Sativa vs Indica: Medical Cannabis Strains for Anxiety and Depression
Which, if any, mental health conditions can be treated with medical cannabis? Can plant medicine have a negative impact on mental health? Here are the facts as we know them right now.
Mental health is a misunderstood and underplayed topic for far too many in the U.S. There are many people who can give anecdotes about weed helps them. Smoking weed can make you happy temporarily, sure. And many people who suffer from conditions like depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, ADHD, and insomnia report that their symptoms are improved to varying degrees. But as far as medical cannabis and mental health, is it a long-term treatment?
The answer falls in line with most of the other answers about cannabis and scientific evidence – more studies need to be done. There is little peer-reviewed scientific evidence that cannabis is a good treatment for mental health conditions at this time, but that certainly doesn’t mean that is concrete evidence against it.
Sativa vs Indica: Know the Difference
Appearance
Indica and Sativa plants contrast in their physiological impacts, and in their appearance too. Indica plants are short and stocky, highlighting leaves that are wide and “thick.” Sativa plants will in general be taller and skinnier and may even be slim for all intents and purposes, with leaves that are meager and pointed.
Energy Level
Indicas will in general diminish energy and are better for utilization in the evening or around evening time, after the finish of the days’ worth of effort and exercises.
Sativas, then again, are elevating and cerebral, upgrading innovativeness and usefulness. Indicas give what has been known as a “body high,” while sativas give even more of a “mind high.”
Treatments
Sativa strains tend to be better for psychological disorders like depression, PTSD, and anxiety. Indicas are often the best for pain and inflammation and, thus, are beneficial for patients with joint pain, fibromyalgia, and cancer.
Conclusion
In the end, each patient will favor multiple strains that will likely fall within the categories of Sativa, hybrid, and Indica.
Science Doesn’t Care About Your Feels
We interrupt your regularly scheduled loudness for a brief public service announcement. Here at Loud News, we are sticklers for science and using the right words. Science doesn’t care about your feelings. That includes calling things what they are. Words matter, and using the right ones help shed stoner stereotypes. Weed is a drug, the plant medicine TREATS, it does not cure, we consume, we don’t use, marijuana is a made-up word that fueled the drug war since 1937, and so on. Words matter, so please get it right. And now, back to the show.
Medical Cannabis and Anxiety (18.1% of people suffer from anxiety)
There are some states that have mental health issues added to their qualifying conditions. One of those states in particular that recognized medical cannabis and mental health equaling relief in Pennsylvania. Last summer, the state added anxiety disorders to its list of qualifying conditions for patients to obtain medical cards.
Just like any other treatment, food, drug, and so on, cannabis affects everyone differently. Some people might feel relief from their anxiety, but others will have their anxiety launched into hyperdrive. Maybe the latter feel paranoid, or whatever it is, there is no one-size-fits-all. Additionally, different cultivars (often wrongly called strains, but more on that in the future) will cause everyone to feel differently. Some variants of cannabis will be better than others.
Best weed strains for anxiety
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ACDC
ACDC is a CBD-dominant marijuana strain made from a phenotype of Cannatonic. This strain produces little to no intoxicating effects which is great compared to other strains in the market.
Type: Hybrid
Cannabinoid: CBD 14%THC 1%
Dominant terpene: Myrcene
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Granddaddy Purple
Granddaddy Purple is a heavy Indica-dominant strain created through crossing the Big Bud with Purple Urkle strains.
Type: Indica
Cannabinoid: THC 17%
Dominant terpene: Myrcene
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Jack Herer
Jack Herer is a THC-dominant strain that will bring a huge smile to your face. Its peppery terpenes mixed with its blissful mental effect will melt your anxiety and allow you to live your life to the fullest.
Type: Sativa
Cannabinoid: THC 17% CBG 1%
Dominant terpene: Terpinolene
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Jillybean
Jillybean is suitable for use any time of day. Its mood-elevating and reviving effects are helpful in dealing with stress, anxiety, and depression.
Type: Hybrid
Cannabinoid: THC 16%
Dominant terpene: Myrcene
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Purple Urkle
Purple Urkle, a pacifying strain that can soften anxiety while guiding you into a peaceful sleep.
Type: Indica
Cannabinoid: THC 16%
Dominant terpene: Myrcene
Medical Cannabis Strains and PTSD
We’ve covered military vets and how many of them say cannabis helps them with their PTSD, and now the VA is finally ready to give them legal access to it. The House vote marked the first time in 50 years that a chamber of Congress has come back to the classification of cannabis as a federally controlled and prohibited substance. Since 1970, federal law has classified cannabis as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Symptoms of PTSD are similar to that of bipolar and depression, and those suffering from depression often can be uplifted from cannabis.
Best strains for Depression
- Cinex
- Jack Herer
- Harlequin
- Granddaddy Purple
Does Cannabis Have a Negative Impact on Your Health?
Teenagers who consume cannabis can experience some negative effects on their overall brain development. “I smoked weed when I was 16, I turned out fine!” That might be true for many people, but the unfortunate truth is that some people can’t stop. The definition of addiction is hard to pin down, but if you can’t handle your high as in you mess up at your job or in your relationships or if you hurt someone – you should cut back. With that in mind, just about anything can be abused.
“People say you can abuse marijuana. You can abuse cheeseburgers. Does that mean we should close Burger Kings?” – Joe Rogan
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