Cannabis for anxiety?

I doubt you'll find medical professionals well versed on the topic. If you google CBD for the treatment of anxiety and psychosis you'll find some good medical literature. I think medicating anxiety, especially panic, with thc would be a nonstarter. Especially edible thc, which tends to be strongly anxiety inducing. On the other hand cbd can be very effective. If you get a med marijuana card, you could buy cbd heavy strains. Some have no thc and give little noticeable high. The popular ones are AC/DC, Swiss tsunami, harle tsu, etc.

some have good success with strains having equal thc to cbd ratios. Cbd modulates the way the brain reacts to thc. Some good strains include cannatonic, dr. Cookies, Harlequinn, and CBD OG. The cbd og available from Craft delivery is phenomenal stuff. It's about 20% cbd and 10% Thc. id be a little cautious with it at first as it well dilefinitely get you high.

My son uses cannabis for anxiety and it really helps him. He's now 22.
He had a really intense anxiety disorder when he was young. We never used meds...we controlled it with supplements, breathing, visualization etc.
When he was old enough he got a medical marijuana card. It makes a huge difference for him.
You can smoke it (he has special filters on his pipes to filter out the smoke) or you can get edibles and drinkables.
I know many other adults who use it for anxiety and depression.   While I don't have need for it myself, and my pot smoking days are long gone
I use it for my dog for his arthritis (Treatibles).  Wishing you luck. I hope this works out for you.  We are a way over medicated society, but don't get me started.
 

Hi, VitaminB-

It is, of course, always advisable to work with a psychiatrist/therapist on any mental health treatment. That said, there is plenty of information available online and at your local dispensary to get you started.

My situation was extremely similar to yours, and for me, cannabis has been revelatory. I no longer take xanax or wellbutrin. I was not previously a cannabis user, and I also didn't want to get "high" (although I've learned to quite enjoy it in measured doses.)

I would start by getting your prescription so that you can at least visit a dispensary; you can't enter without one. I would then visit a truly medical/patient focused, well-established dispensary, like Harborside in Oakland. Avoid the glorified head shop-type places. Harborside has a specific area for consultations, where you can talk to an employee about what you hope to accomplish. They aren't medical professionals, but they are extremely knowledgeable about all of their cannabis products and their best applications. 

You'll likely end up with Indica dominant products, with at least an even THC:CBD ratio, if not a prominently CBD product. I ingest mine exclusively via tincture or edible products, although i've heard good things about vaping. 

Read up on "microdosing" cannabis, make sure that the products that you end up using are precisely measured and dosed, candidly consult with a "budtender" at a reputable dispensary, and most importantly, START SMALL. Edible/sublingual cannabis treatment takes an hour or longer to reach maximum effect, so don't take more after 30 mins of "not feeling any different," or you may find yourself incapacitated and extremely hungry after 90 mins or so. 

Once you find the best method of delivery and dose for you, I think you'll find it a superior treatment for anxiety in contrast to the harsher effects of good ol' xanax. 

Good luck!

You might want to try talking to Dr. Frank Lucido. Pot (THC) can cause anxiety and paranoia. Maybe CBD would work better. 

Hi there, and good for you, wanting info about anxiety and cannabis! This is becoming a very popular option for many people, and is actually very safe. I'd recommend you speak to a cannabis doctor, such as Frank Lucido MD here in Berkeley, and the first MD in CA to specialize in the use of cannabis; or Laurie Vollen, MD, in Albany. There is a part of the cannabis plant, called CBD, which is NOT psychoactive and can be helpful for a wide range of medical issues. there is also THC, which Is psychoactive, but can be sued in mini doses.

hope this helps, and good luck!

Here's one idea: http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/barbara-blaser-didnt-try-cannabis…

Cannabis can be great for anxiety. There's lots of research and articles online. HelloMD.com is a good place to start. You'll find articles and videos and interviews there. It's all still pretty DIY -- you basically gotta try stuff out and see if it works for you. And there's plenty of ways to take it that won't get you high.

I would think twice about this if I were you.

The psychiatrist I am married to would say that cannabis/THC/marijuana (both recreational and when "doctor-prescribed") is a major CAUSE of anxiety for the patients he sees.  The psychiatrist who is my brother-in-law is doing research on how marijuana changes the brain and causes permanent anxiety.  My former best friend developed a very serious anxiety disorder from frequent smoking of marijuana (of course, like many, she began smoking to manage her preexisting anxiety and the outcome was pretty terrible.)

Marijuana is unregulated and therefore purity and potency are completely unreliable.

If you're worried about taking drugs for anxiety, there are lots of behavioral treatments you can explore with a therapist.  In fact, I don't think any MD would simply prescribe you a prescription drug like Xanax without first making sure you were getting behavioral treatment with a therapist.  Benzodiazepenes are very addictive, just like marijuana!

I can recommend a very informed cannabis-friendly therapist on the Oakland/Berkeley border.  She works with clients who choose to use cannabis to treat pain and other mental health symptoms.  Her name is Sara Ouimette, MFT.  Check out her website, www.saraouimette.com