Stress and anxiety are common issues among college students, but unfortunately not every student has access to mental health professionals or medications to keep these feelings at bay. The idea that marijuana and CBD products can help with managing these feelings should be more accepted instead of looked down upon.
There has always been a negative stigma around the use of marijuana and marijuana related products in any sense.
The stigma has gone down greatly in California in recent years, partly due to its use in medical cases and its aid in reducing levels of stress and anxiety in individuals.
In a study of 1,746 medical marijuana patients from nine medical marijuana evaluation clinics in California, by the University of Washington in 2017, 37.8% reported that they use marijuana as a way to relieve anxiety, while 16.9% said they use it to relieve and prevent panic attacks.
According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, as of this past October, around 80% of students report feeling stressed often.
Although most colleges offer mental health services, there is sometimes a limit on how many sessions are available to the student, usually between six to 12 sessions within the year, or the visit numbers are up to the discretion of the counselors.
For students who don’t have the opportunity to speak with these counselors or who don’t have the means to receive treatment elsewhere and get medication, marijuana can be a slightly less expensive alternative to help and reduce these feelings of stress and anxiety at home.
According to a study about the effects of marijuana on mental health, from the University of Washington, THC in low doses has appeared to decrease anxiety while in high doses it has the possibility to increase anxiety.
CBD, a non psychoactive compound in marijuana, has proven to lower anxiety from any dose based on what has been tested, and most CBD products can be found in drug stores and even grocery stores.
The medical and recreational use of marijuana is legal in the state of California for both CBD and THC.
CBD creams and gels can be found in a wide variety of locations, but those are mainly used to relieve physical pain in the body. Ingestible CBD remedies can be found in smoke shops or marijuana dispensaries, with the restriction of being 18 years old and up to purchase at a smoke shop and 21 years and up to enter a dispensary.
With all the different ways to use marijuana products, there is an option for everyone. For THC users you could smoke it, drink a THC infused drink, or eat an edible. CBD users have the same options for use without the infusion of THC.
The use of CBD and marijuana for stress and anxiety need to be more accepted.
The effects of marijuana are different for everyone and should be used at the user’s own discretion. In lower doses it can positively affect those with anxiety disorders or copious amounts of stress and give them a feeling of relief. There is a method for everyone, even for people who don’t want any psychoactive effect.