Why Does Some Weed Make Me Anxious?

Cannabis is something to be enjoyed, whether you’re alone or with friends. You make a little time for it to help you take the load off and find a little peace. But for some people, some weed can bring them a little more than what was bargained for, particularly when it comes to feelings of anxiety. 

It’s never a good feeling when the high quality weed you’ve just smoked brings with it a hefty bout of nerves and paranoia, the so-called “green-out” effect, or unnerving waves of disorientation. But have you ever wondered why? What happens to the brain? And why does it seem as though it’s only certain strains that have these effects?

If you’re new to cannabis, or if you’re a seasoned connoisseur, at Medallion Wellness, we have the products for you! Let our budtenders find just the right thing to help you avoid feeling stressed and anxious and enjoy weed as it should be enjoyed! Shop our wide selection of flower, edibles, vapes, and more for pickup or delivery. Simply place your order online using our Modesto, Fresno, Merced, Atwater, or Waterford menus. Send us a message if you have any issues, or call us at the relevant number below.

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Relaxation’s Polar Opposite

Everybody has that one story where they smoked a little too much. Maybe they got the giggles, perhaps they lost their balance, or perhaps they lost track of how long it was since they last chimed into the conversation. This can be quite a unifying experience if you’re with friends, as everyone appears to be experiencing the same thing. But for some people, rather than being able to just “go with it”, they’re faced with the impending doom of uncontrolled anxiety.

What Can Weed Anxiety Feel Like?

Anxiety is a state of alarm that pushes our bodies into “fight or flight” mode. This can feel different for different people, but may include any of the following.

Don’t Freak Out

Often labeled as “the fear of what might happen”, an anxious state is no laughing matter, especially for the person experiencing it. With cannabis use, this could mean worrying about getting disoriented if you’re not at home, feeling anxious about how other people are perceiving your actions (paranoia), or having concerns that the anxiety you’re experiencing is causing you harm. For example, a very anxious person may feel their heart pounding in their chest and perceive they’re having a heart attack when it’s just the stress hormones kicking in.

Stress Response

Homeostasis is the body’s state of balance as it performs basic functions like breathing and control. If the body gets knocked out of this equilibrium, it activates some of our most primitive of responses. Fight or flight is a stress response generated by the limbic system in our brains, and is one of the primary reasons we feel the way we do when we’re anxious.

Sativa Stress: Fact or Fiction?

There is a common myth that sativa-dominant strains are more likely to make you “wired” and anxious. It’s also well-known that indicas have higher rations of CBD, giving them a reputation for “couch-lock” and relaxation. And, while it’s true that some sativas may cause some people anxiety issues, and some indicas are very relaxing, a lot of it comes down to how much THC is in the product you have. ⁽²⁾ Regardless of THC content, it’s also important you spend some time talking to your budtender or reading the notes about a strain you’re interested in!

Renowned THC-Heavy Strains

Renowned “Mellow” Strains

We should note that, although certain strains have the reputation for being dank and heavy, and others are considered to be mellow, it really is a case of finding what works for you. Ask around. See what other people like in their favorite strains. And don’t push yourself to try stronger products if you really don’t want to just yet.

A Helping Hand 

Your weed order is totally up to you, but we’re always here to help out if you need us. So don’t be afraid to ask a Medallion Wellness budtender to help you out if you need some tips! Call our general inquiries line at (888) 354-0139 for further information.

What is Tolerance?

As with many things we use for recreational or medical reasons, such as tobacco, we can build a tolerance to their ingredients if we use them often enough. The same goes for cannabis. Tolerance is the body’s gradual acclimation to the amount of cannabis you use, meaning you may need to use more to get the same effects in the future.

Tolerance is particularly important for cannabis newcomers to factor in and understand before they start to use cannabis. How a seasoned user may react to a single puff on a joint may be completely different to you! What’s more, a particularly strong strain may only need a puff or two to have you slightly more anxious than relaxed, so use some common sense out there and know your own personal limits!

Anti-Anxiety Advice (For First-Timers)

So, now that we know the root causes of most anxious weed moments are higher THC concentrations and low tolerance, regardless of the strain, what advice can we give to people starting out on their cannabis journey?

Cannabdiol (CBD)

THC isn’t the be all and end all of cannabis! And if anxiety is getting you down and you’re not keen to try high-THC weed, try CBD products for a more relaxing experience. CBD is non-intoxicating, cannabis-derived, and proven to help with anxiety and anxiety-related problems. ⁽²⁾

Finding the Right Products

Looking for lower THC? Searching for higher CBD for less anxiety? Try these products for size!

Sub-26% THC Flower

Sub-26% THC Pre-Rolls

High CBD Products

Cannabis for Pickup & Delivery in Modesto, CA

Relieve your stress and lower your anxiety with the help of Medallion Wellness! Choose from hundreds of products for delivery on our Modesto Menu, or for pickup on our Atwater Menu. Interested in what our clients think? Check our Reviews!

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References

1. Chand SP, Marwaha R. Anxiety. PubMed. Published 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK470361/ 
2. Burggren AC, Shirazi A, Ginder N, London ED. Cannabis effects on brain structure, function, and cognition: considerations for medical uses of cannabis and its derivatives. The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse. 2019;45(6):1-17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/00952990.2019.1634086