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Top Mental Health Conditions Marijuana Use Can Help
Medical marijuana use provides lots of health benefits. With a medical 420 card, you can legally access state-licensed dispensaries to buy high-potency cannabis products in California. There’s scientific evidence that marijuana can help boost mood, relieve stress, anxiety, etc. And, unlike prescription medications such as Zoloft, cannabis use isn’t linked to unpleasant side-effects.
Also, Read- Can You Replace Zoloft With Medical Cannabis?
So, how exactly cannabis work? What are the major mental health conditions it can help? What are the top strains for managing these conditions? Read on to learn more.
Medical Marijuana For Boosting Mental Health
Mental health is as important as physical health. It affects how you feel, react & perform, and also how you make decisions and interact with others. Marijuana’s medicinal properties can help in managing many mental health conditions. Here are some major ones-
It Reduces Anxiety & Depression
Anxiety is a common mental illness with symptoms—excessive worrying, mood swings, restlessness, nausea, fear, etc. Marijuana use can help in managing anxiety & depression without causing any unpleasant side-effects. How does cannabis work? When you consume cannabis compounds, they bind to cannabinoid receptors in the body’s endocannabinoid system, thus boosting mood and various other functions.
In a study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers at Washington State University noted that cannabis can help reduce anxiety and depression levels. However, it’s true for short-term cannabis use. And, for long-term use, marijuana may increase depression.
THC, a psychoactive compound, has a similar chemical structure as that of anandamide. Anandamide also called “bliss molecule”, is associated with memory, motivation, and cognitive processes.
Additionally, cannabis use can help in reducing chronic pain, which could be a symptom of anxiety disorders, particularly, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD).
In our previous article, we have discussed THC vs CBD for pain relief. Click here to read the blog post.
Best cannabis strains for anxiety & depression are—ACDC, Granddaddy Purple, Remedy, Amnesia Haze, AK-47, Purple Urkle, Northern Lights, Jillybean, Canna-Tsu, and Jack Herer.
It Manages PTSD Symptoms
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a mental illness that is associated with a traumatic event. It could be a rape activity, natural disaster, loss of a loved one, etc. However, the COVID-19 can leave millions of survivors with PTSD.
However, cannabis use is popular among PTSD patients. In a study published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, researchers evaluated the relationship between marijuana use and PTSD score. The results were—participants with high PTSD scores were more likely to use marijuana for sleep problems and other coping reasons than those with low PTSD scores.
Moreover, scientists believe that for PTSD treatment, increasing the serotonin levels is important. Cannabis can help in producing more serotonin levels in the brain. Also, the herb can help in alleviating other PTSD symptoms such as nightmares and insomnia.
When consuming cannabis for health benefits, how you deliver cannabinoids in the body matters a lot. Smoking marijuana delivers immediate effects. It involves heating cannabis to extract its active compounds and inhaling the smoke.
Also, Read- Expert Tips For Cannabis Smoking For The First Time
Best cannabis strains for PTSD are—OG Kush, Sour Kush, Frosted Freak, Snow Leopard, SnowLAnd, Cuvee, and Northern Berry.
It Boosts Sleep
Optimal sleep can help you stay healthy both mentally and physically. Insomnia can cause difficulty sleeping, lack of focus, irritability, and various other health issues. Cannabis’s amazing medicinal properties can help in fighting sleep problems. Its cannabinoids work by stimulating the endocannabinoid system.
According to a 2008 study, taking high-THC cannabis strains can help in reducing REM sleep while increasing deep sleep. It’s an asleep phase associated with rapid eye movements. However, using high-THC strains for a long time can affect sleep quality.
Also, Read- How Can Marijuana Help in Fighting Sleep Problems?
Best cannabis strains for sleep are—Granddaddy Purple, Girl Scout Cookies, Hindu Kush, Harlequin, Northern Lights, and Critical Kush.
It Fights Alzheimer’s Disease
Marijuana’s cannabinoids such as CBD have amazing anti-inflammatory properties and is effective in managing pain and inflammation. These are two major contributors to Alzheimer’s disease.
Other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as NSAIDs can also help in reducing the risks of the development of Alzheimer’s disease. But, they aren’t safe. If you use them for a long time, they may lead to kidney damage. On the other hand, marijuana’s compounds are safe.
A preclinical study published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease reported that small doses of THC can slow down the process of production of beta-amyloid proteins, thus reducing the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Moreover, scientists have found that CBD can help protect the hippocampus from toxins & disease. This reduces the activation of microglia. Chronic activation of microglia can be harmful; it releases harmful substances, such as cytokines, glutamate, etc., which kill neurons.
It’s important to note that different parts of the cannabis plant deliver different effects. However, if you combine cannabinoids, you will experience an entourage effect.
Best cannabis strains for Alzheimer’s disease are—Purple Kush, OG Kush, Sour Diesel, Green Crack, Ash, Swiss Indica, Alien Abduction, Golden Nugget, Jacked-Up, and Valentine X.
Getting a Medical 420 Card Amid COVID-19
In the COVID-19 pandemic, social distancing is important. So, patients are advised not to leave their homes.
To apply for a medical 420 card, you can use telemedicine technology. It’s is 100% safe. Your doctor will see you over a HIPAA-compliant platform, and ask you questions related to your health and marijuana use. After you are approved, you will get your MMJ recs in PDF format via email.
So, the process of getting MMJ recs using telemedicine involves-
- Sign up an account
- Talk to a licensed doctor online
- Receive your PDF MMJ recs via email
Major Benefits of Medical 420 Card
- Access to state-licensed medical dispensaries
- Permission to buy, possess and use marijuana for medical purposes
- High-potency cannabis products
- Age relaxation
- Grow cannabis plants at home for personal use
Key Takeaways
Marijuana contains medicinal properties, which can help in boosting mental health. In the cannabis plant, there are over 100 cannabinoids, which stimulate the endocannabinoid system, thus boosting mood, sleep, and other functions. Various methods of consuming cannabis are smoking, vaping, edibles, topicals, and tinctures.
There’s scientific evidence that cannabis can help in managing anxiety, depression, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, stress, and insomnia. Since there are no unpleasant side-effects associated with marijuana use, more patients are opting for it over prescription medications. Seek professional help for medical marijuana treatment for managing your symptoms.
Talk to a licensed doctor online to apply for your medical 420 card today!
