{"componentChunkName":"component---common-build-tags-template-js","path":"/tag/brain/","result":{"data":{"allArticle":{"edges":[{"node":{"id":"Article_2877-markdown","title":"Can CBD Help With Memory Deficit Disorders?","slug":"can-cbd-help-with-memory-deficit-disorders","content":"Did you misplace your keys this morning? Or forget what day it was in the middle of a busy workweek? \n\nMemory problems affect just about everyone at some point. And for most people, these temporary glitches have relatively harmless causes like:\n\n* Stress\n* Lack of sleep \n* Being distracted from the task at hand  \n\nBut there are [many different types of memory deficits](https://www.uofmhealth.org/health-library/confu) that can range from very mild episodes of forgetfulness to more serious problems related to systemic diseases or traumatic events. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nA variety of pharmaceuticals and medical interventions are available to combat the symptoms of memory loss. But recent research suggests that the potent cannabis compound cannabidiol (CBD) can help relieve symptoms of many memory deficit disorders, regardless of the cause.\n\n### Memory Deficits Come in Many Forms\n\nFor many people, the mention of memory problems conjures up thoughts of Alzheimer’s disease, although [just about anyone can have episodes of forgetfulness or lack of concentration](https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/do-memory-problems-always-mean-alzheimers-disease). Medications as well as excessive use of drugs and alcohol can cause memory lapses. Even cannabis itself can create problems with short-term memory for people who consume a lot of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).\n\nIn many situations, a good night’s sleep, cutting back on alcohol or resolving a difficult situation can help reduce or completely do away with memory problems. But when these problems persist, they could be symptoms of a memory deficit disorder.\n\nRELATED: [CAN CANNABIS DEFEND AGAINST DEMENTIA SYMPTOMS?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5b4ad4e38904b90007731af7/can-cannabis-defend-against-dementia-symptoms)\n\nMemory deficit disorders span the spectrum from ongoing minor forgetfulness to memory loss that takes a more serious turn. This kind of memory loss also affects other kinds of cognitive functions for decision making and the tasks of daily life. And while Alzheimer’s disease continues to make headlines as a cause of severe memory loss, many people are living with other kinds of memory deficit disorders, which can include:\n\n* **Mild cognitive impairment:** Also known as MCI, this condition is a kind of low-grade memory dysfunction that causes people to forget things like dates and names, or have problems with following directions and recipes. \n\n>MCI doesn’t typically impact daily life in significant ways, and people who have it can generally manage on their own with the help of things like lists and reminders. Some people with MCI may develop Alzheimer’s disease or other more severe forms of memory dysfunction, but many don’t. So it isn’t clear whether MCI is an early stage of Alzheimer’s, or if it’s a different kind of disorder entirely.\n\n* **Vascular dementia:** This type of dementia is a form of memory impairment caused by:\n\n  * A stroke\n  * One or more transient ischemic attacks or “mini strokes” \n  * Impaired blood flow to the brain due to cardiovascular disease \n\n>Although this type of memory problem is called dementia, the symptoms can range from relatively mild forgetfulness and confusion to severe problems with daily functioning.\n\n* **Neurological diseases:** Conditions such as Parkinson’s disease or multiple sclerosis can also affect memory and cognition. \n\n>In Parkinson’s, the cells that produce dopamine, the neurotransmitter that carries mood and behavior messages from the brain, die—often times this results in memory loss. For multiple sclerosis patients, the disease attacks the nervous system, which can affect movement, but also cognition, too.\n\nInterestingly, neurological disorders can accompany health conditions that aren’t initially neurological in nature like uncontrolled diabetes and diseases affecting the liver and kidneys.\n\nHead trauma can also cause mild to severe memory deficits that can be either temporary or permanent.\n\n### How Can CBD Protect Memory?\n\nMany different conditions and circumstances can contribute to memory deficits. But a few processes appear to set the stage for many of them, such as:\n\n* Inflammation\n* Infection\n* The buildup or introduction of harmful proteins like tau or beta amyloid that affect the brain’s cells and neural pathways \n\nAnd a growing body of [research reveals that CBD has anti-inflammatory and neuroprotetive properties](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2013.00147/full) to help shield vulnerable brain cells and neural pathways from harm caused by these processes.\n\nCBD and other cannabis compounds including psychoactive THC work with [the body’s own natural endocannabinoid system (ECS)](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56ba6fd0023cd900080000b3/is-your-endocannabinoid-system-in-balance). This endocannabinoid receptor system embraces just about all of our tissues and organs. Natural cannabinoids produced by the body, or cannabinoids from outside sources such as cannabis, can activate the ECS receptors. When the compounds and terpenes in cannabis bind to these receptors in the brain and body, they stimulate responses including:\n\n* Pain control\n* Immune system activity\n* Balancing brain chemicals like dopamine, the feel-good chemical, and norepinephrine, an arousing neurotransmitter that can heighten anxiety \n\nOn its own, CBD doesn’t appear to strongly bind to either of the two known ECS receptors, but it plays a powerful role in supporting the activity of a number of other processes that are essential for well-being and brain health. \n\nCBD has been shown to stimulate immune responses that combat inflammation and infection throughout the body, and to curb the abnormal cell mutations that can lead to cancer. \n\nIn connection with memory, CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and neuroprotectant. Some studies have shown that CBD can help reduce damage to the brain’s neural pathways in cases of traumatic brain injury. It may also protect neural pathways from degeneration in Parkinson’s disease and similar neurological conditions. And a number of studies have shown that CBD even appears to slow the memory loss of Alzheimer’s disease.\n\n### Can CBD Be an All-Purpose Memory Aid?\n\nA recent Australian study that explored CBD’s potential for treating schizophrenia also reveals that because of CBD’s abilities to protect brain cells and neural pathways from so many different kinds of damage, [CBD appears to be effective in relieving symptoms of memory deficits](https://ro.uow.edu.au/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=https://www.google.com/&httpsredir=1&article=2037&context=ihmri) from a wide range of different causes. \n\nThe effects of CBD on memory and cognition can also help people without memory deficits to stay focused and concentrate better, although CBD doesn’t appear able to give healthy brains any memory superpowers such as total recall. \n\nRELATED: [DOES CANNABIS CAUSE OR PREVENT MEMORY LOSS?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5b011020bf4c4d000a0e737e/does-cannabis-cause-or-prevent-memory-loss)\n\nBut whether you’re studying for a test, trying to remember where you parked your car or coping with more complex memory challenges, a growing body of research continues to show that CBD can preserve and protect the delicate workings of the brain’s memory machine.\n\nPhoto credit: [Jon Tyson](https://unsplash.com/@jontyson)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana/) index of articles. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/14b42/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg","srcSet":"/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/f836f/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 200w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/2244e/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 400w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/14b42/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 800w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/47498/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 1200w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/0e329/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 1600w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/6bcf3/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.jpg 3394w","srcWebp":"/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/58556/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/61e93/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 200w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/1f5c5/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 400w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/58556/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 800w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/99238/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 1200w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/7c22d/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 1600w,\n/static/393946eba44f46bce53faa7f03122fd3/c4180/a3be5b553a645072146c5ee53caac9a6.webp 3394w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2812-markdown","title":"CTE, Concussions & CBD: How Can Cannabis Help","slug":"cte-concussions-and-cbd-how-can-cannabis-help","content":"Sports are a huge part of the culture in the U.S., especially when it comes to football. From high school games to the family pickup game at Thanksgiving to big Super Bowl parties, football is tightly woven into so many American traditions. \n\nWe think of our football players as tough, willing to take a hit, and as true warriors when they get back up from a punishing play. While all this may be true, research now shows that they’re also especially vulnerable to a dangerous condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). And this bad news is that CTE may leave them with incurable brain damage. \n\nThough there’s no cure on the horizon, a compound found in _Cannabis sativa_ and hemp plants—cannabidiol (CBD)—may help ease symptoms of this devastating condition. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/explore/locations/564935726915516/united-states/san-francisco-california/hellomd/)\n\n### What Is CTE?\n\n[CTE is a degenerative brain disease, which causes symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s disease](https://www.sportsmd.com/concussions-head-injuries/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy-cte-2/#Classifications_of_chronic_traumatic_encephalopathy). CTE is characterized by neurological and physiological changes in the brain such as the buildup of tau, an abnormal protein. In CTE, tau builds up and clumps in areas of the brain where it shouldn’t be, disrupting brain functions.\n\nUnfortunately, there’s no way of diagnosing CTE while someone is alive. It can only be confirmed after death by examining the brain for tau deposits.