Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that can cause anxiety, confusion and hallucinations. It may also make it harder to concentrate or remember things. In people with a predisposition for schizophrenia, cannabis use can trigger the first episode of this disabling mental illness.

Long-term cannabis use can affect brain development, especially in teenagers and children. This can lead to memory and concentration problems. Go to https://www.cannarefined.com/ for more information.

1. Pain Relief

Cannabis is used to treat many health conditions and symptoms, including pain, nausea, glaucoma, and seizures. The most common use in the United States is for pain relief.

Although research shows that medicinal cannabis can reduce chronic pain, the quality of the available evidence is low. A large study of medical cannabis and rheumatic pain found that cannabis reduced symptoms but did not stop or cure them.

The pain-relieving benefits of cannabis may be because it interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system, a network of receptors in the brain and nervous system that controls the sensitivity to certain stimuli. The main psychoactive component of cannabis is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. The cannabis plant also contains cannabidiol, or CBD, which is a non-psychoactive compound that doesn’t affect the user in the same way as THC and has been shown to have significant medical benefits.

Several studies report that cannabis can help with pain from multiple sources, such as inflammation, nerves, or muscles and bones. Cannabis can be more effective than some prescription drugs, such as opioids or benzodiazepines, which have severe side effects and can cause addiction.

Some studies report that cannabis relieves neuropathic pain, which is caused by damage to the spinal cord or nerves. Other studies show that cannabis can help relieve inflammatory pain, such as from arthritis.

Cannabis can be consumed in a variety of ways, including smoking (using a pipe, bong, or joint), eating edibles like cookies and candy, or vaping. Some forms are safer than others, and the risk of harm increases with increasing amounts and frequency of use.

People should discuss the risks and benefits of using cannabis with a health care provider. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding should not use cannabis, and anyone who has a history of mental illness should use cannabis only under a doctor’s supervision.

2. Sleep

Cannabis has been used as a natural sleep aid to treat a number of different sleeping disorders. Cannabis can help people fall asleep faster, stay asleep longer, and experience better overall sleep quality. Cannabis also helps relieve symptoms of several different sleep disorders, including restless leg syndrome (RLS), obstructive sleep apnea, and chronic pain.

In a retrospective chart review of patients seeking medicinal cannabis for insomnia, 71% reported an improved subjective sleep and 39% reduced or discontinued prescription therapy. A minority of participants experienced manageable dose-dependent adverse effects, including tachycardia and dizziness; these were usually mild to moderate and resolved upon reducing dosage.

There is no clear explanation for the positive effect of cannabis on sleep, although experts speculate that it may be due to its sedating and calming properties. It is also possible that it affects the way certain hormones, such as cortisol, are released in the body and their impact on a person’s mood. Alternatively, it may be that the active compounds in cannabis help people fall into a deep, calming sleep by increasing levels of the neurotransmitter 9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC produces feelings of contentment and relaxation at lower doses, but increases anxiety and paranoia at higher dosages. Cannabis products may also contain a cannabinoid called cannabinol (CBN), which is converted from THC by heat or age and has calming and sleep-inducing properties.

In addition, some studies indicate that cannabis can change sleep architecture by decreasing REM sleep and increasing time in non-REM sleep, which is associated with better sleep quality. However, more research is needed to determine if cannabis actually improves sleep and which types of products are most effective. For example, it would be beneficial to compare inhaled and edible cannabis to see which is more effective for different patients.

3. Stress Relief

Stress and anxiety are a very common reason for people to seek cannabis use, and there is evidence it can help relieve these symptoms. These conditions can be debilitating, and while they are often treated with prescription medication, many people prefer a natural solution that does not have harmful side effects. Cannabis is a great option, and studies show that it can reduce levels of cortisol in the bloodstream. Cortisol is a hormone that increases glucose in the bloodstream and is a natural stress response. However, chronically high cortisol levels can lead to depression, anxiety and irritability. Cannabis can significantly lower these levels.

