Can CBD Help Anxiety?

Easing anxiety with cannabis while avoiding intoxication

The way that cannabis interacts with almost every system throughout our body makes it a great option for many when seeking relief from pain, to help with sleep, and especially when dealing elevated levels of anxiety. The biological system that cannabis interacts with is called the endocannabinoid system, and its job is to balance any over-stimulation or under-stimulation throughout the body.

The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an essential regulator of bodily function in its many facets. There is hardly any physiological process that is not affected by it to some degree. It is surprising then to realize that the ECS was totally unknown prior to one generation ago. -Dr. Ethan Russo

The products highlighted below are great options for anyone dealing with increased levels of stress or anxiety. Products that should be strong enough to help calm and relax, without being so strong that they may cause intoxication. 

5 of our favorite CBD Cannabis Products that may help ease anxiety

Fairwinds Release Vape & Tincture

A unique blend of CBD, THCA and a micro-serving of THC supports a clear mind with the highest daily functionality. Powerful cannabis terpenes, proven essential oils, herbal extracts focus and balance the affect, providing support cannabis simply can’t provide alone.

Spot 3:1 Levity Blend Chocolates

Available in Milk or Dark Chocolate varieties. As Spot puts it, “Think of each square of chocolate as a glass of wine. This unique combination of hybrid variety cannabis and CBD will allow you to float right along.” Each square may provide a 2-3 hours of relief. New to cannabis? Start with a smaller piece and gauge your effects. We always recommend to start low and go slow.

Canis Soothing Salts

A warm, soothing bath goes a long way at the end of a stressful day. Canis Soothing Salts is a non-intoxicating formula based on historic pain relief recipes. These therapeutic salts are infused with a cannabis herbal blend which adds, anti-inflammatory, anti-fungal properties for temporary relief from all sorts of discomfort. Add a half a cup to hot, running bath water.

Plantworks Orange Julia CBD Flower

An energizing yet relaxing CBD hybrid, Orange Julia has flavors of burnt sugar and earthy citrus. The Seattle growers describes this strain as “outstanding pain relief, and calming too! A feeling of peace during trying times.” With very low THC content, this is a great introduction to flower for cannabis newbies.

Heylo Harlequin Vape

Heylo describes this 2:1 CBD to THC strain as being ideal for yoga, relief time and winding down. Containing the terpenes Myrcene, Bisabolol and a-Maaliene, Harlequin can also be found in flower form if you prefer smoking your cannabis.

Cannabis Use for Stress and Anxiety

Can Cannabis Help Alleviate Stress and Anxiety?

Stress and anxiety affect millions of Americans each day in a myriad of ways. Managing stress can be a major challenge, but it’s an absolute necessity for overall health and wellbeing. Having an outlet is key, but sometimes it’s not enough to stem the tide of an especially bad day, and a bit of extra help is needed. Enter cannabis, a plant that recreational users have recognized for decades for its ability to help you unwind and melt away the rigors of the day. While this long-held reputation makes sense to most of us, it’s largely anecdotal and subjective to each cannabis user.

Medical cannabis use is increasingly popular, and many have come to rely on it help them alleviate stress and anxiety. While few scientific studies have examined its ability to reduce or alleviate stress specifically, the ones that have conclude what we’ve come to take for granted, that there is indeed correlation between ingesting cannabis and a feeling of greater ease and relaxation.

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The Studies

Effects of Marijuana on Mental Health; Anxiety Disorders | University of Washington, 2017

A recent study surveyed 1429 MM (medical marijuana) users recruited through social media and MM dispensaries from December 2013 to January 2016 in Washington State about the conditions they used MM to treat, use patterns, perceptions of efficacy, and physical and mental health. More than half (58.1%) reported they used MM for anxiety. In general, participants indicated that they felt MM improved their symptoms of anxiety. 

In summary, effects of marijuana on anxiety disorders are complex. The endocannabinoid system appears to play an important role in responses to stress and anxiety. The two primary active ingredients of marijuana, THC and CBD, appear to have differing effects with regard to anxiety. Pure THC appears to decrease anxiety at lower doses and increase anxiety at higher doses. On the other hand, pure CBD appears to decrease anxiety at all doses that have been tested. 

