Why Cannabis Might Be the Game-Changer for Anxiety Sufferers

Racing heart. Sweaty palms. Queasy tummy. It’s an all too familiar feeling. A panic attack is fast approaching and there’s little you can do to stop it.

Anxiety disorders affect about 31.1% of the U.S. population. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, the affliction is more prominent among women.

Many family physicians prescribe anti-anxiety medications like benzodiazepines. The tranquilizers are the most widely prescribed. Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, and Ativan are typically administered during a panic attack.

Like all drugs, the above drugs have side effects, sometimes leading to a medication hangover. They also aren’t widely accessible and can only be accessed with a prescription.

So, what’s the alternative? Applied policy researcher Ashley Bradford was curious to see how cannabis dispensaries impacted the rate of anti-anxiety medication prescriptions. Bradford’s focus group was privately insured patients.

Her findings and others like it could pave the way for anxiety sufferers. Below we’ll explain how.

The Case for Legal Cannabis

Cannabis is legal in 39 U.S. states for medical use and 24 states for recreational consumption.

Access to cannabis dispensaries has become more convenient over the past few years. Cannabis users can purchase their products online, from vape pens to accessories.

However, some gray areas persist in state laws, blurring the lines between what is legally permitted.

Michigan was the first midwestern state to legalize both medical and recreational cannabis use. CBS News reports that the legalized cannabis industry has already surpassed the $10 billion sales mark in the state.

Ann Arbor is a university town filled to the brim with University of Michigan students. The legality of cannabis in the state makes it easily accessible here.

For students looking for an Ann Arbor dispensary, there are plenty of options whether they are new to cannabis or just curious about it.

Conveniently located, these dispensaries offer curbside pickup and exclusive discounts. Cannabis products are in high demand, from pre rolls to delicious edibles to flowers.

Actionable Treatment Plan

Bradford and her colleagues published their findings in the journal JAMA Network Open.

Although they couldn’t conclusively prove it, they determined that increased access was linked to reductions in benzodiazepine prescription fills. People were instead turning to cannabis dispensaries.

Vibe Dispensaries echoes the findings and adds that as more and more states legalize cannabis, more people will use cannabis instead of prescription drugs.

Last year, a Johns Hopkins Medicine-led team found evidence of a naturally occurring chemical in cannabis that lessens the anxiety-inducing effects of THC.

D-limonene is more prevalent in terpenes. The chemical shows promise following rodent studies, revealing reduced anxious behavior.

Navigating the Opioids Crisis

Nature says the opioid overdose epidemic is a public health crisis in the U.S. The country witnessed an exponentially increasing number of drug overdose deaths in the last 40 years.

Benzodiazepine is a contributor to the country’s drug addiction scourge. The class of psychoactive drugs is widely used to treat anxiety, insomnia and epilepsy.

Benzodiazepine is highly addictive and dependence leads to severe withdrawal symptoms.

Given the complexities of benzodiazepine use, cannabis could be a plausible substitute for medications where misuse is a risk.

More Studies Needed

Despite the strides made in the use of medical cannabis, experts say more research is warranted.

Psychiatrist Dr Brian Barnett tells Cleveland Clinic that medical cannabis used to treat mental health conditions can’t be justified given the current limited research.

Barnett says healthcare providers hesitate to recommend cannabis for anxiety due to limited evidence and its varying effects on individuals.

However, certain CBD cannabis strains have been found to ease anxiety, reports Healthline. CBD experts suggest opting for a strain with a high CBD-to-THC ratio.

Promising Results

There is no magic potion that can successfully cure anxiety. However, a lesser-known cannabinoid is fast gaining traction in the medical research field.

During a recent human trial, cannabigerol (CBG) was shown to effectively reduce anxiety minus the intoxicating effects of whole plant cannabis.

The research showed that 20 mg of hemp-derived CBG significantly reduced anxiety within 20 to 60 minutes compared to a placebo.

We have a long way to go in understanding cannabis and how it affects the brain. Thankfully, researchers are working hard to uncover its secrets.

Like Ashley Bradford, many are advocating for safer alternatives to conventional medicine. If you consider replacing your medication with a cannabis substitute, talk to your doctor or mental health counselor.

When purchasing medical cannabis, ensure you do so from a trusted and reputable premier cannabis dispensary. Anxiety need not be a death sentence, but by actively managing the condition, you can live a fulfilling life.