Although there is still much research to be done, one study by Washington State University looked at how different strains of cannabis impact users’ ability to deal with stressful situations. The participants rated their stress levels before using cannabis and then tracked their symptoms over the course of an hour. The results showed that those who used a product with higher levels of THC and CBD experienced more significant relief than those who consumed low-THC products.

Another clinical study that tracked PTSD patients found that those who reported using cannabis for stress relief had better outcomes than those who did not. The researchers looked at the data from an app called StrainprintTM, which allows medical marijuana users to record how they feel after consuming a particular strain. They found that those who used cannabis for PTSD saw an improvement in their symptom levels and were 2.57 times more likely to recover from their PTSD than those who did not use cannabis.

Those who use cannabis for stress and anxiety may benefit from experimenting with a variety of strains to find the one that works best for them. While the most common categories of strains tend to work for all of these conditions, some individuals have more physical stress-related symptoms and might prefer an indica strain that provides a more body-focused experience.

4. Anxiety Relief

Cannabis can reduce anxiety symptoms by altering the way your brain processes information, causing you to feel calmer and more relaxed. The effects can last from several minutes to several hours depending on how you consume it. You can inhale cannabis by smoking it, or ingest it by putting it into food or using a vape pen. It can also be applied topically to your skin or taken in capsule form.

People who use marijuana to ease anxiety often report fewer side effects than those who take antidepressants or other pharmaceuticals. One study found that cannabis users had lower levels of depression and anxiety than non-users after 12 and 18 months. This was especially true in those who used cannabis to treat chronic pain.

The endocannabinoid system is responsible for regulating homeostasis, and the endocannabinoid receptors in the brain can help reduce feelings of stress and anxiety. THC is thought to help reduce these effects by binding to those receptors. In addition, CBD can reduce anxiety by acting as a sedative, which can relax the body and mind.

A number of studies suggest that cannabis can help reduce anxiety symptoms in humans, although further research is needed. Epidemiological studies tend to support an anxiolytic effect of THC, CBD, and whole cannabis, but clinical trials have not found the same.

Many clients that I have worked with for anxiety and stress relief have reported that cannabis — specifically CBD — has helped them. If you are interested in trying cannabis to relieve anxiety, it’s best to start with a low dose and slowly work your way up. It’s also important to note that the use of THC can worsen anxiety symptoms in some people. This is why I recommend starting with products that contain only CBD or a higher ratio of CBD to THC.

5. Pain Relief for Children

Cannabis may relieve certain types of pain caused by nerve damage or inflammation. It can be taken as a pill, a liquid, an edible or smoked in a joint or pipe. Cannabis contains chemicals called cannabinoids that act on a part of the brain that controls pain and other feelings. Cannabis helps with some types of chronic pain, including pain from nerve damage and neuropathic pain (pain due to damaged or diseased nervous system). Cannabis can also be used to ease seizures in people with epilepsy.

There is a growing body of research showing that medical marijuana can relieve some types of pain. But not all the studies are the same. Some involve a placebo, which is an inactive treatment. The researchers did this to control for the possibility that expectations about cannabis’s effectiveness might influence results. Other studies use a variety of cannabis products, and some include children.

For example, one study found that a child with cerebral palsy who received marijuana with a high CBD-to-THC ratio reported reduced spasticity and improved quality of life. Another study of children with complex motor disorders showed improvement in spasticity and sleep difficulties after a year of using artisanal cannabis with either a 20:1 or 6:1 CBD to THC ratio.

If you think cannabis might help with your child’s symptoms, talk to your doctor. They can help you find the right product for your child. And be sure to use it responsibly in a safe, responsible environment. It’s best to start with a low dose and gradually increase your child’s use over several days or weeks. It’s also important to understand why your child uses cannabis. Many times, a harmful pattern of drug use is the result of life challenges—like lack of connection at school or at home—that can take time to resolve.