Can Marijuana Help With Anxiety

Anxiety is no rare occurrence in our world today. In fact, it is said that millions of people in the United States suffer from some debilitating anxiety disorders that make it hard to get through everyday life. Interestingly, there has been a lot of research that has been done to see the effects of cannabis on patients who suffer from stress and anxiety. There was a study done by the Washing State University that explored the impact of medical marijuana on stress, anxiety, and depression.

When the publication came out, the study concluded that inhaling marijuana in the short term can be an effective way to treat stress and anxiety, but that it can also be a potential risk of increasing depression in the long term. Where this research falls short is that it is done in a lab by a THC pill. The problem with this is that many people are used to smoking marijuana in their own homes on their own time, which is something that we can all agree sounds much more appealing than doing THC in a lab. In addition to this, other research has begun to show that smoking cannabis that is high in CBD and low in THC can actually lower the rate of depression among adults.

It is also important to note that marijuana is not a miracle drug. While it has amazing benefits and is a great alternative to modern medication and other treatment options, it also has its drawbacks, and depression caused by long-term use could be one of them. However, it is also important to note that there are so many other variables and factors at play that lead to depression, and marijuana is not necessarily the bad guy here. So what about stress and anxiety? Can medical marijuana be a solution to those conditions?

The answer is yes. In fact, the research is almost indisputable now. Numerous studies have shown that patients who inhale or consume cannabis experience a significant reduction in their feelings of stress and anxiety. And when you think about it, it just makes sense. After all, marijuana is a very natural and generally risk free drug that can allow people to properly relax and just take a load off. It is important to note, however, that some people seem to have increased feelings of anxiety when they are actively using marijuana.

This can be attributed to a variety of factors, and most people would agree that it also has a lot to do with the certain types of strains you use, how much of the cannabis has THC versus CBD, how much you consume, and many other factors. The environment that you are in also plays a big part in your levels of anxiety. If you are at home hanging out by yourself or with some close friends, you are more likely to experience a pleasant high than compared to if you are smoking at a party with a bunch of people you don’t even know.

Personally, I always have the best and most pleasing highs when I am sitting on my enclosed porch with some good buddies and a pizza. Either way, it is very evident that medical marijuana is an effective means of treating anxiety and stress if you know what you are doing. As for depression, there is not a significant correlation  between increased marijuana usage and increased depression. However, I would still argue that if you are going to use a substance to treat your depression, cannabis is a much better alternative than something like alcohol. Hope this helps!

Cannabis In Nursing Homes

The medical cannabis industry is on the up and up in the United States right now. There are currently 34 states that have legalized medical marijuana in some form. Oftentimes these states have different programs that allow only certain types of marijuana strains or certain products. Either way, it is safe to say that more people have access to medical marijuana and its benefits than ever before. This also includes old people and senior citizens. Believe it or not, much of the medical marijuana that is consumed in this country is used by citizens that are 65 years of age or older. This is because many older medical patients are dealing with chronic conditions that cause them great discomfort throughout the day.

By turning to medical cannabis, patients are able to manage and treat their pain and other symptoms without experiencing some of the harmful side effects that are found in other common medications. What does this mean for senior citizens who are living in a nursing home? Surely nursing homes simply follow the legal standard set by their state for medical marijuana? Well, unfortunately we are seeing that this is not always the case. In many nursing homes across the country, the contradiction between federal and state laws are quite stark.

This is becoming an ongoing obstacle for seniors who are attempting to use medical marijuana to treat various symptoms. To put it simply, even citizens who qualify for medical marijuana and can get it through their state's medical program may be blocked by the federal policies within the nursing home they reside. This is a huge problem for patients dealing with chronic pain, inflammation, insomnia, nausea, and other chronic health conditions that become more commonly found in older people. Why would someone who could benefit from medical cannabis be denied, especially after they have been approved and supervised by a doctor?

Every nursing home has rules and regulations that prohibit smoking for all of its residents and staff. This makes sense, since we have long come to realize the negative effects of smoking and the problems it can cause later in life. When talking about the medical marijuana component with older citizens in nursing homes, smoking marijuana would definitely not be practical given the health conditions and fragility of older people’s bodies. However, there are plenty of other methods of consuming cannabis that do not involve inhalation - and just because smoking is one method of using marijuana does not mean that nursing homes should ban medical cannabis altogether. In fact, there are so many different types of products out there that can be used to safely consume cannabis that do not have anything to do with inhalation.

Tinctures, which are a form of liquid CBD or a blend of CBD and THC are popularly used by people who would rather not smoke cannabis. Tinctures are administered by simply putting a drop of the oil under the patient's tongue. This could be done by a staff member or even by a resident themselves if it was allowed. Tinctures are used under the tongue because the blood vessels under the tongue are close to the surface, meaning that they absorb into the bloodstream faster and start to provide symptom relief in just about 30 minutes.

This is a great option for older patients, and these tinctures can be found in a variety of flavors or completely unflavored if so desired. There are also THC or CBD edibles that can be consumed like any other food, and these are also great ways to consume cannabis without actually having to smoke it. Not to mention, creams, ointments, and other cannabis topicals exist that can use to treat chronic diseases and other conditions. 

