Rising levels of depression and anxiety have fueled increased marijuana sales in this state

The ongoing impact of the pandemic has led to increases in several mental illnesses, including depression and anxiety. For some young Floridians, this has led to an investment in medical marijuana, which can help treat multiple health conditions while minimizing the negative side effects of prescribed medications.

Given that marijuana sales have soared to $30 billion, up about 40% from 2020, this phenomenon could be affecting the entire country.

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WUSF spoke to several Floridians who shared that medical marijuana is a better option for treating their mental health. “I think cannabis was more effective in fighting my anxiety and depression,” said Tatiana Tipton, a University of Florida graduate student. “I’ve been diagnosed with ADHD, anxiety, depression, insomnia and OCD,” she said. “After the pandemic hit, I spoke to my psychiatrist about how I would get my medical card.”

Tipton was starting college in 2020 when the pandemic began, which led to a surge in her mental health, with marijuana becoming a viable option that didn’t come with many significant side effects. She’s not the only young adult turning to cannabis for relief.

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Floridians shared that while cannabis helped them manage their mental health, it also alleviated some of the concerns associated with prescription drugs. “I just don’t like my anxiety and depression meds because it makes me feel like a zombie,” Tipton said.

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RELATED: 5 habits marijuana users should be developing in 2023Joseph Orallo, a Jacksonville doctor, shared that a mix of drugs used to treat different conditions often results in negative side effects for patients. “SSRIs take four to six weeks to be absorbed by the body,” he said, which can create this period of discomfort.

“Grass is the alternative,” he added. “Long-term use of weed is still indicative of dementia, but I have patients with dementia who still use cannabis because it calms them down.”