Cannabis and Mental Health - What we've learned

By Arijana Palme, BSW, RSW

This month we have been focusing on Cannabis and Mental Health across our social media platforms, and also during our more informal chats with each other at everwell. If you’ve been following along then you might have noticed that the relationship between cannabis and mental health is anything but simple and one-size-fits-all. The anecdotal evidence and stories range from it being an amazingly helpful tool for mood stabilisation and sleep to it being a traumatic source of anxiety and ongoing mental health complications. The scientific research is not much different unfortunately. 

This is why we decided to do a rather broad summary blog post of what we’ve discovered while doing a bit of research for our Cannabis and Mental Health month. This is by no means an exhaustive list, more of a broad strokes approach to a complicated topic.

 
 
 

Cannabis is a naturally occurring flowering plant from the Cannabacaea family. Thought to originate from Asia, the plant has migrated all over the world and has a long history of varied uses such as for clothing fibers, food, medicine and recreational drug use. These last two points are what interest us in our broad research of cannabis and its uses for, and effects on, mental health.   


Traditionally, cannabis has had many uses as a tool of healing and within cultures that take part in visionary journeys. There are written records from as early as 6 BCE of cannabis use in the treatment of various ailments. From physical issues like diarrhea to more emotional ones like sorrow or anger, cannabis has been in the Traditional Medicine (TM) repertoire for centuries.

With colonization and the ill-conceived War on Drugs, much traditional knowledge around plant medicines has been lost between generations. But, there are people around the world that are finding ways to unearth this lost knowledge and to reintegrate plant medicines, such as cannabis, into their daily lives.

Cannabis in these instances is a vastly different looking plant than the one that might be purchased legally or illegally these days.

 

Based on Seizure Data, graph found on cannabisandpsychosis.ca

A Brief Look at THC

Just in the last 50 years, the overall strength of the plant (measured by amount of THC) has increased 18 fold.

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive chemical in cannabis and when introduced into the body results in changes to mood, perception, consciousness, cognition and/or behaviour.


What was once commonly 1.5% THC content in the 1970s has gone up to 28% THC content by 2018. It’s the THC levels that seem to be most correlated with how cannabis affects our mental health and overall well being…and not always for the better.

According to several studies (see references), the higher the THC level in the plant, the more likely a person is to experience adverse reactions. From having a “bad trip” (feeling paranoid, racing thoughts, heart palpitations or trouble sleeping) to more long term mental health issues like having a psychotic break or experiencing the onset of schizophrenia. 

A note about research:

This research or any research into cannabis can only offer correlational information meaning that we cannot say “cannabis causes schizophrenia”. That’s because there are many factors that lead a person to use cannabis. Maybe for folks with complex mental health struggles, they use cannabis to self-medicate the early signs of mental health distress and not that the plant is the actual cause of the distress. The correlation between the two just tells us that folks who use cannabis with high THC levels are also folks that are more likely to experience long term mental health issues.     

In the studies we found, high THC content included anything over 15%. Obviously, it can be hard to assess THC content in most illicit cannabis material and it bears some caution. But in Canada, we have the ability to purchase cannabis products legally and with proper THC/CBD content labelling. This is a fantastic tool for making informed decisions around cannabis use. When in doubt, the harm reduction motto for substance use is “start low and go slow”. 

Another note about research:

Cannabis is notoriously hard to study because of the variations in THC and how much each person’s family and personal history affect their individual experience. When looking at any research, the results are only as good as the research design. This can be really tricky because research papers aren’t usually written for mass consumption so we tend to rely on a journalist’s take on a study. Unfortunately, that’s not the same as a peer-reviewed article or a meta-analysis of research conducted by a reputable researcher/clinic. So while cannabis research is frequently being conducted, it all needs to be viewed critically and through your individual lens and personal experience.

 
 

What about CBD? 

CBD, or cannabidiol, is another chemical compound found in cannabis but it does not seem to produce the same psychoactive effects as THC. In fact, research into CBD is attempting to determine whether it has anti-anxiety and anti-psychotic effects. There might even be a beautiful symbiosis with THC and CBD that helps dampen some of the ‘negative’ effects of THC. How cool is that?

There are already a number of medical treatments that utilize CBD for issues like chronic pain and epilepsy. Even anecdotally, folks find that CBD has a positive effect on their stress levels or experience of pain.

But, like all empirical research involving cannabis, more CBD research or knowledge sharing needs to be done. We’ve only really begun to scratch the surface.  

What does all of this mean for you and your mental health?

The lack of empirical knowledge around cannabis and it’s ever-changing chemical formulations present a unique situation for an individual. One that is extremely personal and requires a different level of awareness than a medicine that might be prescribed by a doctor and heavily researched, trialed and honed by a pharmaceutical company.

Whether you intend to use cannabis for medicinal reasons as they relate to mental, physical, emotional or spiritual health or for more recreational purposes, what’s important to note is that your experience can vary from someone else’s or even your own from one time to the next. Take care and be aware.

Ultimately, as a group therapy practice, we concern ourselves with what you feel is your personal vision of well being. Does that involve cannabis? That’s up to you to decide.

If you need help exploring your relationship to it, then we are happy to help, always through non-judgmental and person-centred ways. We won’t tell you what’s best for you, but we will bring curiosity and aid you in exploring those questions for yourself. 

If you are curious about cannabis and psychosis then The Cannabis & Psychosis website offers a rather refreshing perspective on the matter because they use shame-free language and encourage folks to make informed decisions for themselves based on their own experiences and needs while offering thorough education. 

“If you’re feeling like when you get high, it’s not the same for you as it is for your friends (maybe you get more anxious or paranoid), you’re not the only one. We have recognized this pattern among ourselves and youth in our surroundings, who have benefitted from taking a step back and recognizing that unfortunately, cannabis does not work for them like it might work for their friends” (Cannabis & Psychosis) 

 

Looking for some support?

If you’re thinking about therapy, then you’re already taking a step towards a vision of improved personal well being. Maybe now is the time, or a seed has been planted for the future. Either way, we’ll be here to support you when you’re ready - because you matter.

When you’re ready, we can help.

Book a free 30 minute consultation and let’s talk about it.

 
VIRTUAL THERAPY, MENTAL HEALTH, ANXIETY, DEPRESSION, CANNABIS & MENTAL HEALTHGuest Usereverwell Integrated Health ProfessionalsMental Health