\n\nStill, unlike Alzheimer’s disease, CTE has a clear cause—trauma from repeated concussions. First noted among boxers, and now well known as a condition that affects football players, this incurable disease can affect anyone with a history of concussions. But most of the conversation about CTE is in relation to contact sports athletes. The repeated blows to the head, falls and collisions during these sports can cause repeated concussions and lead to CTE. \n\nThis difficult-to-live-with condition causes symptoms like:\n\n* Anger, depression, anxiety and other mood disturbances \n* Impulse control \n* Deterioration in attention, concentration and memory\n* Disorientation, dizziness and confusion\n* Headaches\n* Poor judgment\n* Slowed muscular movements\n* Difficulty walking, speaking and swallowing\n* Tremors\n* Vertigo\n* Drooping eyelids\n* Deafness\n\nWhile there are some pharmaceutical options to address the symptoms of CTE, [there’s no cure or established treatment for the disease](https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/chronic-traumatic-encephalopathy/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20370925). The best prevention for CTE is to avoid activities that are likely to cause concussive incidents, and to make sure that concussions are treated by a qualified medical professional immediately. \n\n### Can Athletes Take CBD?\n\nThankfully, CBD offers help where conventional medicine is lacking. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to medical marijuana. But CBD is the most common medicinal chemical in hemp—and hemp-derived CBD is available nationwide. On a molecular level the CBD from cannabis marijuana and the CBD from hemp is the same. \n\nSo, hemp-derived CBD has properties that can be extremely beneficial for those dealing with the symptoms of CTE. From protecting the brain from concussive trauma to reducing symptoms like pain, anger, depression, headaches and tremors, CBD offers hope for those who suffer from the condition. \n\nUnfortunately, those who are most in need of CBD—professional, high school and college athletes—are usually barred from taking it, because it comes from cannabis. Cannabis is still a Schedule 1 substance and most sports organizations ban its use.\n\nThe World Anti-Doping Agency recently removed CBD from its list of banned substances. But the major sports leagues in the U.S. including the NFL and NBA still prohibit anything related to cannabis, no matter where it comes from. Even when CBD comes from hemp (which is just cannabis with very low levels of THC), it’s still not allowed for these athletes.\n\nBut now players are starting complain. Some have begun to use CBD and—realizing how helpful it can be—are fighting to change the rules. \n\nSuper Bowl champion Leonard Marshall says his life changed for the better since he swapped out synthetic prescription medications that his doctors prescribed, for CBD. “I found with CBD I had a higher pain threshold, I felt calm and finally, I felt ‘Leonard could be Leonard’ again,” he said. \n\nJake Plummer, a former pro-football quarterback shared his positive results as well, saying “Since I started taking CBD regularly, there are no more slow-moving, dreadful days with headaches, joint stiffness and wandering thoughts.” \n\nAs studies continue to find more and more confirmed cases of CTE in deceased athletes, it’s becoming more urgent than ever to bring awareness to the role CBD could play in protecting the brains and lives of these vulnerable athletes. \n\n### How CBD Can Help Prevent Concussions & CTE\n\nSo how can hemp-derived CBD help these athletes fight CTE? There are a few ways. \n\nMost importantly, CBD is a powerful neuroprotectant. In fact, the [U.S. government holds a patent for CBD—a way for them to research using CBD in this way](https://www.alchimiaweb.com/blogfr/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/US6630507.pdf). Some researchers argue that we should be using this power to help protect athletes.\n\nLester Grinspoon, a cannabis researcher and professor emeritus from Harvard University believes [NFL players should play with CBD in their system](https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/ravens-lineman-pushing-marijuana-on-the-nfl/2016/06/05/b600dda4-28fc-11e6-ae4a-3cdd5fe74204_story.html?utm_term=.26730c76ca62), saying, “I would have each individual take a capsule an hour or two before they play or practice.” \n\nResearch suggests that when patients have CBD in their brain, they’re less likely to be damaged by traumatic injuries. So, CBD could be used preventatively to protect the brain’s neurons during a concussion. \n\nAdditionally, CBD may help protect the brain even after injury. Research on Alzheimer’s disease shows that [CBD works to protect the brain by inhibiting the accumulation of tau](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16389547)—that nasty protein that accumulates in both the brains of those with Alzheimer's and those with CTE. Taking CBD for CTE may help reduce or prevent buildup of tau, avoiding the loss of function that comes from these buildups. \n\nTo add to its list of positive effects on the brain, [cannabinoids have also been shown to help promote the growth of new brain cells](https://www.jci.org/articles/view/25509), potentially repairing damage that was already done. \n\n### Could CBD Address CTE’s Side Effects?\n\nBesides protecting and repairing the brain directly, CBD can also help with many of the side effects of CTE. [CBD is known for so many health benefits](https://hellomd.com/articles/what-is-hemp-cbd/) including easing:\n\n* Pain\n* Inflammation\n* Depression\n* Anxiety\n* Tremors \n* Movement problems \n\nThis is because these symptoms are regulated by the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The [ECS is a system of receptors](https://hellomd.com/articles/what-is-the-endocannabinoid-system/) throughout the human body, which are activated by cannabinoids from marijuana, as well as endocannabinoids that the body naturally produces. When our bodies’ natural endocannabinoids fail to properly regulate these functions, such as with CTE, adding plant cannabinoids like CBD can help activate the system, restoring balance. \n\nIt’s no wonder so many athletes suffering from these symptoms are now coming forward to share how helpful CBD has been in bringing back everything from their physical movement to their state of mind. \n\n### Taking Hemp for CTE\n\nIf you’re considering consuming CBD for a brain injury, your first best step is to talk to a doctor who’s knowledgeable in cannabinoid treatments. You can [consult with one HelloMD’s doctors who are well-versed in cannabis science](https://www.hellomd.com/) by video conference from the comfort and privacy of your own home.  \n\nOnce a doctor lets you know what dosing is appropriate for your condition, [we have a wide variety of CBD products](https://hellomd.com/articles/purchasing-cbd-products-whats-real-and-whats-fake) to choose from including hemp CBD tinctures, oils, lotions, bath soaks and even vape pens. \n\nFor those looking to avoid any psychoactive effects from THC or folks who live in places where medical marijuana isn’t available, hemp-based CBD products are an easy option. Hemp has very low levels of THC, so these products won’t result in a head high. This means you can medicate throughout the day and still be able to work and take care of your daily responsibilities. \n\nSuffering from the symptoms of CTE? Don’t wait for them to get worse—CBD may be the treatment you need. \n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-what-you-need-to-know-about-marijuana/) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.\n\nPhoto credit: [Pixabay](https://www.pexels.com/@pixabay)\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/14b42/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg","srcSet":"/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/f836f/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 200w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/2244e/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 400w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/14b42/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 800w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/47498/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 1200w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/0e329/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 1600w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/e51f9/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.jpg 3088w","srcWebp":"/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/58556/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/61e93/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 200w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/1f5c5/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 400w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/58556/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 800w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/99238/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 1200w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/7c22d/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 1600w,\n/static/3b4a4e35ef237a5dd54b0ab9c111f660/61429/e2ebc657a17c1445e510a3eb297ae869.webp 3088w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2762-markdown","title":"Can Cannabis Defend Against Dementia Symptoms?","slug":"can-cannabis-defend-against-dementia-symptoms","content":"A new case of dementia is diagnosed about every four seconds. And while the overall incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and some other causes of dementia are dropping, the memory and cognitive problems caused by these disorders are likely to remain a major public health challenge for years to come. \n\nThe search continues for medications to stop or even reverse the progress of dementia—but cannabis may hold the key. Recent research on Alzheimer’s disease suggests that cannabinoids can act directly on the brain’s neurons. Cannabis has been shown to protect these neurons from the toxins and inflammation that kill brain cells and cause symptoms of dementia.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### What Are the Symptoms of Dementia?\n\nDementia isn’t actually a disease. It’s the [term given to a set of symptoms](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/142214.php) that can include:  \n\n* Memory loss\n* Problems with executive functioning, such as making decisions and abstract reasoning\n* Personality and mood changes\n* Problems with coordination and movement\n* Deficits in speech and language\n* Failure of central nervous system functions \n\nDementia symptoms can be related to a number of neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular problems and other kinds of health issues including:\n\n* Alzheimer’s disease, which accounts for more than 60% of all U.S. dementia diagnoses\n* Vascular dementia, caused by cardiovascular disease that leads to poor blood flow to the brain\n* Parkinson’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, which can cause dementia in later stages\n* Dementia with Lewy bodies, a relatively rare neurodegenerative disease related to abnormalities in brain structure \n* Strokes and mini-strokes\n* Traumatic brain injury\n* Toxins, including prescription medications\n* Metabolic disorders that create inflammation, such as Pick’s disease\n* HIV\n\nSome causes of dementia are temporary and reversible, including vitamin deficiencies, medicine reactions or interactions, and thyroid conditions. Even severe depression can cause dementia.