Marijuana has its fair share of uses for people looking to treat pain and various conditions. While research is somewhat sparse, scientists have connected marijuana to calming effects in users as it temporarily eases anxiety. While some strains of cannabis may cause anxiety in some people rather than ease it, as evidenced by some smokers, low doses of THC and CBD can decrease anxiety over the short term.
In Texas, the only way to legally use marijuana for anxiety is with a medical marijuana prescription, as the Lone Star state is one of the strictest states in the U.S. regarding marijuana laws. When prescribed, physicians recommend best practices to ensure marijuana users safely use it to alleviate anxiety symptoms. Here’s how to use medical marijuana to treat a condition that more than 43% of Texans are suffering from.
THC and CBD’s Effect on Anxiety
The effect of marijuana and mental health has long been studied; anxiety is a condition that can be helped and, in some instances, made worse when using marijuana.
For years, studies have shown that marijuana is a good form of treatment for anxiety, especially for people who have been diagnosed with a social anxiety disorder. The two most prominent cannabinoids found in marijuana, THC, and CBD, have differing effects on anxiety. Marijuana users are recommended to use low-THC marijuana to try and treat anxiety. Using low doses of THC can decrease anxiety, while high THC doses may cause more anxiety and nervousness. By contrast, CBD is anxiolytic and eases anxiety.
Thanks to the expansion of the local Compassionate Use Program, more patients have been enrolling and using it to treat anxiety triggered by different listed conditions for the program, including PTSD, seizure disorders, and incurable neurogenerative diseases, among others.
Choosing the Right Strain to Treat Anxiety
Choosing the right strain for anxiety treatment depends on the individual and how marijuana interacts with anti-anxiety medication. The latter is especially important as marijuana may compromise anxiety symptom tracking. If you’ve just started to use this sort of medication, you should hold off on using marijuana and examine the effects of your medication to see if it’s working.
Determining the right strain for you requires a talk with your physician to establish the potential effects of a particular strain and see which ones are more likely to help. Some strains like Harlequin and ACDC are commonly referenced as strong strains to counter anxiety, both of which are CBD-rich and medicinally impactful.
Dosing Recommendations
High CBD products are good starting points for easing anxiety because they’re not psychoactive. Physicians will recommend starting at a low dose before adjusting to see where the sweet spot is for patients.
For THC, doses will be written in milligrams if it’s being ingested, with a liquid tincture showing the total milligrams for each bottle. For smoking or vaporization, however, the potency of flowers and oils is represented as a percentage by weight. Patients should always start with small doses and gradually work their way up until the positive effects are felt, especially when smoking. Low-THC medical marijuana prescriptions are available for Texans to alleviate anxiety temporarily.
Book an appointment on our website and find out how you can receive a medical marijuana prescription from a compassionate doctor in Texas.
Aaron Bloom, an experienced healthcare attorney, serves as the CEO of DocMJ and Medwell Health and Wellness Centers, where he has overseen the organizations’ mission and growth since 2016. In addition to his leadership roles, Aaron serves on the Board of Directors for Waterfall Bank, bringing his expertise in healthcare, compliance, and strategic growth to the financial services sector.
Aaron’s passion for improving patients’ lives stems from more than 20 years of owning, operating, and representing traditional healthcare organizations. Throughout his career, he has remained committed to finding better ways to relieve suffering and expand access to innovative, patient-centered care. As CEO, Aaron works each day to help patients achieve better health and wellness through the therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis and other evidence-based alternative medicines.