If you suffer from anxiety, you are not alone. Anxiety is the most common mental condition in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. The disorder affects 40 million Americans every year, so 18.1% of the population! Anxiety disorders are highly treatable, yet only 36.9% of those suffering from anxiety receive treatment: meaning less than half of the impacted demographic.
How is anxiety treated?
In addition to pharmaceuticals, therapy, and other lifestyle tweaks, medical cannabis is rising in popularity as a way to manage anxiety. There’s typically no cure for anxiety; it’s just something most people have to live with. Anxiety is an approved condition under various states’ medical cannabis programs, with thousands of patients taking advantage of the budding (no pun intended) industry to improve their mental health.
Cannabis and anxiety: what does science say?
Currently, cannabis research is limited, partly due to the plant’s federally illegal status under U.S. law. This means we don’t have many tangible resources supporting cannabis for anxiety.
Cannabis is considered a Schedule I Substance, meaning it’s considered as highly addictive without any potential for medical value. Meth, heroin, and yes, even cannabis, are all on this list alongside each other, holding equal potential for damage in the eyes of the federal government.
The medical cannabis programs across the country say otherwise, but the impenetrable federal red tape prevents scientists from conducting key cannabis research, legal businesses from utilizing safe banking solutions, and businesses from effectively marketing cannabis products — creating a gap.
With that being said, we do have access to some scientific research and anecdotal evidence, which build a strong case for cannabis and anxiety! When it comes to mental health conditions, and anxiety especially, it’s important to consume cannabis the “right” way: meaning the right way for your body and brain.
How does cannabis help anxiety?
If you know anything about cannabis, you probably know some people experience anxiety when they consume it. This is because of the THC in cannabis. THC isn’t bad, but it can cause anxiety in some people. There are a lot of different reasons why someone might feel anxious after consuming high-THC cannabis, including:
- Simply too much THC for them
- Not eating enough before consuming
- Consuming cannabis in a wildly-stressed state of mind
- Sometimes, cannabis can bring out deep-seated (or not so deep-seated) emotions we are already feeling, further exacerbating internal stress. It helps to take a few deep breaths and calm your mind as much as possible before consuming cannabis. This way, it can continue the job and further relax you!
- Genetics
- Hormones
According to a 2017 report published by the University of Washington, THC appears to decrease anxiety in lower doses and increase anxiety in higher doses. The same report notes CBD to also decrease anxiety in all doses explored. Unlike THC, CBD does not create a psychoactive effect. After consuming CBD, you’ll likely feel more relaxed, focused, and balanced. CBD is most often derived from hemp.
The federal government removed hemp from the Schedule I Substances list in 2018, effectively paving the way for an exploding American CBD market. However, as we mentioned before: marijuana remains on this list.
Hemp and marijuana are cousins, both considered to be cannabis plants. The difference? The THC content. Per the 2018 Farm Bill (the bill which removed hemp from the Schedule I Substances list), hemp must contain less than 0.3% THC to be legally sold. Therefore, all of the CBD available to you at the grocery store and online is derived from hemp, so the products you can purchase without a medical marijuana card or visiting the dispensary – like trupura CBD!
Here are four key ways to best utilize cannabis products for your anxiety:
1. Microdose your cannabis
When you think of cannabis consumption, you might think of the typical stoner. Someone chain-smoking four blunts in a row, or spending their entire life high and hazy. When it comes to wellness, being stoned isn’t the goal: it’s simply being well. If you’re consuming cannabis for anxiety, we can imagine your goal is relaxing enough to function throughout the day.
In this case, you don’t want to be stoned. Enter microdosing. Microdosing is exactly what it sounds like: dosing your cannabis in micro amounts. This way, you’re still reaping the benefits of cannabis, but you aren’t too high to go about your day. Microdosing works by stimulating the endocannabinoid system, just like cannabis in larger amounts. The endocannabinoid system is a biological system every human being has, and it’s how cannabis works in our body!
2. Choose products with sedative properties & shop with terpenes in mind
You might hear the words “indica” and “sativa” and wonder what they really mean. Truth be told, in the grand scheme of things, the words don’t mean much. Cannabis is a complex plant, full of different compounds like cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.
Rather, approach it this way: “I’m looking to relieve my anxiety, so I need to find something that will relax me.” This opens you up to a world of potential. From here, you can begin looking at different methods of consumption, dosing suggestions, terpene content, and cannabinoid ratios. Try a 1:1 ratio of CBD to THC for anxiety relief, like this Black Cherry chocolate bar from incredibles.
When it comes to terpenes, they have therapeutic properties of their own! Myrcene, for example, is just one terpene thought to relieve anxious feelings. Read this blog post we wrote about terpenes to learn more; they’re amazing compounds.
3. Try a hemp-derived CBD product first
If you’ve never tried cannabis before, you might first consider trying a CBD product derived from hemp! This way, you won’t experience any psychoactive effects. You might find you need something more (like THC), or CBD might be just what the doctor ordered.
Research suggests something called endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome might be at fault for various diseases. Studies like this one ponder endocannabinoid deficiency syndrome’s role in fibromyalgia, migraines, and IBS. Hemp-derived CBD can introduce cannabinoids in your body, gently waking the endocannabinoid system, without overloading you with THC.
If you think you need THC to start and you live in a legalized state, go for it. We always recommend starting low and going slow until you learn your perfect dose. Pay close attention to how your body feels after consuming cannabis. This way, you can quickly identify how much is too much.
4. Try a fast-acting product
Fast-acting cannabis products allow you to quickly gauge your tolerance. Traditional edibles can take up to an hour to kick in, sometimes even longer. When this happens, it’s easy to overdo it and regret it just a few hours later – especially when you’re feeling anxious and just want to find relief. Quiq White Chocolates are formulated with rapid absorption technology and like the edible we highlighted above, it offers a 1:1 CBD:THC ratio.
When you’re learning how much your body can tolerate, it’s best to utilize the rapidness of Quiq and avoid overconsumption. After learning your dose, then consider incorporating traditional edibles like the cherry dark chocolate.
Ready to try cannabis for anxiety?
We want to emphasize that we are not doctors. We aren’t qualified to give medical advice, but we sure know a lot about cannabis and we know actual experts who can give medical advice!
Before introducing cannabis into your wellness routine, reach out to professionals like the nurses at Leaf 411. It’s a free hotline that provides the general public education and directional support about cannabis. There, you can talk through any concerns you might have about trying cannabis. Once you’re given the green light – come and shop with us.