\n\nBut although there are multiple avenues for developing dementia, the outcome’s the same: the death of neurons in the brain. This leads to the many symptoms of largely irreversible cognitive and physical impairment. \n\n### Toxins & Inflammation Attack Brain Cells & Cause Dementia\n\nAlzheimer’s disease is the most public face of the many causes of dementia, and a lot of research has focused on finding the causes of this memory-robbing disease. Scientists have learned that the brains of Alzheimer’s patients contain large amounts of a toxic protein called beta-amyloid 42. This protein clumps together to create plaque that accumulates between neurons and disrupts healthy functioning. Over time, neurons die, and the brain actually shrinks.  \n\nAn added factor in the development of Alzheimer’s is the presence of neurofibrillary tangles. These are abnormal collections of another protein called tau inside the neurons themselves. These tangles also block transport systems between neurons so that they fail to communicate. \n\nBut what causes the buildup of beta-amyloid 42 and tau in the first place?  \n\nMany factors may play a role. People with Alzheimer’s disease often have other kinds of health problems, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. These disorders interfere with the movement of blood, oxygen and glucose to the brain, and this can contribute to the buildup of plaque and tangles.\n\nThat said, recent research suggests it’s actually chronic inflammation that could be the cause.\n\nRELATED: [MEDICAL MARIJUANA AS AN AID AGAINST INFLAMMATION](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a3f31338323000062f0000/medical-marijuana-as-an-aid-against-inflammation)\n\nStudies reveal that inflammation can develop within neurons themselves when a certain kind of cell called microglia fails to do its job. Microglia could be called the brain’s housekeepers, responsible for destroying waste and toxins in the brain. But when these cells don’t work properly due to inflammation, poor blood flow, glucose buildup and other factors, toxic beta amyloid plaque can accumulate inside neurons, causing them to become impaired and eventually die.  \n\n### How Cannabis Protects Neurons & Could Help Prevent Dementia\n\nA number of drugs have been developed to treat various symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other kinds of dementia with varying degrees of success. But recent studies show that [cannabis may be better at protecting brain cells](http://www.mdpi.com/1424-8247/3/8/2689/htm) from inflammation and toxicity, thanks to its recognized effects on the body’s own endocannabinoid system (ECS).\n\nThe human body contains a rich network of cannabinoid receptors that respond both to natural cannabinoids produced in the body and to the very similar compounds produced by the cannabis plant. Researchers are still discovering new ways that the ECS affects overall health. Studies have shown that when cannabinoids from either source activate this system, it can trigger powerful responses that affect the:\n\n* immune system\n* central nervous system\n* and many other systems and organs in the body  \n\nWith the exception of the brainstem, ECS receptors are abundant in most areas of the brain, including inside the neurons themselves. Multiple studies have shown that cannabinoid compounds found in various strains of the cannabis plant including tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Combinations of THC and CBD may be able to [help clear toxic beta amyloid plaque from neurons](https://www.salk.edu/news-release/cannabinoids-remove-plaque-forming-alzheimers-proteins-from-brain-cells/) and reduce damage from inflammation in the brain.\n\nFor these reasons, cannabis is recognized as a potent neuroprotectant—meaning, it can shield vulnerable neurons in the brain from damage caused by events like traumatic brain injury and stroke. These same qualities can explain why cannabis can help reduce symptoms of dementia—or even prevent it from developing in the first place. \n\nBecause Alzheimer’s disease tops the list of dementia causes in the U.S., most research on cannabis for dementia has focused on that condition. But because of its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects on brain cells, cannabis can also be helpful for symptoms that come from other causes like vascular dementia or the neurodegenerative disorder Parkinson’s disease.\n\n### How to Consume Cannabis for Dementia Symptoms\n\nA combination of THC and CBD seems to be most effective in reducing dementia symptoms, especially those related to anxiety and mood changes. Marijuana can also help with sleep disorders including “sundowning,” the late-afternoon restlessness and anxiety that strikes many Alzheimer’s disease sufferers. \n\nThose with mild forms of cognitive impairment often choose to smoke or vape cannabis. But caregivers and family members can administer smoke-free consumption methods to people who have advanced problems with memory and self-care. These include marijuana tinctures and cannabis edibles. Patients can easily ingest precise cannabis doses when tinctures are added to their food or drink. And cannabis edibles, whether pre-made or homemade, mean the medicine’s effects last longer than with vaping or smoking. \n\nDementia has many causes, but the same result: damage to neurons that keep the brain functioning properly. Because it works with the body’s own ECS to protect and clear those vulnerable neurons, cannabis may be the key to relieving the symptoms of dementia at their source. \n\nPhoto credit: [Val Vesa](https://unsplash.com/@adspedia)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/14b42/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg","srcSet":"/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/f836f/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 200w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/2244e/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 400w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/14b42/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 800w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/47498/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 1200w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/0e329/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 1600w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/43576/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.jpg 3653w","srcWebp":"/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/58556/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/61e93/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 200w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/1f5c5/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 400w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/58556/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 800w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/99238/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 1200w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/7c22d/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 1600w,\n/static/d67ee7db0e21b66a3bbffbba9466186a/35449/af192d8a36bba8efdc584cd005bee55b.webp 3653w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2715-markdown","title":"Study Shows Medical Marijuana Improves Brain Function","slug":"study-shows-medical-marijuana-improves-brain-function","content":"We’ve all heard the saying that consuming marijuana will kill brain cells and make you stupid. But what does the science actually say? What happens to the brain when we consume cannabis? \n\nDespite the fact that more and more people are consuming marijuana to treat medical conditions, a group of researchers noticed that most of the studies on cannabis and brain function have been performed on recreational cannabis consumers and/or teens. But what about adults using a carefully considered regimen of cannabis to treat specific medical conditions? Researchers decided to make medical marijuana patients the focus of their study. And the results may surprise you.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### How Researchers Tracked Brain Function in Medical Marijuana Patients\n\nThe results of the study, which was performed in Massachusetts, were released in early 2018. Researchers looked at [brain activation and cognitive function in medical marijuana patients](https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00983/full). Participants completed cognitive tests while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) before starting a medical marijuana regimen. They were then reassessed with those same tests three months later. \n\nScientists wanted to look at task-related brain activity specifically. So, they had the subjects complete various multi-source interference tests (MSIT). Examples of MSITs are:\n* Presenting subjects with three numbers, two of which are the same. Participants are directed to identify the one different number by pressing a button. The test administrators switch up the different number by sometimes making it greater or smaller than the other two. Or sometimes they place the numbers in a different order. They then record the subject’s reaction time when identifying the odd number out. \n\n* Showing participants a color name that’s written in the ink of another color. Researchers ask the subjects to name the ink color, but not the color name. Researchers record how often subjects correctly complete the task.  \n\nBy also using fMRI, the researchers could view what parts of the brain were engaged and when they were completing these kinds of cognitive tests.\n\nIt’s important to note that the study had a relatively small sample size of 22 patients—11 men and 11 women between the ages of 28–74. The participants were using whole-plant medical marijuana products to treat:\n\n* Pain\n* Anxiety\n* PTSD\n* Sleep\n* Mood\n* Gastrointestinal issues\n* Attention difficulty\n\nThe subjects consumed medical marijuana an average of nearly 5.5 days a week, almost twice a day for a total average of just over 10 times a week. They consumed the plant in almost every way possible including smoking and vaporizing flower, ingesting tinctures and edibles, and applying topicals. \n\n### Medicinal Cannabis Consumers Showed Improved Cognitive Function After 3 Months\n\nAfter three months, researchers not only saw that the participants’ performance in MSITs improved, but that their brain activation patterns were different. Researchers specifically cited the patterns in the cingulate cortex and frontal regions. These parts of the brain control things like:\n\n* Emotional responses\n* Memory recall\n* Problem solving\n* Language\n* Awareness and attention\n* Cognitive skills\n\nThe study also noted that the brain activation patterns after three months of medical marijuana use closely resembled those of healthy control subjects from other studies—even more so than the subjects’ own pre-medical marijuana treatment patterns. What this means is that medical marijuana has the potential to normalize brain function.