis shows biphasic effects on anxiety levels.

Effects of CBD on Anxiety

Experts say that CBD interacts with cannabinoid type 1 receptors which in turn stimulates our serotonin activity in our brain and produces stress relieving & anxiolytic effects. This makes CBD a potential medicine in treating depression and anxiety issues, along with aiding to maintain healthy brain activity.

What About THC?

THC on the other hand possesses a dual nature when it comes to affecting anxiety levels. In small quantities, THC helps in creating relaxing effects and produces feel-good hormones through dopamine release, which aids in managing anxiety. However high doses of THC can create a negative effect on anxiety levels by inhibiting GABAergic neurons’ activity.

GABA neurons are inhibitory neurons that help in reducing the neuron activity and help them from overexcitation. Inhibiting their activity could cause an imbalance in the nervous system and worsen anxiety levels.


Thus it is vital to pay close attention to the THC level of your cannabis when using it for managing anxiety, and Choose CBD rich products instead.