Marijuana and Mental Health

Marijuana and Mental Health

cannabis and mental health

It’s no secret that marijuana popularity has surged over recent years. On the other hand, research on the therapeutic properties of this herb has lagged. This is particularly the case concerning the effects of marijuana on mental health. The unsettled legality of marijuana has made researching it a challenge. Nevertheless, some scientists have been compelled by the existing disconnect to study cannabis.

Currently, marijuana is one of the most used illicit drugs. The internet is awash with information about marijuana and its extracts like CBD and THC. Some people purport to use weed as a treatment for different ailments. But, the potential negative effects of this herb have made some people skeptical about its use and safety.

So, is weed addictive - https://addictionresource.com/drugs/marijuana/ you can find more info here. How does it affect a person’s mental health? What could be so dangerous about marijuana that some states are yet to legalize it? These are some of the questions that some people ask before they decide to use cannabis.

Cannabis Popularity

Medical marijuana use is currently legal in more than 31 states of America. Nine of these have made recreational marijuana use legal. It’s estimated that over 2.8 million people use marijuana as medicine in the United States.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the use of recreational marijuana is higher than medical cannabis with over 22.2 million people users. But, how is the use of marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes likely to affect the mental health of individuals?

Cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) are the two most known cannabinoids in the marijuana plant. Most effects of marijuana on the user have been attributed to these chemical compounds. In general, research has shown that CBD produces antipsychotic and anxiolytic effects. That means it is not psychotic and it can’t get its user high.

THC, on the other hand, is a psychotic compound. It causes the high feeling that a person gets after using marijuana. Research has shown that this chemical compound produces psychotic effects and anxiety when taken in higher doses. The popularity of these marijuana extracts has increased over recent years following suggestions by some experts that they have shown the potential to treat some ailments.

How Marijuana Works

Perhaps, what you should know about dangers of using marijuana is that once smoked, its active compounds reach the brain faster via the bloodstream. Once in the brain, they stick or bind to a special brain receptor. This prompts the release of different chemicals by the brain leading to the effect that a person feels. The effects of marijuana can be unpleasant or enjoyable.

In most cases, pleasant effects appear first followed by the unpleasant ones. Some of the pleasant effects of marijuana include being talkative and feeling relaxed. Music or colors can seem intense than they are.

Unpleasant effects of using marijuana include feeling panicky or sick, paranoia, feeling unmotivated and depressed, as well as, hearing voices. Unfortunately, cannabis can be addictive to some people. Thus, they can have a hard time trying to stop using it even when not enjoy the effects it produces.

Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health

Marijuana affects its users differently. That’s why some people end up struggling to find marijuana addiction help after using it while others quit it use with ease. In some people, marijuana triggers certain mental health issues. These can be individuals that seemed well before they start using marijuana. Cannabis can also worsen some mental health conditions that a person has.

Research has shown that using marijuana regularly increases the risk of showing mental illness symptoms in people whose risk of having them is already high. For instance, if an individual comes from a family with a person suffering from schizophrenia or depression, their chances of getting such illnesses increase when they use marijuana.

The younger a person is when they stay using marijuana the higher their risk of developing the illnesses. That’s because the brains of young people are still developing. Therefore, the active chemicals in marijuana can easily damage them.

If a person stops using marijuana on noticing mental illness symptoms like hearing voices, paranoia, and depression, their symptoms might disappear. Nevertheless, not everybody gets better after they stop using marijuana.

But, continued use of marijuana even after the symptoms appear can worsen the condition. Using marijuana can also lower the effectiveness of any treatment prescribed by a doctor. The illness can also come back faster. In most cases, the illness re-occurs when a person starts using marijuana after getting well.

What you should know about dangers of using marijuana is that some individuals that suffer from mental health issues find using it relieving. They feel somehow better immediately after using it. However, this feeling is not long-lasting. In most cases, marijuana doesn’t do anything to treat their illness.

As such, using marijuana can make some people delay getting the help they need to get better due to the feeling it provides. Unfortunately, this can worsen mental health problems in the long run.

How to Avoid the Negative Effects of Marijuana

Nobody wants to end up struggling to find marijuana addiction help. As such, it’s important to act early to avoid an addiction to it. If the mental effects of marijuana are a cause for concern, several things can help.

These include:

Seeking help from a reliable marijuana addiction rehab

Talking to a doctor or healthcare provider

Seeking professional counseling

Reducing the amount of marijuana consumed every day

Avoiding activities, people, and places that prompts a person to use marijuana

Stopping the use of marijuana especially if a person feels depressed, sad, or gets hallucinations

The Bottom Line

The concern that most people have when it comes to using any drug is an addiction. That’s why a person that wants to start using this drug is likely to ask, is weed addictive? Generally, different people respond to marijuana differently. Some will develop an addiction after using marijuana for a while but others won’t. What’s more, marijuana affects the mental health of its users differently. To avoid the negative effects of marijuana on your mental health, monitor how it affects you. If you notice unpleasant effects or symptoms, stop using it and talk to your healthcare provider if they persist.