\n\n### Patients Report Additional Benefits With Medical Marijuana Consumption \n\nBesides the improvement in executive function measures (things like planning and organizing, multitasking and managing time), the subjects reported improvements in the following areas:\n\n* Sleep\n* Depression\n* Quality of life\n* Impulsivity\n* Energy\n\nThese improvements were noted when subjects compared their current state against how they were before they started consuming medical marijuana\n\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS WORKS TO PROTECT & REPAIR THE BRAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5ab9cf3cf24d1300077ccb9f/how-cannabis-works-to-protect-and-repair-the-brain)\n\n### Was Cannabis the Only Reason for Improved Brain Function?\n\nStudy participants improved in other health-related measurements, and they were also able to take fewer prescription medications. The study specifically names opioids, antidepressants, mood stabilizers and benzodiazepines as drug classes that subjects were able to decrease during the three month-long study. \n\nResearchers did note that the improved brain function might not solely be due to cannabis, but also to the decreased consumption in prescription medications—especially since drugs like [mood stabilizers can interfere with cognitive processing](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=16106488). That said, researchers say more studies are needed. \n\n### The Difference Between Medical & Recreational Marijuana Consumption\n\nIt’s worth noting again that this study looked at medical marijuana patients, not recreational cannabis users. When studied, recreational consumers—adults and adolescents—have shown a decrease in MSIT scores in various areas such as:\n\n* Attention\n* Processing speed\n* Executive function \n\nOf course, there are differences in the types and amounts of cannabis that medical patients consume versus those that recreational users ingest. Recreational consumers usually go for cannabis high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to feel its psychoactive effects. Medical marijuana patients may choose high-THC products as well, but they also typically consume marijuana rich in CBD for its anti-inflammatory and anxiolytic, or anxiety-reducing, properties. \n\nThat’s not to say that consuming THC will make you unable to think clearly. In fact, one study found that [a large amount of CBD administered before ingesting THC improved cognitive function](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=19924114 ). That same study concluded that THC and CBD affect cognitive brain function in opposite ways. Meanwhile, another study found that consuming cannabis containing high levels of CBD along with THC [prevented any problems with memory](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed?Db=pubmed&Cmd=ShowDetailView&TermToSearch=20884951).\n\n### Federal Marijuana Laws Impose Restrictions on the Study\n\nResearchers in the 2018 Massachusetts study also noted that it was up to the subjects to choose and administer their own cannabis products and regimen. Unfortunately, because marijuana is illegal federally, limiting the plant’s accessibility for research purposes, the team had little control over this aspect of the study. Marijuana researchers can only get supplies from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and their cannabis offering doesn’t have the variety of products, strains and cannabinoid percentages that patients need—and that researchers are interested in studying.\n\nHopefully, this study inspires other researchers to look into how we’re affected when consuming marijuana for medical purposes. Studies like this go a long way towards busting the myth that all people who consume cannabis are dazed and confused as a result of ingesting marijuana. It’s also powerful proof that marijuana can be medicine, and that the plant can be a useful tool in fighting the opioid crisis. \n\nPhoto credit: [Alvaro Reyes](https://unsplash.com/@alvaroreyes)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/14b42/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg","srcSet":"/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/f836f/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 200w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/2244e/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 400w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/14b42/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 800w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/47498/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 1200w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/0e329/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 1600w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/3e38a/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.jpg 3622w","srcWebp":"/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/58556/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/61e93/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 200w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/1f5c5/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 400w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/58556/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 800w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/99238/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 1200w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/7c22d/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 1600w,\n/static/94d9649e3142ea62ee9c69216967dfcf/7280a/8a422501de60ed87e022289d29a8ef7e.webp 3622w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2697-markdown","title":"Does Cannabis Cause or Prevent Memory Loss?","slug":"does-cannabis-cause-or-prevent-memory-loss","content":"Anti-drug campaigns warn that marijuana causes memory loss, especially in young consumers. But some studies suggest that cannabis can protect the brain against the memory deficits caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Many people who consume cannabis also say that it promotes better concentration and focus. So, which is true—does cannabis improve or impede memory?\n\nAfter [decades of intensive research](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3931635/)\non the effects of cannabis consumption on memory, the answer to that question is that it can do both—or neither. Marijuana’s effects on memory are complex and contradictory. The picture is complicated by variations in study methods, and by the many different processes that make up what we call memory.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Memory Engages Many Parts of the Brain\n\nMemory is usually understood as the ability to recall past events or information. But the processes that make this possible are distributed throughout the brain and involve input from many different neural pathways. Since memory involves processing and storing input we receive from multiple sources, those various pathways are activated depending on the nature of the incoming information. Information received through the sense of smell, for example, is processed differently than information that’s seen or heard.  \n\nIn general, memory is a four-step process that includes receiving, processing, learning and storing information. But [many different areas of the brain activate](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/16888995_Cannabis_Effects_on_memory_and_the cholinergic_limbic_system) in order to do that, including the:\n\n* Hippocampus\n* Limbic system\n* Hypothalamus \n* Prefrontal cortex \n\nResearch has defined several different types of memory arising from activity in those areas, such as short- and long-term memory, visual, spatial and verbal memory. There are even other types of memory that are combinations of these, such as spatiovisual memory. \n\nThere’s also a special category for executive functions—the combination of learning, memory and cognitive processing. This all takes place in the prefrontal cortex that lets us make decisions, choose between options and evaluate situations.\n\nAreas of the brain most responsible for memory are rich in the endocannabinoid receptor CB1, too. And this accounts for the many different effects cannabis can have on memory processes.\n\nRELATED: [HOW CANNABIS WORKS TO REPAIR AND PROTECT THE BRAIN](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/5ab9cf3cf24d1300077ccb9f/how-cannabis-works-to-protect-and-repair-the-brain)\n\n### THC Can Contribute to Memory Loss\n\nFor decades, marijuana has been blamed for killing brain cells and causing consumers to go through life stoned and stupid. While that’s an exaggeration, numerous studies do show that cannabis, especially strains high in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), [can cause short-term memory](https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/314065.php). THC binds to CB1 receptors in the brain that are responsible not only for mood, but also for memory and cognition. This explains the short-term memory deficits that can go along with being high.\n\nThese memory problems usually resolve themselves once cannabis is processed out of the body. But the effects can linger because various cannabis compounds are metabolized at different rates. So anyone who consumes marijuana very frequently or heavily can appear to be having long-term or permanent memory problems, when it’s more likely that THC hasn’t yet been flushed from the body.  \n\nMemory deficits from cannabis may be largely transitory, but a growing body of research does confirm that teen cannabis users are at greater risk for memory loss that persists. That’s because the human brain is still developing until the age of 25 or so. As well, teen brains are in many ways very different from adult brains. Among teens, high-THC strains of cannabis can affect the connectivity among these developing neural networks, so that they don’t have the opportunity to mature normally.\n\n### CBD Can Protect Memory-Related Brain Cells\n\nCannabidiol (CBD), the other compound found abundantly in cannabis, has little to no psychoactive effects. CBD affects immune-related processes and cell health, so that it can:\n\n* Reduce inflammation\n* Ease pain\n* Promote the growth of healthy cells\n\nCannabis has potent properties as a neuroprotectant, and CBD is largely the reason. CBD can support the growth of healthy nerve cells, but also [slow or prevent the development of abnormal cells and other toxic substances](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25024327).  \n\nBecause CBD protects nerve cells, it can help relieve symptoms of progressive neurological disorders like Parkinson’s disease. Some studies have shown that for the same reasons, it can protect the brain’s memory pathways from damage caused by beta-amyloid plaque—[the sticky protein believed to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease](https://www.alzheimers.net/6-15-15-effects-of-medical-marijuana-on-alzheimers/). Other research reveals that marijuana products high in CBD may also help to protect and support memory functions after traumatic brain injury or stroke. In people who don’t have these conditions, high-CBD cannabis may also help with concentration and focus.