Why does weed make some people paranoid?

Few feelings are as uncomfortable as the belief that someone is after you. Of the cascade of effects cannabis can induce, paranoia is definitely one of the least desirable. As it turns out, THC, the main intoxicating compound in cannabis, can be responsible for triggering paranoid thoughts in some people when they smoke weed.

While not everyone who uses weed experiences paranoia, it can be a common side effect. Also, some people are more prone to paranoia than others. Understanding why paranoid thoughts occur and how to avoid or manage them when using cannabis can empower you rather than make you anxious.

What is paranoia?

Paranoia is a state of mind or feeling when a person has unfounded beliefs that others intend to harm them. Paranoia represents a central experience of paranoid personality disorder (PDD), characterized by persistent distrust and distrust of others. Paranoia is also a common feature of psychosis and psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia, but not always a feature of mental illness.

Symptoms of paranoia include:

• Inability to trust other people
• inability to relax
• The feeling that the results are controlled by external forces
• Find hidden meaning in the behavior of others
• Excessive vigilance

It’s normal to have occasional paranoid thoughts from time to time. Certain demographics are also likely to be more prone to paranoid thinking than others: individuals living in poverty, isolation, or exploitation, and individuals with low self-esteem, poor physical health, or trauma can often have an increased propensity toward paranoia.

Certain substances can also trigger paranoia, with cannabis being one of the most well-known examples. Paranoia caused by cannabis can manifest itself in many different ways. Examples include feeling anxious or embarrassed about what others are thinking, or feeling threatened because someone or something is out to get you.

Those of us who have experienced paranoia after consuming weed will likely attest that in the clutches of paranoia there is a strong desire to be alone, to be antisocial, to hide in a dark room, or even to become catatonic .

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How Can Weed Cause Paranoia?

In 2014, a landmark study on cannabis and paranoia confirmed what had long been suspected: THC can trigger paranoia. The study involved 121 volunteers who were given either THC (the equivalent of a strong joint) intravenously or a placebo.

The results clearly showed that THC can induce paranoia in people who are more prone to paranoid thinking: Fifty percent of the volunteers given THC experienced paranoia, compared to 30% of the volunteers given placebo.

The study also offered other fascinating insights into how THC affects paranoid thinking.

Abnormal brain processing

THC appears to interfere with the way the brain processes random events, a phenomenon called abnormal emphasis. Simply put, people are more likely to attach special importance to random events and misinterpret them after using cannabis. Other studies have shown that the likelihood of attributing importance or emphasis continues to increase when the person is exposed to negative emotions, such as fear and anger.

In other words, someone who has just smoked weed is more prepared to freak out over an angry expression and misinterpret its meaning than someone who has not used cannabis. However, abnormal highlight processing appears to be transient and only occurs while the individual is high.

There is currently no evidence that long-term cannabis use can permanently impair salience processing.

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overstimulation of the brain

THC can also induce paranoid thinking in other ways. The cannabinoid can activate endocannabinoid receptors throughout the brain, including in the amygdala. The amygdala plays a crucial role in regulating anxiety-related responses such as anxiety, stress, and paranoia.

Large doses of THC can overstimulate the amygdala, resulting in a rush of anxiety or anxiety-based reactions. This overactivation of negative emotions can trigger paranoia.

CBD strains can alleviate paranoia

Additional evidence suggests that THC can increase fear responses and paranoid thinking. In one study, people were given 10 milligrams of THC and then exposed to fearful faces. These individuals experienced greater amygdala activation than those given CBD. The CBD cohort of the study actually saw a decrease in amygdala activity.

It’s both fascinating and ironic that two different compounds found in the same plant can aggravate and relieve paranoia.

Another recent study comparing the effects of CBD and THC-dominant cannabis strains found that the CBD-dominant strains induced an immediate reduction in tension and anxiety. On the other hand, the THC-dominant strains experienced a surge in paranoia in users immediately after consumption, with the effects only wearing off after an hour.

While far from conclusive, these results strongly suggest that THC can trigger paranoia, while CBD can help alleviate it.

