While cannabis use is becoming legalized and more acceptable around the United States, there’s still a stigma on how weed affects your brain. Cannabis has been considered a harmful drug in the past, with users known as “stoners” having a bad reputation. But, there are actually many positive effects of weed on the brain that make it great to use responsibly. Whether it’s for helping you relax, managing a medical condition, or plenty of other reasons, cannabis can be a great choice. In this guide, we’re going to cover both the great things you can expect out of cannabis usage and some effects to be wary of.
Pain Relief
One of the primary effects of weed, and the one that makes it ideal for managing medical symptoms, is pain relief. This effect comes from the CBD present in many cannabis products. Researchers have done many studies on medical marijuana and come to the same conclusion. CBD products are super effective for managing chronic pain. If you use a product that has CBD and no THC, then you can calm your pain without the intoxicating effects you may normally think of. So, you can still manage your day-to-day functions, but with much less pain thanks to CBD.
Nausea Reduction
Nausea can be incredibly difficult to live with and manage properly. There are many medical treatments available, but cannabis has been shown to be the better choice. Nausea reduction is one of the primary effects of weed because its chemical compounds react with the areas of the brain responsible for nausea. You can feel more centered and at peace thanks to how weed affects your brain.
Anxiety Ease
Anxiety is a growing problem in the United States for various reasons, and many people are turning to medications to help them deal with it. But, cannabis can be a much more effective solution. With CBD compounds, one of the effects of weed is relaxation. This will reduce anxiety and, since it’s inherent to CBD instead of THC, you can take it in a way that won’t disrupt your daily routine.
However, it’s possible for cannabis to make anxiety worse also. Cannabis raises your heartbeat and awareness, potentially giving you more cause to be anxious. Some people can manage this by trying to meditate during their weed usage, but the extent will vary between strains and people. If you do face heightened anxiety the first time around, don’t be discouraged. There are probably plenty of other products you can try that will be better.
Hunger
One of the effects of weed is what people call “the munchies.” In other words, because of how weed affects your brain’s hunger center, you’ll find that your appetite will greatly increase. For some people, this can be a great way to encourage themselves to eat if they struggle with an eating disorder or other condition that reduces appetite. For others, it can make your enjoyment of food much greater, but also have you eating much more than you normally would. If you want to make sure you don’t go overboard, pay close attention to the amount you eat to keep it in check. Otherwise, it shouldn’t be a huge problem as long as you’re comfortable with feeling full.
Depression Aid
Like anxiety, depression is a growing problem for many people. Luckily, the effects of weed can help reduce this. It isn’t a miracle cure that will get rid of depression entirely, but it does have some promising results when used correctly. Studies show that cannabis use can reduce suicide rates by up to 11 percent. But, it’s important to know that these people don’t rely entirely on cannabis for their problems. They casually use it for help, they don’t use it constantly. Use it too much and you can develop a dependency on it. But, it can be a great first start to managing depression that yields great results when paired with other treatment methods like fitness and therapy.
Paranoia
One of the not-so-great effects of weed is increased paranoia. Similar to anxiety, this is caused by increased awareness and mental stimulation and can change between different products. You begin to suspect patterns that aren’t really there and can worry far beyond how a reasonable person would. Because of how weed affects your brain this way, you may want to be cautious with it if you struggle with paranoia regularly. The safest option if you still want to try it is to take as small of a dosage as you can. Edibles are your best option for this since you can directly measure the dosage you get. You might not feel anything, but you can easily work your way up if you need to. Nothing is worse than going overboard your first time and getting extreme paranoia because of it.
Memory Problems
The effects of weed may cause you to suffer from memory problems. This is because of the way cannabis reacts with the memory and concentration areas of your brain. It isn’t anything to be concerned about in the short term, and can even be a great way to give your brain a much-needed vacation. But, you have to realize that you aren’t going to be at your best while on cannabis and plan accordingly. The best way to go is to have a safe, comfortable location with lots of food so you don’t have to worry about anything. If you’re really worried, you can also consider getting a babysitter to make sure nothing happens to you. Once the high passes, though, you should be fine.
Use Responsibly
There are many different effects of weed, both good and bad. For the most part, these issues are manageable. How weed affects your brain really depends on the mental state of the user. You only run into a real risk if you take more than you’re prepared for or have a bad reaction to the strain you take. If that happens, your best option is to try your best to relax or sleep, drink lots of water, and wait it out. As long as you don’t overreact, you should be fine until it all subsides. Most likely, though, you’ll have a good time so long as you use responsibly.
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