Is Medical Marijuana Effective for Anxiety Disorder?

Guest Post By Mary Peck

Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and Depression are two of the most common mental health disorders in the USA affecting millions of people.  Though people still believe in the conventional medical treatments for anxiety, the modern generation has started using marijuana products to ease the symptoms of anxiety and other mental health disorders. 

Now, the question here is: Does medical marijuana actually help with anxiety? Well, we will discuss that a bit later but first, let us read more about anxiety and its types. 

Understanding Anxiety Disorder 

Anxiety has become a common part of everyone’s life. We all fret over insecurity issues, finances, job interviews, and whatnot! While anxiety can help some of us focus and perform better in our lives, it can be a trigger for many people affecting their everyday performance. 

The disorder nearly affects 1 in 5 American adults each year. One may notice the symptoms during childhood and continue into adulthood. In some of these cases, anxiety can further increase the risk for other medical problems, such as stroke, heart disease, substance abuse, diabetes, and depression. 

Symptoms of Anxiety Disorder

•  Restlessness
  
• Nervousness
• Constant stress
• Muscle tension
• Increased heart rate
• Breathing rapidly
• Fatigue
• Feeling tired
• Trouble concentrating
• Excessive worry about future
• Disturbed sleep patterns 

Types of Anxiety Disorders

• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Panic Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder 
• Social Anxiety Disorder
• Separation Anxiety Disorder
• Agoraphobia
• Selective Mutism

What is Medical Marijuana? 

Cannabis, also known by the names of marijuana, pot, weed, or hash, is a complex plant containing hundreds of chemical compounds some of which are called cannabinoids. Speaking particularly of medical marijuana, the term is commonly used for cannabis products that are recommended by licensed physicians for patients suffering from some debilitating medical conditions. 

Two of the main cannabinoids found in cannabis plants are CBD (cannabinoid) and THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). While CBD is known for its therapeutic effects, THC is the psychoactive component of the plant which is responsible for the ‘high’ that people link with marijuana use. 

Acknowledging the medical potential of cannabis and its cannabinoids, many US states have legalized the medical use of marijuana. You just require a medical card online certified from a licensed physician and you can access legal cannabis products from licensed dispensaries. 

Kindly note that the use of marijuana is still considered illegal in the eyes of the federal government as marijuana comes under the category of Schedule 1 drugs.. 

Is Medical Marijuana Effective for Anxiety Disorder? 

A major chunk of the American population uses cannabis products to get relief from an assortment of medical conditions including anxiety. Around 49% of Americans, who use CBD, use it for anxiety relief.  Even scientific research supports the potential benefits of cannabis in the management of anxiety symptoms. 

In a study of 1746 patients from a circle of nine MMJ evaluation clinics in California, more than 37 percent of the patients reported they used cannabis products to get relief from anxiety, 16.9% to manage panic attacks, and 55.1 % for relaxation. 

Though a few states have added anxiety as the qualifying condition to get a medical marijuana card, the other states do not really consider marijuana to be ‘The’ effective treatment for anxiety disorders. 

A few of the studies conducted on patients with different types of anxiety disorders suggest that marijuana does help in managing the severity of symptoms, such as restlessness, muscle tension, panic attacks, etc. 

CBD for Anxiety

CBD enjoys a dedicated following for its effective therapeutic properties. An attractive number of people in America consume CBD to relieve anxiety and other health issues. CBD also helps reduce insomnia which is one of the most common symptoms of anxiety. 

In a 2011 study conducted on patients with Social Anxiety Disorder, one group was given CBD and the other group was given a placebo. After a few weeks of the treatment, it was found that patients who consumed CBD experienced more relief and a reduction in their overall anxiety symptoms. 

Which Cannabis Products Should I Use for Anxiety?

There are many cannabis products that people use for the treatment of anxiety. Here are a few of the most popular and common ones: 

• Hemp Oil 
• CBD oils and tinctures
• Flavored gummies
• Vapes 
• Hemp flowers
• CBD candies/lollipops/ cookies 

Though smoking cannabis is the most popular form of ingesting cannabis into your system, a major chunk of patients use oils to get the therapeutic effects of cannabis quickly. Gummies are a more popular choice for those who don’t prefer smoking or the nasty taste of oils. 

Gummies are very convenient and their effects stay for a longer period of time in your body but they also take around 2 hours to kick in the effects. 

Final Thoughts 

Concluding the entire discussion, it could be said that cannabis does hold the potential to manage the symptoms of anxiety. Though the scientific community has not confirmed the effects of cannabis with complete certainty, there are people who have been using the plant for its therapeutic properties. If you wish to consume cannabis or its derivatives for any medical condition, it is advised to first consult an MMJ doctor and then get started with your cannabis journey. 

Bio: Mary Peck is a passionate blogger and loves to write about cannabis and marketing. Her other works include content marketing and SEO. Mary says “I believe in the therapeutic power of alternatives like medical marijuana and educate people about it.