Marijuana has been implemented to treat chronic anxiety disorders that have been otherwise treated with more traditional methods. This method has been used for two decades as stated by an article released by the Government of Canada Entitled Mental Heath-Anxiety Disorders on Jully 22 2009.
Anxiety is traditionally treated with a combination of psychotherapy, behavioural therapy and medication.
Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinolare the two active chemicals in cannabis. More commonly known as CBD and THC, these chemicals can cause two very different reactions in the human body.
According to an article written by Esther M. Blessing in October of 2015 titled Cannabidiol as a potential treatment for anxiety disorders, CBD is responsible for the positive medical effects of marijuana without making the user feel inebriated. It also claims THC causes the person to feel what is described as high.
CBD does not just have to be ingested through smoking. It can be consumed by vaping, edibles and oil.
There are also two species of marijuana that currently exist called strains. Certain strains also have an effect on an anxious consumer.
According to the Peace Naturals Medicinal Cannabis Clinic website, medicine produced from cannabis Indica plants have higher CBD and lower THC counts.
Wren Paetkauis a Lethbridge resident and currently using cannabis to treat their chronic anxiety.
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They were diagnosed with chronic anxiety two years ago by a licensed physician. They said cannabis has not always been an option.
“I was not originally okay with the idea of using marijuana for mental illness. There’s a lot of stigma surrounding it and I grew up in a religious house. You aren’t supposed to use anything. Even traditional medications.”
As an addition to anxiety, they also struggle with other mental illnesses such as depression and gender dysphoria.
They said marijuana has helped them over the daily hurdles of those difficulties as well.
“I deal with gender dysphoria. Sometimes it manifests as social anxiety or body dysphoria. I get really fixated on the little things like my voice. It freaks me out and then my mind starts racing and then I freak out a little bit because it’s confusing. That can usually turn into full-on anxiety attacks.”
According to the Alberta Health Services website, this sort of treatment doesn’t come without risks.
Some associated symptoms of miscalculated self-treatment can be confusion, concentration, sleepiness, memory or increased anxiety and fear.
Research concerning marijuana although limited, has answered some questions about consumption and anxiety.
For more information on cannabis consumption visit canadahealthservices.ca
