Even though weed has been legalized in many states, there is still a stigma that weed is bad for you. Science is now giving credibility to claims that stoners have been making for decades. For example, we’re seeing scientific evidence that weed helps with pain and sleep among other things. On the other hand, weed smoke has carcinogens and has been linked to mental illnesses. So, the question remains, is marijuana good for you?
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Is Marijuana Good For You?
It definitely can be, it depends on the person.
Marijuana has tons of cannabinoids that can affect the body in various ways. People have been able to alleviate pain, treat mental illnesses, cope with cancer and get a better night’s rest with marijuana. Athletes have also found weed to help with inflammation and pain. Even some seniors have been relying on marijuana for some of their issues.
However, if you’re an adolescent, there have been studies indicating that weed may be harmful. Using weed as an adolescent not only increases the risk of addiction, but has been linked to changes in brain structure.
Another group of people marijuana may not be good for, are those who pregnant. Pregnant people may end up hurting their fetus through marijuana use. The same sentiments remain for those who are breastfeeding.
Finally, people are predisposed to addiction and certain mental illnesses may have problems with weed.
Is Marijuana Good for Mental Illnesses?
There is so much conflicting research out there when it comes to marijuana and mental illnesses. Some studies indicate marijuana does help with their mental illness symptoms. However, marijuana has been linked to causing mental illnesses or exacerbating the symptoms.
Is Marijuana Good For Anxiety?
If you suffer from anxiety, weed may be just what you need. Weed strains with low THC and high CBD may be beneficial to those suffering from anxiety. However, it’s recommended that people with anxiety still seek other treatment options. According to Healthline, “marijuana doesn’t appear to offer the same long-term effects as other anxiety treatments, including psychotherapy or medication.” The article referred to marijuana more as a short term fix.
On the other hand, some people experience a worsening of anxiety symptoms or develop anxiety when they use weed. Higher amounts of THC is linked to an increase in anxiety. According to a study, “Use of high-potency cannabis was associated with…….increased likelihood of anxiety disorder”.
Is Marijuana Good For Depression?
People who suffer from depression maybe able to get relief from their symptoms by using weed. According to research scientist Samir Haj-Dahmane, PhD, chronic stress is a main cause of depression. His research centered on using weed to stabilize mood and ease depression. Endocannabinoids, naturally produced by the body, are used to regulate emotions (and other processes). Since marijuana produces cannabinoids that are similar to endocannabinoids, then maybe it could regulate emotions too.
Dr. Haj-Dahmane and his team conducted this research on animals. The research findings indicate that caused by chronic stress may be alleviated by weed. However, Dr. Haj-Dahmane says, “Our research thus far has used animal models; there is still a long way to go before we know whether this can be effective in humans,”. This is preliminary research.
It’s not certain whether or not weed can cause depression. However, studies show that depression may be linked to heavy weed use.
Is Marijuana Good For Pain?
People have been using weed to treat pain in so many different capacities. People use marijuana for acute pain as well as chronic pain. As a matter of fact, in a study consisting of 17000 people with cancer, 70% of them reported that their pain decrease. The patients also reported an improvement in their general wellbeing.
Marijuana users have been using weed to treat pain associated with the following:
How Does Weed Treat Pain?
Medical News Today gives a very simple explanation about how marijuana alleviates pain. The article says that when THC enters the body, it stimulates the brain’s cannabinoid receptors. By stimulating the receptors, the reward center is activated. The activation of the reward center reduces pain. CBD also does something similar when it enters the body. CBD not only reduces pain but has anti inflammatory properties.
Conclusion
Weed is good for some people but may not be ideal for others. Certain groups of people may find that weed use leads to a negative outcome. On the flip side, weed has helped many people with a variety of conditions. So the question “Is weed good for you?” will yield a different answer based on who you ask. If you think weed may be beneficial to you, you can start with low doses. Don’t forget to speak to a doctor if you’re taking medication to avoid any accidental interactions.