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Are some more prone to paranoia when consuming weed than others?

We know that paranoia can be a fairly common experience for cannabis users. Up to 51.4% of cannabis users experienced paranoid thoughts when using cannabis. However, it appears that certain factors can make some individuals more prone to paranoia than others.

Knowing that THC causes paranoia doesn’t help

In the largest study conducted to date on paranoia and cannabis, researchers told participants that THC could trigger paranoid thoughts. The researchers hypothesized that if participants were made aware that THC could trigger such an effect, they would be less likely to misinterpret random events — a precursor to paranoid thinking.

However, this revelation seemed to do the opposite, compounding the paranoia of those who had been told. In other words, cultivating the expectation that cannabis use can be accompanied by paranoia seems to create a self-fulfilling prophecy.

There is also other evidence showing that people who are led to associate cannabis with paranoia are more likely to make a connection. Cannabis and paranoia surveys have shown that people are significantly more likely to report paranoia when asked to define it in a fixed way. On the other hand, when individuals are asked open-ended questions about their experiences with cannabis, only 6% report experiencing paranoia.

genetic predisposition

There is also recent evidence that genetics can affect the likelihood of cannabis causing paranoia. In a large study of 109,308 participants, researchers found that people with a genetic predisposition to psychotic illness were more likely to experience paranoia after cannabis use.

However, it’s important to remember that experiencing paranoia does not necessarily imply a psychotic illness — many people experience mild paranoia at some point in their lives.

Gender can determine side effects

Oddly enough, sex can also play a role. A 2019 study involving human participants found that women experience the effects of THC at a lower dose than men. While the research didn’t specifically look at whether women were more likely to suffer from paranoia, it did suggest that women are more likely to experience acute side effects after consuming THC, of ​​which paranoia is one example.

Another study also found that women are significantly more likely to experience acute anxiety-triggering effects of cannabis and should therefore start with lower doses than men.

Tips to stop weed paranoia

When it comes to paranoia, there are a number of tools that can help reduce the likelihood of paranoid thoughts occurring.

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Start low and go slow

First of all “start low and go slow”. If you are new to cannabis, it is always advisable to start with a low dose – even a microdose – and wait for the effects to kick in before consuming more.

Once you’re comfortable with how the plant interacts with your body, you can start adjusting your dose, slowly increasing until you reach your personal sweet spot. The sweet spot represents the dose that will provide the desired result without side effects such as paranoia.

Cultivate a positive set and setting

Another technique that can help reduce the likelihood of paranoia is paying attention to set and setting. In recent years, research has underscored the importance of cultivating a supportive mindset and a safe environment to experience substances like cannabis.

As previously mentioned, paranoia tends to arise when there is an abundance of negative emotions. Fear, for example, can quickly make you feel threatened or vulnerable to harm. Therefore, consuming weed in an environment where you feel safe and comfortable and in a relaxed, open state of mind can help reduce the likelihood of paranoia.

ride it out

However, if you’re doing everything right and the paranoia still strikes, all is not lost. Although stoned paranoia can feel intense and overwhelming, it is usually short-lived and wears off after an hour or two. The following techniques can lessen the intensity of the experience and help pass the time.

Some cannabis users swear by uncomplicated solutions like deep breathing, relaxing activities like yin yoga, wrapping yourself in a blanket and waiting for the paranoia to dissipate, or lying in bed and resting and resting.

Herbs, spices and CBD strains

There are also anecdotes about inhaling or consuming freshly ground black pepper or lemon juice. The aromatic terpenes found in these plants can help induce relaxation or feelings of grounding, similar to the effects of aromatherapy.

Finally, try CBD. Smoking a CBD strain or chewing CBD gummies can induce a sense of calm, counteract anxiety or negative feelings, and help alleviate cannabis paranoia.

Emma Stone

Emma Stone is a New Zealand-based journalist specializing in cannabis, health and well-being. She has a Ph.D. in sociology and has worked as a researcher and lecturer, but prefers to be a writer. She would enjoy spending her days writing, reading, walking outdoors, eating, and swimming.

Check out Emma Stone’s articles

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