\n\n### Making Sense of the Studies on Marijuana & Memory\n\nOne reason that it’s difficult to come to a definitive answer about the effects of cannabis on memory is that much of the research itself produces ambiguous results. Because memory encompasses so many different functions and areas of the brain, different studies base their results on different kinds of tests.\n\nWhile one team may ask volunteers to take a verbal memory test such as reciting back words they’ve memorized, another might ask study subjects to recall details in a picture. These tasks activate a completely different memory pathway.  \n\nMost research also relies on self-reporting from subjects about how—and how much—marijuana they consume. And those reports may not be accurate or consistent. Variations in things like an individual’s overall health and even the number of cannabinoid receptors they have can also play a role in how cannabis affects memory. \n\nThe effects of marijuana on memory have been studied intensively for several years, with widely varying results. But because cannabis can affect all kinds of processes in the body, it’s clear that it can affect memory, too—in both positive and negative ways.\n\nPhoto credit: [Michael](https://www.flickr.com/people/helloturkeytoe/)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, efficient and 100% online.  \n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3793103448275863,"src":"/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/14b42/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg","srcSet":"/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/f836f/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 200w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/2244e/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 400w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/14b42/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 800w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/47498/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 1200w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/0e329/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 1600w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/b160c/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.jpg 2686w","srcWebp":"/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/58556/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/61e93/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 200w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/1f5c5/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 400w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/58556/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 800w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/99238/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 1200w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/7c22d/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 1600w,\n/static/815f6fc4640e03ddfc19ba035213652e/13bf9/16b81defe00dc4f78a6c59176ff6c5ff.webp 2686w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2693-markdown","title":"Is It Really True That Marijuana Makes You Dumb?","slug":"is-it-really-true-that-marijuana-makes-you-dumb","content":"From _Fast Times at Ridgemont High_ to _Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle_, the stereotype of the stupid stoner has featured prominently in the media over the past several decades. But is there any truth to this portrayal? Does consuming marijuana make you dumb? The short answer is: no, not really.\n\nIn a study published last month in _JAMA Psychiatry_, University of Pennsylvania researchers found that a small reduction in cognitive functioning occurred in individuals who reported frequent marijuana use. However, those who abstained from cannabis for more than three days registered no significant change in memory, judgment or rational thinking.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\nThe study’s findings are based on a comprehensive review and meta-analysis of 69 studies conducted over the past 45 or so years involving adolescents and young adults. These cross-sectional studies included 2,152 frequent or heavy cannabis consumers along with 6,575 control subjects.\n\n### Previous Studies Showing Decline in IQ Due to Cannabis Are Off the Mark\n\nIn regard to the small reduction in cognitive functioning, researchers noted that it “may be of questionable clinical importance for most individuals. [R]esults indicate that previous studies of cannabis youth may have overstated the magnitude and persistence of cognitive deficits associated with marijuana use.”\n\nThose previous studies include a 2012 Duke University study comparing the IQs of individuals spanning the ages between 13 and 38; it concluded that heavy cannabis intake during adolescence and early adulthood was to blame for lowered IQs. That study has since been debunked as it didn’t take into account other key factors such as existence of trauma or abuse.\n\nRELATED: [DOES SMOKING MARIJUANA MAKE YOU STUPID?](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56d69af2a6d8a5000c00002c/does-smoking-marijuana-make-you-stupid)\n\n### Why Does Abstinence Bring the Cognitive Loss From Heavy Cannabis Intake to Zero?\n\nHelloMD’s Chief Medical Officer [Perry Solomon](https://www.hellomd.com/people/54cc02df6465320003000000/Perry%20Solomon,%20MD), M.D., echoes the researchers’ conclusions, by saying, “It’s interesting that, in fact, the study did show a small but significant overall decline in cognitive function, though this may not bear much weight. The more interesting part of the study is that abstinence lasting longer than 72 hours brings the loss [in cognitive function] to zero.”\n\nHe adds, “We need further studies to figure out why cognitive decline is negligible with abstinence. Does the effect of cannabis wear off, or is it due to some regenerative healing that results in no cognitive loss?”\n\nIndeed, additional research is needed to better understand exactly how cannabis interacts with and influences multiple systems in the body, including in the brain. So far, the preliminary research is proving to be promising. When it comes to marijuana’s therapeutic effects, they’re varied and abundant—from that of anti-inflammatory and analgesic to neuroprotectant and more.\n\nPhoto credit: [Sharon McCutcheon](https://unsplash.com/@sharonmccutcheon)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56201c206430320006bb0000/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/14b42/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg","srcSet":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/f836f/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/2244e/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 400w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/14b42/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 800w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/47498/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 1200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/0e329/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 1600w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/921b0/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.jpg 3593w","srcWebp":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/58556/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/61e93/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/1f5c5/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 400w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/58556/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 800w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/99238/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 1200w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/7c22d/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 1600w,\n/static/09be1a5d44728b404cb836945b718c01/f9cbb/6513a60c00e0042e0e2cf4c9e5cebf20.webp 3593w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2628-markdown","title":"How Cannabis Works to Protect & Repair the Brain","slug":"how-cannabis-works-to-protect-and-repair-the-brain","content":"For decades, anti-drug campaigns have portrayed cannabis as a risky substance that not only opens the door to abusing harder drugs, but also causes a long list of harmful effects—including permanent damage to memory and cognition. More recently, though, numerous studies from around the world are revealing that far from destroying brain cells, compounds in cannabis are both uniquely able to protect them and support the growth of new ones.\n\nNow, this new research shows that the [potent neuroprotective properties of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other cannabis compounds](http://norml.org/component/zoo/category/cannabis-and-the-brain-a-user-s-guide) may offer new hope for treating not only brain injury and neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis, but also Alzheimer’s and aggressive cancers in the brain and body.\n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Marijuana Compounds Protect the Brain & Nerves in Many Ways\n\nNeuroprotectants are agents that help to reduce damage to the brain and nervous system caused by injury, exposure to toxins, or inflammatory processes or disease states in the body. These agents also encourage the growth and development of new neurons. Neuroprotectants take many forms, ranging from vitamins and synthetic drugs to herbs and natural substances such as marine algae.\n\nNow, a variety of studies indicate that cannabis may be among the most powerful of these, thanks to its action on the body’s cannabinoid receptors and [its own anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties](https://echoconnection.org/cbd-has-antioxidant-and-neuroprotective-properties-what-does-that-mean).\n\nNeurological damage can come from direct injury, such as in head trauma or a stroke. It can be caused by exposure to toxic substances, including alcohol and nicotine, or by various processes that damage the protective sheaths surrounding nerves or the nerve cells themselves.\n\nBut the cannabis compounds cannabidiol (CBD) and THC can protect against many causes of nerve damage and help repair damage once it happens by preventing inflammation; stimulating the growth of new, healthy cells; and encouraging the death of malignant ones.  \n\nThe endocannabinoid system (ECS) is an extensive network of receptors primed to respond both to cannabinoid substances naturally produced by the body and to cannabinoids from outside sources, most notably cannabis itself. The ECS is directly or indirectly responsible for supporting a variety of systems and processes in the brain and many organs and tissues; this helps explain why [cannabis can have such a wide range of neuroprotective effects](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10863546). \n\n### Cannabis Supports Healing From Brain Trauma & Injury\n\nThe brain can be injured in a variety of ways. Stroke is caused either by a burst blood vessel or a blockage in a blood vessel, so that neurons controlling various functions such as memory or coordination are damaged and die. Traumatic brain injury is caused by an impact to the head, which can lead to brain swelling and bleeding—and the subsequent damage and death of cells in the area.