How Marijuana Helps with Depression

Daily and weekly recreational users of marijuana report in surveys they are less depressed. Cannabis users with medical conditions report having symptoms of depression that may be related to there condition.(Source) Studies have found no correlation to marijuana causing depression.(Source)

Medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are increasingly becoming legal state by state. Statistics of states that have legalized show sharp decreases in suicide rates. States that legalize marijuana have an eleven percent decrease in suicide rate for males 20-29 years old. Research has shown that there is a correlation of suicide and alcohol abuse. Studies have also concluded that the availability of marijuana reduces alcohol consumption. It is still unclear if this drop is from marijuana, or from decrease use of alcohol.(Source)

The Arizona Department of Health took surveys of their patients that dealt with debilitating medical conditions. The patients describe cannabis helping to diminish symptoms and alter there mood to reduce depression. George McMahon suffering from illness said “The elevated mood associated with cannabis definitely affected my health in a positive manner. I was more engaged with life. I took walks and rode my bike, things I never considered doing before in my depressed state, even if I had been physically capable. I ate regular meals and I slept better at night. All of these individual factors contributed to a better overall sense of well-being." (Source)

Patients with bipolar describe notable improvement to stabilizing their moods with medical cannabis. They report a slow down to the cycle of manic to depression states improving overall mood. The amount of time feeling depressed is reduced significantly. (Source)

Many have used cannabis to treat mood disorders such as anxiety, PMS, depression and bipolar disorder. Early writings in the 19^th century report using cannabis to improve depression and mood. Reducing pain and other uncomfortable conditions with cannabis can also improve mood.(Source)

Source:

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/depression/expert-answers/marijuana-and-depression/faq-20058060

http://www.iza.org/en/webcontent/publications/papers/viewAbstract?dp_id=6280

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15964704

http://www.azdhs.gov/medicalmarijuana/documents/debilitating/DepressionComments.pdf

http://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.answers.php?questionID=000226

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/medical-marijuana-facts-information/67789-marijuana-psychological-conditions.html

Cannabis and How it Helps Anxiety

 

Cannabis Treatment for Anxiety

  Anxiety is a natural experience for most of us. It makes us feel uneasy, stressed and agitated. When anxiety disables someone from carrying on a normal life, it becomes a disorder.  Cannabis is a safe and natural way to cope with the symptoms of Anxiety Disorder. OUTCOin San Diego is a legally licensed dispensary which provides cannabis for a variety of medical issues, including Anxiety Disorder.

What is an Anxiety Disorder
  Anxiety disorder can occur as a panic, social, phobia or a generalized worry that won't go away. Symptoms include fear, panic, insomnia, quick breath, racing heart, inability to self-sooth, dry mouth, nausea, tense muscles, dizziness, and clammy or numb hands and feet. Environmental stress, heredity, and trauma are factors that contribute to this disorder.

Anxiety and the Brain
  Receptors in the brain that control fear and emotion contribute to the feeling of anxiety.  Prolonged stress can alter the way these nerve cells transmit information leading to a long lasting anxiety disorder.(Source)

  Commonly prescribed drugs to treat anxiety such as Valium and Librium block the GABA receptors. When these receptors are blocked, the body can calm anxiety and fear-based emotions.  Cannabis has been shown to regulate anxiety by blocking the GABA receptor.(Source)

  The CB1 receptor also controls anxiety in the brain functions.  Studies have shown that regulating the CB1 receptor reduces anxiety.(Source) Cannabis has been continually proven to affect the CB1 receptorthrough research studies.(Source) Cannabis regulates mood and anxiety by controlling the CB1 receptors.(source) 

   Sachin Patel, M.D., Ph.D., professor of Psychiatry and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics in Vanderbilt, has been at the forefront of research for the benefits of cannabis relating to brain function. Published in the March 2014 issue of Neuron he writes about endocannabinoids in the amygdala. The amygdala regulates memory, anxiety and the "fight or flight" response in the brain.

   Long term stress and trauma can result in a reduction of endocannabinoids being produced in the amygdala resulting in an increased feeling of anxiety. Light users of marijuana can experience treatment in anxiety by increasing the endocannabinoids needed to regulate the emotion. In contrast, chronic marijuana users reduce the effectiveness of the endocannabioids creating a paradox of an increase in anxiety.(Source) 

   Cannabis regulates the brain function to aid in the treatment of anxiety disorder.  OUTCO dispensary in San Diego has knowledgeable staff that can discuss which options are right for each patient.

Source:
http://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/mental-health-anxiety-disorders
http://thebrain.mcgill.ca/flash/d/d_04/d_04_m/d_04_m_peu/d_04_m_peu.html
http://outcoca.blogspot.com/2014/11/how-marijuana-effects-gaba-in-nervous.html
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23647582
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16148437
http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2014/03/discovery-sheds-new-light-on-marijuana-anxiety-relief-effects/