Weed and Anxiety: Can Marijuana Reduce Anxiety?

Nearly 40 million Americans deal with anxiety every day. Anxiety is the body’s natural way of warning us about danger, a defense mechanism we inherited from our ancestors. But, for one-fifth of the population it's crippling.

Many people are now turning to medical marijuana to treat anxiety and it's getting positive results.

Are you wondering how weed and anxiety react to one another? Keep reading to learn what the experts are saying and tips to consume it safely.

Does Marijuana Help Anxiety? What the Experts Say

Before you start stocking up on the best marijuana strain for anxiety, let’s take a look at what the experts say.

According to a 2018 cannabis study by the Journal of Affective Disorders, marijuana reduced symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress by over 50%. The study used different doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient, and cannabidiol (CBD).

While these results are encouraging for people living with anxiety, researchers did warn that using cannabis to treat depression in the long term could exacerbate the problem.

Anxiety and depression aren’t the same thing, but many people experience both at the same time.

If you live in a state where medical marijuana is legal, have a discussion with your doctor about getting a prescription. Better yet, look into grow boxes like Superclosets and harvest your own at home.

Does Weed and Anxiety Have Any Risks?

Many people dealing with anxiety or chronic pain prefer medical marijuana to prescription drugs like opioids or psychotropics. It relaxes muscles, increases their sense of calm, and helps with better sleep — all without forming a dependence.

But, there are risks with cannabis too. Some users experience a weed anxiety attack from an altered state of mind. Psychiatrists prefer that patients learn how to cope with their anxiety for the long-term rather than rely on quick fixes.

Other ways to help with your anxiety include regular exercise, meditation, and eating a healthier diet.

Tips for Safely Using Pot for Anxiety

If you've decided to start taking medical marijuana or cannabis products to treat anxiety, here are some tips on being safe:

• Research how marijuana interacts with your current prescriptions or over-the-counter medications
• Only buy your marijuana from a knowledgable, licensed dispensary
• Test the waters by consuming a little bit at first and then slowly increasing your dosage
• Consider taking CBD rather than marijuana to get the therapeutic benefits without the psychoactive properties

We can’t emphasize this enough, but discuss medical marijuana with your doctor. They can anticipate adverse reactions and help you evaluate results.

Conquer Your Anxiety with Medical Marijuana

As we mentioned above, marijuana and CBD products are safe and effective ways to treat anxiety. Do your research ahead of time, start slow, and keep your doctor in the loop.

Remember that your weed and anxiety is a short-term solution, so as you feel better start working to find the underlying causes of your symptoms. A therapist can help with this.

Check out the rest of our blog for informative articles on reducing stress, ways to get fit, healthier eating habits, and tips on simplifying your life.