CBD vs Marijuana for Anxiety? Which one is Better?

One of the things that a lot of people struggle with is anxiety. The pandemic ended up making things worse as well. Thankfully, more attention has started to turn towards mental health in America, and people that struggle with certain mental health disorders are able to get more resources available to them. It is estimated that almost 1 in 3 Americans have experienced a mental health or anxiety disorder at some point in their lifetime. 

While there are of course normal levels of anxiety that everyone experiences from time to time, anxiety disorders are a totally different animal. Most people don’t really have a good way to identify with people that have anxiety because they simply do not understand it. For people that actually struggle with something like anxiety, it can make trying to do normal things and just get through the day an extremely difficult task.

Treatment for anxiety can vary in effectiveness depending on the patient - some things work for some people, while others do not see them as effective. Currently, the normal treatment options for anxiety disorders include things like therapy and prescription medications. However, there are some concerns for people who use these prescriptions, as they can sometimes make conditions worse and have some negative side effects as well. As an alternative to these medications, it is becoming increasingly popular for people to use medical marijuana for treating anxiety disorders and that sort of thing. Today, we are going to talk about if using CBD and marijuana can be an effective way to manage anxiety symptoms.

So when it comes to CBD and marijuana, which one is better for treating anxiety? Well, the unfortunate part of the medical marijuana industry is that there are not a whole lot of clinical studies and trials that have been done. Since cannabis has been illegal for so long in the United States, there is no a whole lot of data available that can make it easy to distinguish which one is necessarily better for treating anxiety (that is, CBD or marijuana). 

However, there are a few things to consider when picking between the two. We do have limited research and some testimonials from people who have used these things for anxiety. One of the more notable side effects of using THC is actually that it can cause anxiety. This does not happen for everyone, but it is pretty well known that using certain THC strains can cause anxiety instead of having the calming effect that we are going for.

However, certain strains of cannabis can be very effective at reducing symptoms of anxiety, especially when one is using an indica dominant strain. CBD is also used to treat anxiety, and some studies suggest that the cannabinoid content found in cannabis can lower feelings of depression, anxiety, and stress in certain patients. 

This is a huge win for people that struggle with anxiety from day to day. One thing to keep in mind when picking whether you want to use CBD or marijuana to treat your anxiety is the state that you live in. As many of you are already aware of, medical marijuana is not legal in all places around the United States. Some people do not have the option to try using certain THC strains because of the laws that are in place in their state. 

However, CBD has been federally legalized for quite some time because it is considered to be a hemp-derived product by the United States government. If you are someone that has been struggling with an anxiety disorder of some kind, make sure that you about trying marijuana as a treatment option.

Does CBD Reduce Its Effect Over Time

CBD or cannabidiol does lose the effect over time due to the product being expired, or even your tolerance to this. But here, we’ll look at how to overcome it.

Why it doesn’t Work anymore 

Usually, it happens due to the expiration of the oil, where it’s not usable, or less effective. There are a few factors that do impact this, and they include: 

• The process of extraction, as some of the methods are better than others. Carbon dioxide is the best method, as it offers the best CBD for the product, and keeps it for longer. Look for the products that are made this way.

• The ingredients. The low-quality ingredients result in a faster expiration usually. Don’t get anything with flavorings either, as this can reduce the shelf life.

• If the product is not in a dark or amber glass bottle, it’s going to degrade faster due to the light and the heat that’s there. also make sure that it’s never in direct sunlight whenever you purchase it.

• The quality is bad. Some of the factors that go into this include the condition of the oil, ingredients used, and whether it’s been analyzed by a third-party lab. If it hasn’t, it’s not going to have as good of quality.

• The storage is bad. Make sure it’s out of the sun, and in a container that's airtight.

Usually, you can tell by the smell that’s there. it’s usually earthy. If it tastes bad, it’s degraded, and you probably shouldn’t have it period. You should also look at the thickness of it. If it looks really thick and cloudy, chances are the oil did degrade, so don’t consume it. You might wonder if you’re going to get sick having old CBD. The answer is no, because it won’t make you sick unless it’s got mildew and mold on there, but it just tastes terrible, so don’t have this. 

CBD Tolerance 

Another reason that you may not get the most out of CBD is because you developed a CBD tolerance. This means you need to take more to get the same effects, and it happens due to homeostasis. It’s not dependance, but it’s just you have to take more to get the same effect. Over time, when you use CBD, it tends to become more resistant within the body. THC definitely does have a similar effect that CBD does when it comes to tolerance. If you notice you need to take more to get the same effects, it’s going to definitely be a sign of tolerance issues.

How to Lower your Tolerance 

The best way to lower it is to stop taking it for a couple of days, allowing the tolerance to dip down, and giving the body the “reset” that it needs. You may want to reduce how often you use it, since if you take this multiple times a day, maybe taking it once a day can help.

You also may want to use THC to help with this, but this can sometimes be hard, and may lead to a tolerance of THC. You can also consider using a strain that’s different, or something with lower CBD within it, in order to lower the tolerance that’s there. Sometimes, you just have to make a shift, and from there, you’ll start to see the difference. Tolerance to CBD is common in long-term users, and some people notice this faster than others. That’s why, if you start to see this, take the steps you need to lower the tolerance as well.