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.