Recent studies prove that cannabis is indeed effective for anxiety and depression

According to the World Health Organization, over 280 million people worldwide struggle with depression. The WHO now estimates that around 264 million people are afraid.

Then there are those who struggle with both.

While many of us occasionally experience temporary anxiety and depression due to certain life events, these mental disorders can be so overwhelming and debilitating for these millions of people. It can rob us of our quality of life, prevent us from having a healthy social life, maintaining relationships, keeping a job, having a stable income, and more.

Those who can afford it seek treatment from licensed psychiatrists and psychologists, while those who need help with more severe anxiety and depression must resort to medication. Prescription drugs such as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are among the first line of defense for anxiety and depression, including antidepressants. While they can work for many people, they often have horrific side effects that are well known—enough to make people give up on them altogether.

These include, but are not limited to:

  • diarrhea or constipation

  • Dry mouth

  • Tremble

  • weight gain

  • nausea

  • headache

  • insomnia

  • fatigue

And so much more.

Why cannabis is best for anxiety and depression

In recent years there has been an increase in studies demonstrating the effectiveness of marijuana for treating anxiety and depression without the side effects of drugs.

Patients who have used cannabis for anxiety and depression also report significant improvements. A recent survey conducted in Canada surveyed more than 7,000 patients who had access to medical marijuana and a licensed MMJ clinic in the country. The authors said there were “statistically significant improvements” when they compared baseline to track anxiety and depression outcomes for at least a year.

“To our knowledge, this study is the largest completed to date examining the effects of medicinal cannabis use on outcomes from anxiety and depression using longitudinal data and validated questionnaires,” the study authors said.

“It provides evidence of the effectiveness of medicinal cannabis for the treatment of anxiety and depression that is otherwise currently unavailable, and demonstrates that patients seeking medical cannabis treatment for anxiety and depression may experience clinically significant improvements.” This study provides reasonable justification for the completion of large clinical trials to further the understanding of medicinal cannabis as a treatment for anxiety and depression,” they concluded.

In summary, the results indicated that patients can expect long-term relief from anxiety and depression when medicated with cannabis.

There are also some studies that suggest that anxiety and depression sufferers are better off using CBD products than THC to treat their conditions.

A 2021 study conducted by researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and investigators at Charleston University of South Carolina involved analyzing patterns in depression and anxiety symptoms self-reported by a group of cannabis users and non-users. Most participants in the study were aware of the cannabinoid composition of the products they consumed and reported that most of them were consuming cannabis, which is dominant in CBD.

“Initiation of medicinal cannabis use during the follow-up period of the study was associated with a significant decrease in anxiety and depressive symptoms, an effect not seen in controls who had never started cannabis use…. Adverse events attributed by participants to cannabis product use were rare and more likely to be associated with use of THC-dominant products,” the authors wrote.

While higher doses of drugs may be recommended for patients with severe episodes or treatment-resistant conditions, with cannabis, only a small amount may be needed to cope.

These are the findings of a 2021 study conducted by Realm of Caring, a non-profit organization dedicated to researching cannabis. The findings, published in Frontiers in Psychiatry, were collected after evaluating data from the organization’s Observational Research Registry (ORR). They found that people who used CBD products alone, or those who continued to use them during follow-up, reported large improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms. Apart from that, they also reported that they slept better and suffered from less pain compared to those who did not consume CBD.

“The biggest misconception this study addresses is that CBD doses must be between 400 and 600 mg before positive psychiatric effects can be achieved,” says Dr. Nicolas Schlienz, Research Director of Realm of Caring. “We’ve seen positive effects in people who were only taking about 60 mg per day on average, 1/10th that dose,” he said.

There was also another study from earlier this year, in January 2022, in which results from an open-label and randomized study conducted by Advancing CBD Education and Sciences (ACES) published results from participants who purchased over-the-counter CBD products. According to MedScape, they found “clinically meaningful” improvements in anxiety, as well as sleep quality and pain.

“ACES is the largest clinical study ever conducted on commercially available CBD products and provides, for the first time, real-world evidence of under what conditions users can benefit from using CBD, whether those benefits are clinically meaningful, and the properties of CBD products can have health effects and what side effects can occur,” said Jessica Saleska, PhD, MPH, study co-investigator and research director of Radicle Science.

Ethan Russo, MD, Radicle Scientific Advisory and Neurologist, and CEO and Founder of CReDO Science, further explains that the study is designed to advise consumers to make informed decisions before purchasing commercially available CBD products.

Conclusion

CBD products are readily available to consumers across the country. Its safety profile makes it an excellent way to relieve everyday anxiety and depression. However, use caution when mixing if you are already taking prescription medication from a psychiatrist as it can cause unwanted side effects.

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