How Cannabis use can actually Worsen your Anxiety

With the legalization of Cannabis for recreational use in Canada being approved back in 2018, this upcoming October will mark the sixth anniversary since The Cannabis Act was passed. Since then, 22% of Canadians aged 15 years and older reported using cannabis in the past year - although the real statistics might be much higher. Chances are, you or someone you know has used the drug before to unwind. Maybe you had a stressful day at work? Maybe you are worried about that upcoming test? Maybe you got into a fight with a loved one? Regardless of the reason for stress, Cannabis may be an attractive option to help you calm down.

The benefits of relaxation lead many people to take the drug to calm symptoms of an anxiety disorder. This type of recreational medicine has many attractive benefits – it is easy to access, easy to use, there are different ways of consumption, and it has immediate benefits. There are countless stories of cannabis helping mental health symptoms - but is cannabis really that good for our mental health?

Reported Benefits for Mental Health

According to the American Psychological Association, only three studies published since 1999 assessed the therapeutic benefits of cannabis use and were backed with substantial evidence. The studies found that cannabis was effective in treating chronic pain, reducing nausea (induced by chemotherapy), and decreasing tightness associated with multiple sclerosis (MS). Now, you may be asking yourself - "Well all of this is great - but what about mental health?" and you'd be right.

There actually is a huge research gap surrounding the benefits of cannabis on mental health. In fact, there are only two published studies on the use of cannabis in treating PTSD. Part of the reason for the lack of research is the laws and approvals needed to administer cannabis to research participants in labs. However, of the studies that have been conducted it was found that cannabis can be used to reduce symptoms such as anxiety and reduce the need for mood stabilizers, opioids, and antidepressants. But is this actually as good as it seems to be?

Many people report using marijuana to cope with mental health conditions like anxiety, this is especially seen in those who are diagnosed with social anxiety disorder. The reported benefits of cannabis use are they relieve the symptoms of the following mental health conditions...

• agoraphobia (fear of public places)

• social anxiety

• PTSD

• panic disorder

• phobias

• sleep disrup;ons related to anxiety.

In addition to helping relieve symptoms related to anxiety, another attractive selling point for cannabis is with the legalization, it is relatively easy to get. Additionally, you do not need to be formally diagnosed with anything to purchase it. The current law allows you to buy 30 grams at a time and this allows people to easily get a lot of it at once, which tends to last for a while (depending on how much you use at a time). All of these things make it an attractive option for anxiety sufferers.

However, it seems to affect everyone differently – some may have a peaceful high whereas some experience “greening out” which refers to a cannabis overdose where symptoms include increased anxiety, nausea, increased heart rate, sweating, dizziness, etc. If you or someone you know has experienced it – chances, are you know how bad it can be. But why is it so beneficial to some but so harmful to others? This leads many to question - whether is marijuana really that effective in reducing anxiety symptoms?

Cannabis Use to Reduce Anxiety - Is it All That Effective?

Plenty of people consider marijuana helpful for anxiety. These sentiments were captured by a national survey that showed out of 9000 people 81% thought cannabis had one or more health benefits. However, this might not be the case. It seems as though it is a fine line between a helpful dose of marijuana and a harmful dose. Meaning, THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses but increases anxiety at higher doses. A recent 2023 study was conducted assessing cannabis-induced anxiety disorder in the emergency department. They found that from a total of 1135 patients, a total of 196 patients (17.3%) complained of anxiety and 939 (82.7%) experienced other forms of acute cannabis toxicity. Symptoms predominantly included anxiety symptoms and panic attacks but also included aggression, manic behaviour, and hallucinations.

Compared to those who presented with the other forms of toxicity, those with anxiety as their predominant symptom were more likely to be younger, ingested edible marijuana, and had a pre-existing psychiatric disorder (e.g. anxiety, depression, BPD, OCD, etc.). Further, other studies have also supported the claims that cannabis can produce feelings of anxiety, panic, paranoia, and psychosis.

As mentioned before, these findings seem to be increased in those with pre-existing mental health conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders. Although the intoxicating effects of cannabis may seem an attractive tool for self-medication as it may produce immediate symptom improvement, long-term effects are less clear.

A cause for all of the confusion may be found in the two main active ingredients in cannabis, THC and CBD.

Basically…

THC: is the psychoactive compound that produces the "high" effect associated with cannabis use

CBD: is a non-psychoactive compound that is mainly used for therapeutic purposes

It appears that CBD has the potential to be helpful for anxiety and THC can be helpful too, but in very low doses. THC in high doses has been associated with increased anxiety symptoms such as increased heart rate and racing thoughts.

Moreover, it is important to note that cannabis does not have the same long-term effects as other anxiety treatments (including psychotherapy and/or medication). Instead, if used correctly it may only offer some temporary relief. So, it seems as though Cannabis might not be the best choice if you want to feel less anxious in the long run…

Anxiety Treatment at Brookhaven Psychotherapy

If you are struggling with social or generalized anxiety, consider therapy as your first line of defence. Unlike cannibas, our therapists use therapies (such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) that are proven time and time again to help you get long-term control over your anxiety symptoms. Contact the therapists at Brookhaven today or book an appointment with us!

Learn more about therapy for anxiety here.