\n\nIn a variety of studies, cannabis has been shown to reduce the damage to brain cells caused by these kinds of events. But [cannabis is also capable of encouraging the growth of new brain cells](https://www.jci.org/articles/view/25509)—a process called neurogenesis that until recently seemed impossible under any circumstances. \n\n### Cannabis Fights the Effects of Neurotoxins on Brain Cells\n\nNeurotoxins—substances capable of causing neurological damage—come in a variety of forms, such as industrial solvents, pesticides, certain kinds of drugs as well as the more familiar alcohol and nicotine. These substances can damage or kill brain cells that govern memory, movement and other processes. [Cannabis, particularly the compound CBD, appears to be able to protect nerve cells](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15837565C) against inflammation caused by toxic substances, particularly the brain damage that can accompany chronic alcohol abuse.  \n\n### Cannabis Eases Symptoms of Neurological Disorders\n\n[Cannabis shows promise in treating the symptoms of serious neurological disorders](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022510X05000778) such as Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotropic lateral sclerosis, or ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease). These and other neurological problems typically involve inflammatory processes that disrupt the regulation of neurotransmitters in the brain and cause problems with movement and coordination.  \n\nCannabis compounds, especially CBD, have both anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can help regulate the production of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, and reduce the severity of symptoms related to these kinds of disorders.\n\n### THC Fights Cancers of the Brain\n\nMuch of the research on the neuroprotective properties of cannabis has focused on CBD, which is non-psychoactive and strongly associated with supporting immune system functions and fighting inflammation. But psychoactive THC from the natural cannabis plant also has a role to play in protecting vulnerable cells—and, perhaps, in fighting some of the most aggressive and often untreatable cancers of the brain and other parts of the body.\n\nGlioma is a fast-growing, aggressive and mostly fatal kind of cancer that forms in the glial cells of the brain and, sometimes, the spinal cord. Because glioma is frequently inoperable, treatment options can be limited.\n\nBut [recent studies on the effects of cannabis on glioblastoma cell lines](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16078104?dopt=Citation) reveals that THC not only decreased the proliferation of malignant glial cells, it also triggered a process called apoptosis, or programmed cell death. In this process, THC was able to selectively target only the malignant cells, while ignoring the healthy ones. These preliminary findings support other research showing that cannabis may be able to target tumor development in the lungs, breast and other areas of the body.\n\n### A New Approach for Treating Alzheimer’s Disease\n\nOne of the [most promising areas for research on the neuroprotective properties of cannabis](https://www.alzheimers.net/6-15-15-effects-of-medical-marijuana-on-alzheimers/) comes in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease—a progressive form of dementia believed to be caused by the buildup of proteins called beta amyloid plaque in the brain. A recent study sponsored by the Salk Institute reveals that a different process may be at work—and cannabis is uniquely positioned to affect it.\n\nThe Salk study found that inflammation caused by plaque occurs in cells themselves, and cannabinoid-like compounds manufactured by those cells may prevent them from damage and death. Because these THC-like compounds can exert a protective effect, [cannabis, especially with a significant THC content, may be able to protect brain cells](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25024327) from inflammation and damage related to plaque. And because cannabis appears to help promote the growth of new neurons, it could be helpful in slowing the development of Alzheimer’s disease once it develops.\n\n### Cannabis’s Effect on Memory Appears to Be Temporary\n\nAnd the effect of cannabis on memory? In sharp contrast to the rhetoric of the old (and not so old) anti-drug campaigns, this effect appear to be minimal and transitory—if they’re felt at all. A number of studies reveal no lasting impact on memory and cognition from consuming cannabis, especially for therapeutic purposes. Research continues to reveal new ways that cannabis in all its forms can be a potent neuroprotectant with the power to support, not harm, nerves and cells throughout the body and brain.\n\nPhoto credit: [Daniel Hjalmarsson](https://unsplash.com/@artic_studios)\n\nIf you’re new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://hellomd.com/articles/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/jpeg;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3605442176870748,"src":"/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/14b42/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg","srcSet":"/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/f836f/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 200w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/2244e/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 400w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/14b42/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 800w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/47498/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 1200w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/0e329/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 1600w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/28567/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.jpg 4005w","srcWebp":"/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/58556/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/61e93/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 200w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/1f5c5/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 400w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/58556/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 800w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/99238/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 1200w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/7c22d/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 1600w,\n/static/a996b2bc9c7f8b478297487d7ed4d35c/b3373/c3aa5f36c0ee1fb972bd38651cd64683.webp 4005w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_1967-markdown","title":"Marijuana Found to Shrink Aggressive Brain Cancer","slug":"marijuana-found-to-shrink-aggressive-brain-cancer","content":"Those who are familiar with marijuana know there are a variety\nof medical applications, from treating\n[nausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b7eb226264330006320000/the-next-step-for-nausea-treatment-medical-marijuana)\nto helping to alleviate the symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders such\nas [Crohn's\nDisease](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/561d5de53233340006be0000/cannabis-shows-promise-in-treating-crohns-disease-and-colitis).\nToday, however, scientists are finding that medical marijuana, when used\nin conjunction with other forms of cancer treatment, is capable of\nshrinking some of the most aggressive forms of brain cancer known to\nscience. Here's what you need to know:\n\n**Cannabis as a Treatment for Glioma**\n\n[Glioma](http://www.abta.org/brain-tumor-information/types-of-tumors/glioma.html)\nis a form of cancer that develops in the supportive tissue of the human\nbrain. This tissue is designed to enhance neuron function and when a\ntumor begins to grow within it, the affected person experiences nausea,\nheadaches, vision changes, altered behavior and personality changes.\nPatients affected by glioma are subject to a bleak [5 percent survival\nrate](http://brain.oxfordjournals.org/content/130/10/2596) over three\nyears.\n\nUntil now, the treatment options for glioma have been limited to surgery\nand chemotherapy in the event of high-grade tumors. Today, however, this\nmay be changing. According to a [2014\nstudy](http://mct.aacrjournals.org/content/early/2014/11/12/1535-7163.MCT-14-0402.abstract)\nconducted by oncologist Wai Lu at St. George's University of London,\ncannabinoids like THC and CBD are highly efficient at destroying glioma\ncells. During a clinical study, Lu found that CBD and THC alone were\ncapable of killing roughly half of the glioma cells present in affected\nmice. When these cannabinoids were used in conjunction with\nradiotherapy, however, the treatment caused the tumors in several of the\nmice to stop growing entirely.\n\nAdditionally, Lu found that when THC and CBD were used together to treat\ntumors, researchers could use less of each compound and still achieve\nthe same effects. This is important because THC is psychoactive and can\ncause unwanted psychoactive side effects for people receiving treatment.\nFortunately, when combined with CBD, THC can be used in smaller doses\nand patients receiving treatment can reap the medical benefits of the\ncompound without any of the \"high\" feelings traditionally associated\nwith it.\n\n**How Cannabis Works to Treat Brain Cancer**\n\nWhile the results of Lu's study are exciting, researchers are still\nworking to figure out how, exactly, THC and CBD are producing these\neffects. According to Lu, the answer may be that the cannabinoids are\npreparing neural pathways for radiotherapy. \"We think that the\ncannabinoids are hitting a number of cell signaling pathways, which\nprimes them to the effects of irradiation,\" [Lu\nsays](http://www.medicaldaily.com/cannabis-shrinks-brain-tumors-associated-highly-aggressive-form-cancer-310720).\nOnce the cells have been primed, the ability of a tumor cell to rebuild\nitself is damaged and the tumor cells die as a result. The outstanding\nthing about this treatment, however, is that while THC and CBD have been\nshown to kill glioma cells, they don't produce any negative effects in\nthe healthy cell tissue surrounding the glial cells. In fact,\ncannabinoids may even [protect these\ncells](http://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/cam/hp/cannabis-pdq# cit/section_4.3)\nfrom damage.\n\nWhile the results of Lu's study are particularly exciting given the\naggressive and often-fatal nature of glioma, this is not the first\nevidence researchers have of cannabis being used to treat different\nforms of cancer. Cannabis contains upward of 85 different cannabinoids,\nand [previous\nstudies](http://www.nature.com/nrc/journal/v3/n10/abs/nrc1188.html) have\nshown that these cannabinoids are capable of killing various types of\ncancer cells. This research has given scientists a place to start when\nevaluating the use of CBD and THC for cancer treatment.