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For quite a few years, weed has been in the news for being the most controversial and intoxicating psychoactive drug. However, this tiny plant has also gained a good reputation for its medical and recreational benefits. Despite all the benefits weed offers to its users, the plant is also known to cause side effects that can jolt any weed lover. Of all the adverse side effects, paranoia is definitely one of the least desirable ones.
You will be surprised to know that 51.4% of users experienced paranoid thoughts after consuming cannabis. Considering the rising number of medical marijuana patients in the US, this definitely does not sound like an advantage. So, why does cannabis cause paranoia? Is there a way to tackle it? Keep reading the blog to get answers to all your queries.
Paranoia is a feeling of being threatened without having any strong evidence for the same. In other words, it is a state of mind in which a person assumes that other people or things can harm them. Paranoid thoughts are somewhat similar to delusions.
Some of the most common symptoms of paranoia are
However, cannabis-induced paranoia can make users feel anxious, threatened, and self-conscious. People who experience paranoia after smoking weed are more likely to isolate themselves, hide in a dark room, or even become unresponsive. In fact, cannabis users are more likely to have severe paranoid thoughts than non-users.
Please note that paranoia effects can range from extreme high to extreme low, depending on person to person. Among medical patients, paranoia may worsen the condition or symptoms. In this case, it is essential that all MMJ patients consult licensed 420 doctors and get the guidance they need. Online Medical Card can help you with the same in a simple and convenient way.
There are two major compounds available in cannabis—THC, and CBD. Unlike CBD, THC is a more intoxicating compound and is responsible for activating paranoid thoughts in users who smoke weed. Not everyone who smokes weed experiences paranoia. It is just that some users are more prone to it than others.
But why are some people more likely to experience it than others? There is no exact answer to this. However, there are a few factors that are involved.
As per a study, genetics can be one of the possibilities of cannabis causing paranoia. There is another study based on animals, that states that the high dose of cannabis evokes the front region of the brain, which tends to produce effects like higher relaxation and reduced anxiety.
On the contrary, if THC affects the back portion of your brain more than the front, this can result in adverse effects like paranoia and anxiety.
As already mentioned above, the higher amount of THC in marijuana may result in negative consequences, including paranoia to be one of the major ones.
With cannabis, less is more, so start slow and go slow. It is recommended to consume marijuana having 0.3% or less THC. As per a study conducted in 2017, 42 healthy adults stated how THC affected them. Those who consumed 7.5 mg of THC experienced decreased negative feelings while those with a higher dose of 12.5 mg of THC experienced the opposite effects and more negative feelings.
You will be surprised to know that women consuming cannabis may experience more paranoid feelings than men. Yes, you read that right.
As per a study, there has been a 30% increase in cannabis sensitivity with higher estrogen levels. What does this mean? Females are more vulnerable to the effects of cannabis and have a lower tolerance for marijuana than males. This is true for both positive and negative effects of marijuana.
Anyone experiencing cannabis-related paranoia can follow a few ways to get some relief.
Try to indulge yourself in activities that make you feel relaxed or offer immense peace of mind. This includes watching a movie, exercising, listening to music, and painting to name a few.
Lemon juice is best known to alleviate the effects of intoxicating substances like alcohol or too much THC.
In case you have a noisy or stressed environment, this is not going to help you in any way. In fact, this can worsen the situation. Whether bedroom or garden, try to stay in a place where you feel more relaxed and calm.
High THC content is often the culprit behind negative effects, in this case, paranoia. In order to avoid this negative feeling, find cannabis strains or products where both CBD and THC are available in a balanced quantity. Or find products where THC content is lower than CBD. Of course, this too will depend on whether or not your medical condition requires a high THC dose or not.
Cannabis contains a combination of more than a 100 chemicals. Now the way they affect a human body will very from person to person. For some, the effects may be beneficial, for others, negative effects may ensure such as paranoia. For the latter to happen, there are multiple factors in play. Factors like gender, genetics, and brain chemistry may induce paranoia or anxiety if a person intakes a high quantity of cannabis at once. In most cases of paranoia induced due to cannabis consumption, it’s the high THC content that’s the culprit. In this case, it’s best to consult a professional and be careful of how and what cannabis products you consume.
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