Link to study

A Naturalistic Examination of the Perceived Effects of Cannabis on Negative Affect | The Journal of Affective Disorders, 2018

Medical cannabis users perceived a 50% reduction in depression and a 58% reduction in anxiety and stress following cannabis use. Two puffs were sufficient to reduce ratings of depression and anxiety, while 10+ puffs produced the greatest perceived reductions in stress. High CBD (>9.5%)/low THC (<5.5%) cannabis was associated with the largest changes in depression ratings, while high CBD (>11%)/high THC (>26.5%) cannabis produced the largest perceived changes in stress.

Moreover, for the vast majority of tracked sessions, users reported a reduction in symptoms of depression (89%), anxiety (93%), and stress (93%) after inhaling cannabis.

Link to study

Cannabidiol as a Potential Treatment for Anxiety Disorders | Neurotherapeutics, 2015

Overall, existing preclinical evidence strongly supports the potential of CBD as a treatment for anxiety disorders. CBD exhibits a broad range of actions, relevant to multiple symptom domains, including anxiolytic, panicolytic, and anticompulsive actions, as well as a decrease in autonomic arousal, a decrease in conditioned fear expression, enhancement of fear extinction, reconsolidation blockade, and prevention of the long-term anxiogenic effects of stress

Link to study

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Medical Cannabis: Education is Key

Cannabis use for managing stress and anxiety isn’t a magic wand, and it’s important to have good understanding of how specific strains, quantities and intake methods can influence your mind and body. The Novel Tree Medical’s state-certified medical cannabis consultants are here to provide guidance, education, and to listen to your unique set of circumstances.

Anxiety in the Age of COVID-19: What About Cannabis?

With the coronavirus on everyone’s mind, we have seen an increase in people considering medical marijuana to help ease their anxiety.

This is something that, anecdotally, people have been doing for centuries, and we are beginning to see the studies and data that back this up the assertion that cannabis is a viable option for those suffering from increased anxiety and stress.

New to Medical Marijuana?

Everyone’s body reacts differently to cannabis, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution. However, there are places to start when looking to use a cannabis products. 

If you are new to cannabis we always advise “Start low, go slow”. Everyone’s body chemistry is different, and how cannabis interacts with that system is unique. Dr. Ethan Russo refers to this as endocannabinoid tone; an individual’s level of endogenous (internal) cannabinoids that will affect how phyto (plant based) cannabinoids interact with the system. Basically, your body produces chemicals like THC and CBD, and these chemicals are how your body keeps many different systems in balance. Whenever a system in our body is over or under-stimulated, it produces these chemicals to help bring that system back into balance.

A dose is different for every Body

An ideal human body doesn’t have issues maintaining balance between its systems, but for many reasons including biology, diet, or trauma, we may not be producing enough of these stasis-inducing chemicals. This can be exacerbated by external stresses, especially in times like we’re currently experiencing.

A body out of balance may produce symptoms like anxiety, inflammation, pain, nausea, or sleeplessness. When our systems need more help maintaining balance, it may require higher dosages of cannabinoids to achieve optimal results. We have had guests come in that have never used cannabis that have very high tolerances and require very high dosages to help alleviate their systems. It’s not bad to have a high tolerance, it just means your body requires more cannabinoids to achieve the desired results.  

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CBD Effects

If you are new to cannabis, then starting with a high CBD product could be the best way to go. CBD’s inherent ability to regulate things that are over-stimulated seems to be very effective for reducing anxiety. Different ways of using cannabis are going to provide different effects. Eating an edible or using a capsule or tincture can provide long lasting relief, sometimes lasting up to 8 hours. However edible products can take anywhere from 30 minutes to up to 2 hours to begin to feel the effects. In a stressful situation the long delay in onset can be less than ideal. Inhalation of a smokable product like from a pipe or vaporizer cartridge can provide more immediate relief. The effects from a smokable product will typically last 1-2 hours.

For many a combination of products to provide immediate and long-lasting relief will be the most effective option.

CBD Products 

Pictured above: Fairwinds Am/PM Relief tinctures, Plantworks Lazy Susan flower, Heylo Remedy vape cartridge. These products all contain high CBD levels.

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THC: Keep the Dose Low, But Present

For those that are already using cannabis recreationally but might want something for anxiety, there are a few ways to go about this. THC has something called biphasic effects, this means a small amount and large amount will have opposite effects from each other. THC in small amounts regulates neurotransmitters and can help to calm down over stimulation related to anxiety or pain. However, in large amounts THC will stimulate those receptors and might induce anxiety. 

