The use of marijuana, both for recreational and medical purposes, has substantially increased in the past few years, especially among teens. The psychoactive effects of cannabis can have shown euphoric, calming, and positive impacts on psychotic and mood disorders. With the attitudes of the government shifting towards the legalization of marijuana, more and more people are turning to cannabis with the hopes of reducing their anxiety and other mental disorders.

On the contrary, overdosage and drug abuse have also exponentially increased among the masses. The doctors, psychiatrists, and other health professionals need to understand the relation between the use of medical cannabis and mental health before issuing the medical marijuana card to their patients.

Anxiety

If you suffer from anxiety, you must have heard of some of the claims surrounding the use of medical cannabis to treat your anxiety symptoms. Studies show two contradicting results about the medical benefits of cannabis for anxiety. Before discussing the ins and outs of the correlation between the two, it is essential to understand the active ingredients of marijuana: THC and CBD.

THC is a psychoactive compound and is mainly associated with escalating the symptoms of anxiety disorders leading to paranoia, confusion, and panic attacks.

On the other hand, clinical trials suggest that CBD in oil form temporarily reduces anxiety in people with social disorders and general anxiety disorders.

The inexperienced patients with no prior knowledge may feel laidback effects; however, high doses can exacerbate the symptoms.

Schizophrenia

Some doctors suggest marijuana to their schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenia is a serious psychotic illness which disrupts reality and impairs your cognition. For a long time, experts associated marijuana, mainly THC, with triggering the symptoms of schizophrenia or even increasing the risk of this psychotic disorder in teens.

Recent controlled clinical trials and studies suggest that CBD may have therapeutic effects on patients with schizophrenia. CBD appears to be more tolerant and also potentially reduces THC-induced psychosis.

PTSD

PTSD is an anxiety disorder mainly triggered by exposure to a traumatic event. If you had an encounter with PTSD patients, you must have heard their claims that cannabis calms their nerves and relieves anxiety symptoms.

Some veterans use cannabis to cope-up with the symptoms of PTSD, and several states have approved the use of medical cannabis to treat the symptoms.

Studies suggest that CBD that marijuana attenuates the activity in the amygdala – the part of the brain associated with fear and threats. They go beyond and claim that the pot extinguishes the traumatic events.

Meanwhile, some evidence does not recommend cannabis for PTSD patients. The extended problematic use of marijuana can cause cannabis use disorders that deteriorate anxiety, mood disorders, and other symptoms related to PTSD.

Get your medical marijuana card in New York from IndicaMD. Their certified doctors and experts will register you with State Medical Marijuana Program.

Get registered, and apply for your medical cannabis online.