The information we have about medical marijuana suggests that it could act as a replacement for typical anti-anxiety medication. Preliminary research about medical marijuana and anxiety shows cannabis has similar components to manufactured pharmaceuticals for anxiety symptoms.

One of the most commonly prescribed types of anti-anxiety medication is benzodiazepines. It manages the levels of a neurotransmitter called GABA that balances your anxiety levels. Unfortunately, patients who take them tend to build a tolerance quickly, and they cause thousands of overdose deaths every year.

But, guess what drug could also affect your GABA levels? If you guessed marijuana, you have our number. Early studies discovered that the components in marijuana, especially cannabidiol (CBD), also manage the amount of GABA in your brain.

Cbd for anxiety

Medical marijuana also shows potential for lowering your levels of cortisol, a hormone that indicates how much stress you feel. The lowered cortisol creates a dulled reaction to stress. We aren’t quite sure whether this is an overall good or bad result yet, but this effect could be a total game-changer if it does turn out to be positive.

Using Medical Cannabis for Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Medical marijuana can serve as a holistic alternative to anxiety medication without the typical side effects. It has been an effective treatment for symptoms of anxiety disorders for countless patients just like you.

However, some patients experience an increase in anxiety when they use cannabis meds. Don’t worry, though — with consultation from a marijuana doctor and care in picking the right strain, you can avoid the extra anxiety.

The cannabis compound known as CBD has been shown to offer substantial benefits for people suffering from a variety of anxiety disorders. Cannabis that is rich in CBD has been used in patients who were suffering from anxiety as well as pain, spasms and many other issues. You can’t get high from CBD, and it offers several therapeutic effects. Research animals given CBD have shown significantly lower levels of anxiety than those not given the compound.

Research About Medical Cannabis and Anxiety Disorders
Research into the benefits of medical cannabis for anxiety is still in its early stages, but indications show that marijuana can help people suffering from anxiety a great deal.

A.R. Schier et al. conducted a comprehensive review of scientific research on the use of CBD for anxiety relief. They looked at studies on both rats and humans.

The researchers found a lot of promise in preclinical studies conducted on lab rats. The results showed potential for treatment for PTSD, panic attacks and OCD. Their results suggested that lower doses of CBD worked more effectively than higher doses.

The studies addressing CBD’s effect on human psychology also indicated a chance of medical marijuana acting as an anti-anxiety drug. Schier et al. went back as far as the 1980s to compile data on CBD, and found it tended to reduce anxiety symptoms in human patients.

So far, we don’t have enough clinical evidence to completely understand how cannabis impacts anxiety disorders. But we’re on the right track toward learning about the calming properties of medical marijuana.

However, we should also keep in mind that marijuana has the potential to cause psychosis that triggers anxiety. As marijuana laws change, we’ll be able to have more opportunities for research that can tell us when and how to properly use marijuana for anxiety. In the meantime, we recommend working closely with your doctor so you can figure out whether or not it works for you.

Best Strains of Medical Cannabis for Anxiety Disorders
When you get your cannabis meds, you must choose a strain that suits your health needs. Medicating with marijuana isn’t as simple as getting any kind of leaf and using it — every strain of marijuana has unique effects. But it isn’t terribly complicated as long as you do your research and consult with your doctor and dispensary.

Before we talk about specific strains, keep in mind that there are two families of strains — Indica and Sativa. Indica is high in CBD, the chemical in marijuana beneficial for anxiety, while Sativa has THC, which can cause anxiety. So you’ll want to find an Indica or Indica-leaning hybrid that has a high amount of CBD.