\n\n**Marijuana and Cancer Prevention**\n\nIn addition to the recent findings that cannabinoids may be an effective\ntreatment for glioma, researchers have discovered over the years that\nmarijuana may also have powerful anti-tumor effects, which could stop\ncancer from ever forming in the first place. While the research isn't\nnew, it paved the way for further evaluations of the connection between\ncannabis and cancer. In one [1996\nstudy](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12594529?dopt=Abstract),\nresearchers found that lab mice given doses of THC over a two-year\nperiod experienced a decrease in the rate of certain cancers and benign\ntumors in areas such as the pancreas, uterus, testes and mammary tissue.\n\nMore recent research has shed some light on how cannabis produces these\neffects. According to a [2014\nstudy](http://www.jbc.org/content/early/2014/06/18/jbc.M114.561761)\npublished in the *Journal of Biological Chemistry*, THC acts on\ncannabinoid cell receptors to inhibit the interactions between them,\nthus decreasing the risk that cancer will form or interrupting cancer\nthat is already growing. Further research has shown that THC is capable\nof [decreasing the rate of lung cancer cell\ngrowth](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/04/070417193338.htm)\nby 50 percent as well as preventing pre-existing cancer from\nmetastasizing throughout the body. Studies have also shown that cannabis\nis capable of [killing brain cancer\ncells](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/279571.php). The\nanti-cancer benefits of cannabis are extensive and clearly noted, and,\nwhen used correctly, can help providers offer powerful cancer treatment\nwithout the dangerous and uncomfortable side-effects present in other\ntreatment options.\n\n**Moving Forward: The Future of Marijuana and Glioma**\n\nLu's 2014 study was groundbreaking in the world of glioma research and,\nwhile further research is needed to put his findings into action on a\nlarge scale, it's clear that cannabis may be more powerful than\nresearchers previously thought when it comes to treating aggressive\nforms of cancer. In addition to offering relief from many of the\nsymptoms associated with cancer and cancer treatment (such as [nausea,\nvomiting, pain and decreases in\nappetite](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/561ee4573632300006190100/medical-marijuana-helps-treat-undesired-effects-of-chemotherapy)),\ncannabis also boasts an extensive list of anti-tumor and cancer-treating\nproperties. These properties present huge opportunities for treatment to\ncancer patients and their families, and have the potential to alter the\nface of cancer treatment forever.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3513513513513513,"src":"/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/ee604/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png","srcSet":"/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/69585/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png 200w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/497c6/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png 400w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/ee604/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png 800w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/f3583/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png 1200w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/af768/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.png 1268w","srcWebp":"/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/58556/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/61e93/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp 200w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/1f5c5/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp 400w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/58556/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp 800w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/99238/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp 1200w,\n/static/3b881ad8d7a43397bc09a6cce0a9a75a/3938f/88557aa08f08fb0274bedc1684304a23.webp 1268w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2061-markdown","title":"Does Smoking Marijuana Make You Stupid?","slug":"does-smoking-marijuana-make-you-stupid","content":"It's a misconception that smoking marijuana makes you stupid or, in\nother words, that marijuana causes your IQ to decline. While this\nmisconception has been around for a long time, studies from prestigious\ninstitutions such as [Duke\nUniversity](http://www.pnas.org/content/109/40/E2657.abstract) that\npoint out a correlation only serve to further scare off people who could\nbenefit from marijuana. The reality is that reputable studies show\nlittle likelihood of a connection between smoking marijuana and a\ndecreased IQ, although they indicate other possible links to IQ\ndeclines.\n\n**Recent Studies**\n\nFlaws in the Duke University study quickly came to light. For example,\nthe study's findings were too preliminary to indicate a general truth,\nas only 38 of the 1,037 study participants used marijuana to the point\nthat they were diagnosed as addicted. The study also did not account for\nother [possible\nconnections](http://healthland.time.com/2012/08/28/does-weekly-marijuana-use-by-teens-really-cause-a-drop-in-iq/)\nto IQ declines such as trauma, abuse, and healthy or unhealthy family\nrelationships. In fact, a [follow-up\nstudy](http://www.pnas.org/content/110/11/4251.abstract) in 2012 pointed\nout that the Duke University study made no attempt whatsoever to look at\nthe implications of factors such as socioeconomic status, alcohol use\nand mental issues on IQ decline.\n\nTwo studies published in January 2016 indicate that there's no\nconnection between IQ and smoking marijuana. One study examined [2,235\nBritish children, aged 8 to\n16](http://jop.sagepub.com/content/30/2/159), while the other study\ncompared pairs of teenage American identical twins. One twin in each\npair smoked marijuana, while the other did not.\n\nThe twins study, which is actually a combination of [two twins\nstudies](http://www.pnas.org/content/113/5/E500.abstract), showed that\nthere was no noticeably different cognitive level between one twin and\nthe other. This held true no matter how heavy a cannabis smoker one twin\nwas. In order to qualify as a marijuana user, a twin had to have used\nmarijuana at least 30 times to date or every day for more than six\nmonths. Both types of siblings, smokers and nonsmokers, lost an average\nof four IQ points during the study. These results are powerful because\nthe DNA and similar upbringings of twins are a control for factors such\nas socioeconomic status. Interestingly, the study points toward the\nconclusion that middle-school children who are intellectually\nunder-challenged may be more likely to seek out marijuana. However, it's\nimportant to keep in mind that the twins self-reported their marijuana\nuse and IQ scores.\n\nThe study of British children controlled for extraneous factors and\nshowed that marijuana use prior to age 15 had no predictive effect on IQ\nor educational performance. In this study, about 25 percent of the\nchildren said they had tried marijuana at least one time, and almost 3.5\npercent had used it 50 times or more. Those who used marijuana heavily\ndemonstrated lower IQ scores and poorer educational performance, but\nafter researchers controlled for other variables, the marijuana\nassociation went away.\n\n**Positive Effects of Marijuana**\n\nThese study results are good news because marijuana has proven to be\nextremely helpful. For instance, it helps people better cope with pain\nranging from [chronic pain to menstrual\ncramps](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56cc9cf4bcf7810008000018/consuming-marijuana-every-day-the-pros-and-cons).\nIt also helps control blood sugar and weight gain, and sparks creativity\nin many people. It helps with [anxiety and\nstress](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-for-anxiety-and-stress-disorders)\nand even with PTSD. In cancer patients, marijuana not only alleviates\npain, it [increases\nappetite](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55b14a863330370006050000/loss-of-appetite-from-cancer)\nand [combats\nnausea](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55a5842c6636300006510000/marijuana-shows-promise-as-a-treatment-for-chemotherapy-induced-nausea).\n\n**Negative Effects of Marijuana**\n\nAs with any substance, marijuana does come with some negative effects.\nPeople who smoke it may have respiratory issues such as wheezing and\nchronic bronchitis. Marijuana smoke may also damage the lungs, and for\nthe above two reasons, many people who use marijuana every day choose\nvaporizers or edibles.\n\n**Perception of Marijuana and IQ: Then vs. Now**\n\nIn the United States in the 1980s and 1990s, anti-drug ads pointed to\nso-called negative effects of marijuana: laziness, stupidity and lack of\ngood judgment. Whenever marijuana smokers were shown in movies, they\ncommonly took the form of incoherent stoners with endless appetites.\nPerceptions are now changing, as marijuana gains legal and social\nacceptance. For example, nearly 70 percent of Americans believe [that\nalcohol is more\nharmful](http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/04/14/6-facts-about-marijuana/)\nto a person than marijuana is, and more Americans support widespread\nlegalization than are against it. [Medical\nmarijuana](http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/state-medical-marijuana-laws.aspx)\nis legal in about half of U.S. states, and marijuana use is legal to a\ncertain non-medical extent in several states as well. And, of course,\nstudy after study shows that people need not worry about hurting their\nIQ if they smoke marijuana.\n\n**What Does Lead to IQ Decline?**\n\nSo, if marijuana doesn't lead to IQ decline, what does? One answer may\ncome in the form of a mix of factors, such as socioeconomic status,\nmental illness, alcohol, hard drugs and other influences touched on by\nmarijuana studies. For example, the British study indicated that teenage\nmarijuana users are more likely to have had problems in childhood and to\nbe cigarette and alcohol users.\n\nRather than decrease IQ, marijuana use for many people helps them\nstretch their mental and physical muscles. For example, it makes them\nhappier and less anxious, putting them in a more creative mood. It\ndecreases their pain levels, enabling them to exercise when they\npreviously wouldn't have been able to. In turn, that exercise promotes\nblood circulation, and that's great news for a healthy brain and a\nhealthy body. So, from one perspective, marijuana actually boosts\nintelligence, albeit in an indirect way.