We all deal with some form of stress, whether it’s during a job
interview, or a public speaking task. There are several coping
techniques, such as humor, meditation, or physical activity, that can
help manage our stress, but science suggests smoking weed can also calm
our nerves. Researchers at the
University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago found
low doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) — the mind-altering ingredient in weed — can relieve stress in certain situations.
In the study, published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence,
participants in the low-dose group, who received a capsule containing
7.5 milligrams of THC, reported fewer stressful feelings about doing a
series of tasks. Meanwhile, the moderate-dose group (12.5 milligrams of
THC) experienced greater negative moods before and throughout the tasks,
and were more likely to rate psychosocial tasks as “challenging” and
“threatening” beforehand. The placebo group did not show any significant
changes in initial stress levelsPrevious research supports weed’s stress-reducing effects on the
brain. In a 2013 study, an international team of researchers found the
drug acts on the endocannabinoid system in the brain. This system is
believed to naturally regulate anxiety and stress level via the release
of chemicals that belong to the same class of chemicals found in
marijuana — (endo)cannabinoids. THC bears a striking resemblance to one
of the first endocannabinoids found in humans, known as anandamide — a
neurotransmitter, creating a happy, relaxed feeling, as well as
sleepiness. Therefore, since they act on the same pathways of the brain,
they seem to possess stress- and anxiety-reducing properties.
Childs and her colleagues are aware many with stress and anxiety
issues self medicate with marijuana, but “very few published studies
have looked into the effects of THC on stress, or at the effects of
different levels of THC on stress,” said Emma Childs, corresponding
study author and an associate professor of psychiatry in the UIC College
of Medicine, in a statement.
A total of 42 healthy volunteers 18 to 40 years old, with a history
of marijuana use, but not daily use, were randomly divided into three
groups: the low-dose group, the moderate-dose group, and a placebo group
to determine the influence of various THC levels in stressful
scenarios. The doses were meant to produce effects that are the
equivalent to only a few puffs of a cannabis cigarette. The researchers
note it’s difficult to compare doses of smoked marijuana to doses of
ingested THC.
The participants had to attend two four-hour sessions at the
University of Chicago, five days apart. During each session, they took a
capsule, and relaxed for two hours to allow THC to be absorbed in the
bloodstream. The blood absorbs ingested marijuana through the stomach,
where it then carries it to the liver, and the rest of the body. The
stomach absorbs THC more slowly than the lungs, which means THC levels
in the body are lower, but the effects last longer.
In one session, participants had to spend 10 minutes preparing for a
mock job interview, followed by a five-minute interview with lab
assistants who did not offer any feedback, verbally or through body
language, although participants could see their performance via video
display. They were then asked to count backwards from a five-digit
number by subtracting 13, for five minutes. Childs believed this was
“very reliably stress-inducing.”
Similarly, in their second session, participants were asked to talk
to lab assistants about a favorite book or movie for five minutes, and
then play solitaire for another five minutes. Before, during, and after
each of the two activities, the participants rated their stress levels
and feelings about the tasks. The researchers measured blood pressure,
heart rate, and the stress hormone cortisol, at intervals.
Childs and her colleagues found the low-dose group had less stress
after the psychosocial test than the placebo group, and stress levels
quickly decreased after the test. Meanwhile, the moderate-dose group
fared worse with stress management, and had more pauses during the mock
interview compared to those in the placebo group. The researchers saw no
significant differences in participants’ blood pressure, heart rate or
cortisol levels — before, during or after the doses or the tasks.
“We found that THC at low doses reduced stress, while higher doses
had the opposite effect, underscoring the importance of dose when it
comes to THC and its effects,” said Childs.
Although weed was found to reduce stress and alleviate tension and
anxiety, high doses can provoke anxiety. Other studies have found people
who have a history of panic disorders are more likely to experience
worse anxiety when smoking weed. The effects of marijuana on stress,
anxiety, and other mental health conditions are on a case-by-case basis.
This is why studies that examine the effects of weed and its
pharmacological constituents are important since marijuana use for both
medical and recreational purposes is rising in the U.S.
Our understanding of THC’s health risks is changing, and future
research will investigate whether its benefits outweigh those risks
