Kush and News: 27 Ways Cannabis Helps People Better Their Mental Health

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

27 Ways Cannabis Helps People Better Their Mental Health

Cannabis and mental health is a complicated and controversial topic. There have been many claims on either side as to the effects of long-term cannabis use. For some, puffing a joint clears the mind, relieves social anxieties, and grounds them in normality. So, at the end of the day, if it helps, then what’s the problem?

Strain game

Of course, certain strains will trigger reaction more than others. If you want to learn more about strains for anxiety, check out this article.

Mental health and the effects of long-term cannabis use is widely debated, with some insisting that cannabis can worsen psychiatric conditions.

A study published last year surveyed around 35,000 people and followed up three years later. The good news? They found no correlation with cannabis use and the development of mood disorders, depression, and anxiety.

The bad news? Other research suggests that cannabis may still cause some people to have a bad time. It simply depends on your biochemistry and genetics.

Mental health and cannabis

In an NPR interview last year, National Institute of Drug Addiction director Dr. Nora Valkow stated,

You can have a psychotic episode from the use of marijuana without it turning into schizophrenia. It’s very distressing, but you’ll get out of it.

Researchers in the UK have also recently discovered theAKT1 gene that triggers cannabis-induced psychosis, which means you’re genetically pre-disposed to experiencing psychotic experiences from cannabis.

Those who have the gene are more likely to develop paranoia, visual distortions, and other psychotic-like hallucinations.

So, although some people need to treat cannabis with caution, we should all treat it with respect. And some people should just keep on toking if they find that the powerful plant can help treat their mental health conditions like PTSD, anxiety and panic attacks.

This Whisper post is a collection of confessions from people who choose cannabis to help with their mental health. People who rely on cannabis instead of dangerous prescription pills. People who choose cannabis over addictive options pushed by Big Pharma.