While smoking or eating too much, recreational marijuana comes with the risk of feeling the phenomenon of “pot paranoia”, medicinally speaking, controlled measures of medicinal cannabis have been proven as effective treatment for chronic anxiety.

CBD to the Rescue

Research from the University of Sao Paulo in Brazil in 2011 found that patients suffering from anxiety showed significant improvement when given 400mg of Cannabidiol (CBD), in comparison to patients who took placebos.  CBD is one of at least 85 cannabinoids found in cannabis.  After a brain scan, there was evidence of anxiety decrease and a lessening of brain activity in the specific area of the brain noted for anxiety.  Another study from the same group in the same year determined that a 600mg dose of marijuana helped the respondents calm down and reduce anxiety before a public speaking simulation.

The belief is that the endocannabinoid system, a natural part of our bodies that controls anxiety, benefits from interaction with Cannabidiol.  Specific cannabis strands have been linked with the unnatural anxiety side effects that some users report.  It could be that new users who take a huge dosage without a doctor’s supervision are the ones experiencing these paranoia side effects.  Like any prescription drug, cannabis can be abused and become counterproductive to the problem.

Paranoia is Misplaced!

Since the 1980s, multiple studies have been published regarding CBD’s effects on anxiety and with all of the controversy over medicinal and recreational marijuana to hit the mainstream.  Naturally, marijuana has a distinct advantage over prescription medications approved by the FDA.  It’s a natural substance and there have been no fatalities ever reported from proper dosage or over dosage.  Perhaps the real paranoia is coming from individuals who have only heard the rumors, and never sat down to review the evidence from medical journals.