To make sure you don’t get too much THC at once and induce anxiety, try packing small bowls, or only taking one or two hits at a time from a vape pen or dabs. By taking a smaller dose and self-monitoring how you’re feeling, you can really get a good sense of where you’re at. You can also use products that have equal amounts of THC and CBD, we refer to these as 1:1 ratio products.

Today you can get smokable, edible, and topical products in 1:1 ratio, so whatever your preferred method of consumption The Novel Tree Medical will have an option for you. With the 1:1 ratio, we find that there is typically enough THC to get the enjoyable recreational benefits from cannabis, but also enough CBD to ensure that there isn’t too much over stimulation from the THC. For many, this balance works well for anxiety, pain, and sleep. For immediate relief try an inhalable product like a vaporizer cartridge, or for longer lasting effects try an edible or tincture. 

1:1 Ratio Products

Pictured above: Fairwinds Release tincture, Raven Grass Gilda vape cartridge, Washington Bud Co. flower. These products all contain equal amounts of CBD and THC. This is known as a 1:1 ratio.

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Take Care of Yourself

There is a reason that in the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic cannabis has been deemed essential by many states including Washington. The times can feel overwhelming but taking the time to care for yourself by getting physical exercise, taking a few minutes to quietly meditate, or smoking a joint with a 1:1 ratio are all great ways to help deal with anxiety. Feel free to call or email us to speak to a Department of Health Certified Medical Cannabis Consultant if you have any questions about incorporating cannabis into your life.

Seasonal Depression: What About Medical Cannabis?

New studies suggest a link between specific terpenes and mental well-being

“While there are limited studies on how the Endocannabinoid System (ECS) affects depression, researchers are recognizing that the way cannabis affects our ECS does contribute to the complex neuronal network in our brains and can be applied in the treatment of depression.”[1] -Dr. Junella Chin

While most recreational users focus on THC, CBD, and whichever other minor cannabinoid social media has brought to the limelight, there’s an increasing awareness in the Medical Cannabis space that terpenes should be considered as a primary indicator of what characteristics or effects a specific strain may have. Terpenes are responsible for the varied scents we experience when we smell the cannabis product before, during, and after vaping, dabbing, or smoking cannabis, they are also known as the essential oils of the cannabis plant.

Plant terpenes exist across all plant-life and possess a wide array of medicinal properties. These compounds have been increasingly studied for their therapeutic potentials, some of which being the treatment of anxiety and depression.[2]

Specific terpenes may affect seasonal depression by:

·        Helping Control Anxiety

·       Aiding with insomnia

·       Improving appetite

·       Boosting mood

[3]

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Mood-Boosting Terpenes

Pre-clinical studies have indicated that the terpenes linalool, limonene, myrcene, and β-caryophyllene, amongst others, possess anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) properties. Essential oils have been utilized for varying therapeutic uses ranging from sleep aids, to antiseptic aids used to treat minor skin burns. Because terpenes can be found in other botanical sources, additional studies of non-cannabis derived terpenes corroborated the findings of recent preclinical studies. For example, lavender, which contains the terpene known as Linalool, is known for its calming and sedating effects.[4]

Terpenes to avoid in anxious times

There are also terpenes to avoid that may be very stimulating and may increase anxiety. The two major terpenes to avoid would be pinene and cymene. These both have an opposite effect as linalool where it will extend the breakdown of acetylcholine, the more acetylcholine in the brain the more focused and stimulated the brain seems to be. This can be beneficial for studying, for exercising or doing sports, but overly-stimulating for someone dealing with anxiety.

Studies and citations:

1.Sherman, A., and Chin, J., “Cannabis and CBD for health and wellness: an essential guide for using nature’s medicine to relieve stress, anxiety, chronic pain, inflammation, and more.” Ten Speed Press, vol 1, 2019, pp. 129-131.

2.Kamal, B.S., et al., “Cannabis and the Anxiety of Fragmentation – A Systems Approach for Finding an Anxiolytic Cannabis Chemotype.” Front Neurosci,vol 12, no. 730, 2018, pp.1-14.

3.Denson, T., and Earlywine, M., “Decreased depression in marijuana users.” Addictive Behaviors, vol 31, no.4, 2006, pp.738-742.

4.Saki, K., et al., “The effects of most important medicinal plants on two important psychiatric disorders (anxiety and depression): A Review.” Asian PAC J Trop Med, vol1, suppl.1, 2014, pp.534-542