Introduction
While research on the combination of weed, depression, and anxiety is positive, research on weed and antidepressants is almost non-existent. Marijuana smoking has a faster action than other drugs and can have an effect in a couple of seconds or minutes and can last from one to three hours (Briscoe & Casarett, 2018, p. 2). The reason for so little scientific analysis is that in most states, marijuana is illegal, as is its use. Morean & Lederman (2019) state, “Rates of medical cannabis (MC) and recreational cannabis (RC) use are increasing due to the continued expansion of legalized MC and RC in the United States” (p. 233). There is growing evidence of the possible adverse effects of medical marijuana on mental health. The scientific movement and public opinion to legalize marijuana for medical use in the United States, Canada, and much of Europe have rekindled the debate about its effects on the brain and whether it could help treat psychiatric disorders. The research question is to find out exactly how marijuana affects mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. The study was carried out by studying many works, the search for which was carried out using the keywords given in Appendix A. The main goal of the paper is to find out whether medical cannabis can positively affect the diseases described and the process of their treatment.
Discussion
There is an unsteady consensus in the medical field that marijuana can be beneficial in treating certain well-defined conditions. A study by the Clinical Research Director of the Israel Institute of Technology and his team states that concluded that “reduction in pain in the present cohort was statistically significant, but mostly did not exceed 15%-25%,” (Aviram et al. 2021, p. 14) which is a relatively modest result. Despite a significant number of observations, case reports, and theories, very few randomized controlled trials support the effectiveness of marijuana use in the treatment of mental disorders.
Marijuana is made from a plant called cannabis and contains some elements that can be considered to have a positive effect on disorders. Although marijuana “contains more than 400 medicinally important molecules” (Lal et al., 2021, p. 2), the effects of two chemical components of marijuana on the human body, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol. Tetrahydrocannabinol is a chemical element found in marijuana, primarily responsible for its effects on the human central nervous system (CNS) (Lal et al., 2021, p. 2). It stimulates cannabinoid receptors in the brain, causing other chemical reactions that underlie the psychological and physiological effects of marijuana, both positive and negative. Regardless of THC, it may have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, or antipsychotic effects, although research data is still preliminary and insufficient to be of clinical relevance. However, it cannot be argued that the elements discussed above will be effective for all patients; a more detailed medical study should be executed for this.
Part of the pain relief effect of marijuana is that in some people, it reduces anxiety, improves mood, and acts as a sedative. However, according to Ziffra (2021) “there is very little evidence justifying the use of medical cannabis or over-the-counter supplements for PD, and these treatments have a risk for adverse effects” (p. 124). A similar effect is also observed in people undergoing chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with the suppression of gag reflexes, nausea, and dizziness. However, until now, the evaluation of the results of the use of marijuana to eliminate mental symptoms and treat psychiatric disorders cannot be considered unambiguous and final. Scheier & Griffin (2021) state “Considerable evidence implicates marijuana use in the development of psychiatric disorders” (p. 3). This drug can have different effects on the brain and nervous system, depending on the dose and inborn genetics.
Animal and human studies indicate marijuana is addictive, mainly when used regularly over long periods. Many experts are concerned about the recent increase in the concentration of THC in the herbal form of marijuana. According to Alves et al. (2020), “THC presents neuroprotective, antispasmodic and anti-inflammatory actions, which are mediated through the activation of different receptors” (p. 2). Due to the lack of data from research on depression, it is impossible to establish an association between depression and marijuana use. Shishko et al. (2018) explain that “the cannabinoid D 9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is a highly lipophilic alkaloid” (p. 87).
In line with similar reports of anxiety states, many marijuana users describe an improvement in mood. Experimental animal studies suggest that the components of marijuana may have an antidepressant effect. At the same time, according to the results of several observations, it is reported that the daily use of marijuana can increase the symptoms of depression or cause it to develop. Therefore, it should be borne in mind that marijuana produces a dual effect and what it depends on is still unknown.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that a review of the side effects caused by medical marijuana shows that most of them are of a non-intense, mild nature. Compared to controls, people who used marijuana for medical purposes had an increased risk of developing pneumonia and other respiratory problems and suffering from nausea and gastrointestinal disturbances. What is clear is that recreational marijuana use leads to short-term cognitive problems, including impaired thinking, working memory, and executive functions. It can be concluded that it is not right to use marijuana for medical purposes because it causes more side effects than is acceptable.
References
Alves, P., Amaral, C., Teixeira, N., & Correia-da-Silva, G. (2020). Cannabis sativa: Much more beyond Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Pharmacological Research, 157, 104822. Web.
Aviram, J., Pud, D., Gershoni, T., Schiff‐Keren, B., Ogintz, M., Vulfsons, S., Yashar, T., Adahan, H., Brill, S., Amital, H., Goor-Aryeh, I., Robinson, D., Green, L., Segal, R., Fogelman, Y., Tsvieli, O., Yellin, B., Vysotski, Y., Morag, O., Tashlykov, V., Sheinfeld, R., Goor, R., Meiri, D. & Eisenberg, E. (2021). Medical cannabis treatment for chronic pain: outcomes and prediction of response. European Journal of Pain, 25(2), 359-374. Web.
Briscoe, J., & Casarett, D. (2018). Medical marijuana use in older adults. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 66(5), 859-863.
Lal, S., Shekher, A., Narula, A. S., Abrahamse, H., & Gupta, S. C. (2021). Cannabis and its constituents for cancer: History, biogenesis, chemistry and pharmacological activities. Pharmacological Research, 163, 105302.
Morean, M. E., & Lederman, I. R. (2019). Prevalence and correlates of medical cannabis patients’ use of cannabis for recreational purposes. Addictive Behaviors, 93, 233-239. Web.
Scheier, L. M., & Griffin, K. W. (2021). Youth marijuana use: a review of causes and consequences. Current Opinion in Psychology, 38, 11-18. Web.
Shishko, I., Oliveira, R., Moore, T. A., & Almeida, K. (2018). A review of medical marijuana for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder: Real symptom re-leaf or just high hopes? Mental Health Clinician, 8(2), 86-94. Web.
Ziffra, M. (2021). Panic disorder: A review of treatment options. Ann Clin Psychiatry, 33(2), 124-133. Web.