Does marijuana calm anxiety or provoke it?
Anecdotal evidence (self-reports from experienced users) suggests that marijuana may have anti-anxiety properties. However, in the early 1990s, researchers observed that the stress and anxiety commonly seen in drug and alcohol withdrawal share the same brain structure and chemicals involved in the normal human stress response and anxiety. Specifically, stress and anxiety are associated with marked increases of a brain chemical called corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF). Withdrawal from cocaine, alcohol, opiates and marijuana increases intracellular CRF, producing anxiety, fatigue, restlessness, difficulty concentrating and sleep disturbance—which are all symptoms associated with general anxiety disorder. So while the temporary intoxicating effects of marijuana my lower anxiety, the evidence suggests that long-term marijuana use may actually cause anxiety. Marijuana and anxiety: Brad’s story Brad, 29, has been smoking marijuana for 12 years. Approximately three years ago he began smok
