For Anxiety Sufferers – How to Use Medical Marijuana?

Anxiety is a mental health disorder that’s linked to feelings of worry, fear, etc. It can directly influence a patient’s focus and performance at daily activities. With scientific evidence that cannabis’ therapeutic properties can help ease anxiety, more patients are opting for the herb.

Before you start using cannabis for anxiety, it’s important to learn how does marijuana works in the body, getting a recommendation from a 420 doctor, and how to use it for managing your symptoms. Let’s discuss these in detail.

How Cannabis Works & What Does Research Have to Say?

Anxiety disorders can cause irritability, restlessness, difficulty sleeping, and lack of focus. However, patients can also experience physical symptoms, such as increased heart rate, nausea, sweating, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Cannabis provides relaxing effects. It has more than 100 chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. The main cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol).

When you smoke or consume marijuana through other methods, the cannabinoids interact with the endocannabinoid system with receptors present in the brain, guts, skin, organs, etc. The system is responsible for keeping all the bodily functions operating in healthy balance.

The phytocannabinoids bind to receptors in the brain regions associated with anxiety processing. These include the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala. Thus, cannabis cannabinoids can help in regulating anxiety and stress response.

According to a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, marijuana use significantly reduced levels of anxiety, stress, and depression. Researchers noted that cannabis high in THC & CBD provided the largest perceived changes in stress levels.

THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for causing high effects. Taking high doses of cannabis products containing high THC levels may cause unpleasant effects. So, for beginners, 420 doctors usually suggest starting with low-THC strains.

Medical studies have found that cannabis compounds help in boosting sleep. Lack of sleep is linked to anxiety, depression and stress.

Other mental health conditions for which marijuana helps are post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and panic disorder.

Related- Marijuana And Mental Health – How It Can Help?

Don’t Forget The Side-Effects

Apart from health benefits, cannabis consumption can lead to various potential side-effects. Using marijuana for an extended period of time can increase the risks of depression, even if short-term use provides any improvement in your symptoms.

Additionally, marijuana can lead to memory impairment. This is because THC alters the hippocampus, which is associated with memory formation.

Some scientific evidence suggests that THC can affect brain development in children. So, you should talk to a licensed doctor before giving THC or cannabis to your child.

Other risks include blurred vision, confusion, nausea, and dizziness. In some cases THC can elevate heart rate, thus making the patients more anxious.

Does Marijuana Interacts With Anti-Anxiety Medications

Are you taking anti-anxiety medications? If so, talk to your doctor before mixing cannabis with the medications. There’s not much research available on how marijuana interacts with anti-anxiety medications,

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are commonly prescribed by doctors for anxiety. Anecdotal evidence suggests that there’s very little interaction between marijuana and SSRIs. The same is true with Norepinephrine And Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs).

Moreover, CBD can interact with medications that come with a grapefruit warning. So, you should check the grapefruit warning on the medications you are taking.

Most anti-anxiety medications are safe to use with grapefruit. However, mood medications that interact with it are—Buspirone, Quetiapine, Lurasidone, and Midazolam. If you take grapefruit with these medications, it will increase the concentration of the medication in the bloodstream, thus raising the risks of side-effects.

Always Buy Cannabis From Licensed Dispensaries

There’s a wide range of unauthorized shops and dispensaries selling cannabis in the state. However, you have to compromise with the quality when buying marijuana from these shops.

So, to ensure that you get potent, quality cannabis products, always visit state-licensed dispensaries. By getting an MMJ card, you can legally access these dispensaries.

At Online MMJ Sacramento, you can see a 420 doctor online and get your rec letter in PDF format within a few minutes. Here’s the complete process:

• Fill a simple form
• See a doctor via video call
• Get your MMJ rec letter via email

Choose The Right Strains & Consumption Methods

The levels of cannabinoids such as THC and CBD play a key role in the kind of medicinal effects you experience from cannabis consumption. For instance, high-THC strains will make you high while high-CBD strains will provide you with sedative effects. So, always check the cannabinoid profile when buying cannabis.

Also, cannabinoids don’t work the same way for everyone. Some users enjoy the effects of THC while others experience negative effects such as anxiety.

How you consume medical marijuana is another major factor that influences its therapeutic effects.

Talk to your doctor to seek professional help regarding cannabis strains and delivery methods for anxiety.

Also Read– Top Marijuana Strains That Can Help you Ease Anxiety Symptoms

Conclusion

Marijuana can help in managing anxiety symptoms. It works by interacting with the endocannabinoid system in the body. Since there are several side-effects associated with cannabis use, you should learn how to use it for anxiety. Choose the right strains, consumption method, and dosage. If you are taking anti-anxiety medications, avoid mixing cannabis with them. Talk to your doctor to seek professional help for using cannabis for anxiety.

To buy marijuana from state-licensed dispensaries and use it legally in California, get a 420 doctor’s recommendation today.

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