\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3157894736842106,"src":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ee604/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png","srcSet":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/69585/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 200w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/497c6/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 400w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ee604/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 800w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/ea5e2/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.png 986w","srcWebp":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/58556/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/61e93/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 200w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/1f5c5/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 400w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/58556/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 800w,\n/static/0f91e8baf2720305a2c709d7949b5c02/457e0/3f42c7f3a77cb78da51efd1583bad40d.webp 986w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2002-markdown","title":"Does Marijuana Kill Brain Cells?","slug":"does-marijuana-kill-brain-cells","content":"We've all heard the refrain \"marijuana makes you stupid\" or \"cannabis kills brain cells,\" and at some point or another, many of us have wondered if it's true. But the truth is cannabis is a complex substance and many of its benefits are just now being uncovered.\n\nWhile some evidence to shows that excessive cannabis consumption can lead to difficulties with [learning and attention\nspan](https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8839-long-term-marijuana-use-may-fog-the-brain/), there's a great deal of information that proves cannabis can help—rather than hurt—the brain. Instead of killing brain cells, cannabis may actually stimulate the production of new ones. It can also block some of the negative effects of cognitive stress and protect consumers from various forms of dementia. Indeed, marijuana may actually benefit the human brain much more than researchers previously thought. \n\nFOLLOW US ON [FACEBOOK](https://www.facebook.com/pg/hellomdcompany/posts/) & [INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/hellomd_com/?hl=en)\n\n### Marijuana Can Help Create New Brain Cells \n\nUntil recently, it was thought that new brain cells stopped forming after a certain point in our lives. However, today, it's clear that our brains never truly stop growing. This process of brain cell creation is called [neurogenesis](http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Neurogenesis.aspx)—and it takes place throughout our lives. Many things can stimulate neurogenesis, and marijuana is one of them.\n\nAccording to an Italian study published in a 2013 issue of _Neurochemistry\nInternational_, there's a unique chemical contained in cannabis known as\ncannabichromene (CBC). CBC actually boosts the functionality and\navailability of developing brain cells. The study found that, [in\naddition to helping preserve the health of the brain by stimulating the growth of new brain cells](http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0197018613002106), CBC can also help protect against various cognitive disorders, such as depression.\n\n### Marijuana Can Protect the Brain From Stress\n\nStress is a major factor in [nearly all chronic\ndiseases](https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/10/071009164122.htm)—too much of it can easily have a negative impact on your health. Research has shown that, because stress actually [re-wires the way that the brain works](https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201402/chronic-stress-can-damage-brain-structure-and-connectivity), over time excessive stress is a significant risk factor for conditions such as depression and anxiety. Cannabis is anecdotally known as an effective stress reliever, and now scientists in Israel have found that certain chemical compounds within the plant can actually protect the brain from the effects of stress.\n\n\nAccording to the authors of a 2012 study published in the prominent journal _Neuropsychopharmacology_, [the cannabinoids that occur naturally in marijuana have the potential to protect the brain from certain stress-induced disorders]( http://www.nature.com/npp/journal/v38/n8/full/npp201351a.html). While researchers still aren't sure exactly how cannabis is able to do this, the study indicated that doses of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) improved short-term memory and learning capacity within study participants. Chronic stress is something many adults contend with, and this research is helping medical professionals understand what a powerful treatment marijuana may be for the harmful effects of excess stress.\n\n### In One Study, Marijuana Killed Brain Cells That Were Cancerous \n\nWhile brain cancer is relatively rare, the thought alone is terrifying to many people. Luckily for people who consume cannabis, research from a team of Spanish scientists has shown that [THC may shrink brain\ntumors](http://www.worldhealth.net/news/thc_initiates_brain_cancer_cells_to_dest/).\n\nThe study, which was conducted by Guillermo Velasco and his Complutense University colleagues, used mice inflicted with human tumors as study subjects. The researchers found that when the mice were administered with THC, the size of their tumors shrank significantly.\nThe study also included two human subjects with an aggressive type of brain cancer. After a 26- and 30-day treatment with THC, researchers found that THC was actually able to eliminate these subjects' cancer cells while leaving healthy brain tissue intact-so it seems that in some cases, marijuana does kill brain cells. \n\nWhile more research is needed to fully solidify the anti-cancer properties of marijuana, it's clear that cannabis may one day become a primary go-to for healthy, non-toxic brain cancer treatment.\n\n### Marijuana May Protect and Restore Brain Cells \n\nAlzheimer's\ndisease is a particularly aggressive form of dementia that robs people of their memory, cognitive abilities and behavioral patterns. It's currently the most common form of dementia known to doctors and doesn't have a cure. Though marijuana is not often associated with increasing memory, research published in _Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B_ has shown\nthat [cannabinoids contained within marijuana can help the brain restore damaged cells](http://www.worldhealth.net/news/marijuana-may-boost-brain-performance/), which can mitigate the effects of conditions such as Huntington's disease, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.\n\nA well-known\n[anti-inflammatory](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/medical-marijuana-as-an-aid-against-inflammation), marijuana exerts these restorative effects by slowing or decreasing the brain inflammation often associated with these conditions. This, combined with the fact that cannabinoids actually act as powerful antioxidants in the brain, renders marijuana a highly promising treatment for difficult cognitive disorders.\n\n### Evidence Suggests That Marijuana Doesn't Kill Brain Cells  \n\nWhile opponents of cannabis are quick to point out that marijuana damages the brain, many studies are now [debunking the myth that marijuana kills brain cells.](http://www.jneurosci.org/content/35/4/1505.abstract)  In fact, the cannabinoids found within marijuana may actually help rebuild them. From assisting in neurogenesis to protecting against cognitive decline and chronic stress, marijuana is a complex compound that offers a whole host of well-noted benefits. \n\nPhoto Credit: [Michael](https://www.flickr.com/photos/86939600@N00/459978059/in/photolist-ca34Fu-GDvsc-qVzNcB-bybf8L-oTqBrE-577kBi-7FXyDR-577km2-2db1o-2daTb-2db1m-577kPV-2db1n-2daXh-2db1q-2db1p-2daRh-2daRi-2daT6-2daV8-2daVa-2db2H-2daXd-2daRd-2db1k-2daXc-2shyzK-ohYVb-CMBfoB-ohYVc-fSnnQA-6v1Lr7-dNPx66-64nRA6-2daT8-2daXe-2daT7-2daRg-2daRe-2daRf-2daV9-2daXf-2daT9-2daVb-2daV7-2daTa-2daXg-2daVc-4ZPhnC-ohYVo)\n\nIf you're new to cannabis and want to learn more, take a look at our [Cannabis 101](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/cannabis-101-your-quick-guide-to-medical-marijuana) post. [HelloMD](https://www.hellomd.com/) can help you get your medical marijuana recommendation; it's easy, private and 100% online.  ","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4705882352941178,"src":"/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/ee604/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.png","srcSet":"/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/69585/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.png 200w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/497c6/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.png 400w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/ee604/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.png 800w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/2f01b/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.png 1001w","srcWebp":"/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/58556/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/61e93/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.webp 200w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/1f5c5/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.webp 400w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/58556/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.webp 800w,\n/static/7e6171afa3384a0aa84be47b9f31da35/177b8/6ec2a3847e6764ce63dc1737de5b3e0f.webp 1001w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2036-markdown","title":"Does Caffeine Improve Your Marijuana High?","slug":"does-caffeine-improve-your-marijuana-high","content":"For years, coffee and marijuana have gone together like Bonnie and\r\nClyde. Cannabis aficionados around the world have enjoyed sitting down\r\nfor a nice drag and a cup of joe at the same time -- believing that one\r\nwould inevitably enhance the other. So what's the connection between\r\nthese two things? Does drinking coffee actually enhance the effects of a\r\ncannabis high?\r\n\r\n**Caffeine and the Brain**\r\n\r\nCaffeine is the most popular drug in the world. Currently, [85 percent\r\nof the U.S. population](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24189158)\r\ndrinks a caffeinated beverage, such as tea, soda or coffee, every day.\r\nFound in everything from black coffee to root beer, caffeine is\r\nvirtually everywhere. What's more, people have been using the powerful\r\nstimulant for [hundreds of\r\nyears](http://www.toxipedia.org/display/toxipedia/Caffeine) to combat\r\nafternoon crashes and make waking up a little easier.\r\n\r\nContrary to what most people think, though, coffee doesn't actually\r\n*provide* energy. Instead, the chemicals found in coffee simply [block\r\nreceptors in the human\r\nbrain](http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/285194.php) from being\r\naffected by adenosine, the chemical that makes us feel tired. In this\r\nway, coffee gives the people who love it the strength to power through\r\nthe day.\r\n\r\n**Cannabis and the Brain**\r\n\r\nCannabis contains a complex system of cannabinoids, chemical compounds\r\nproduced by the cannabis flower that offer a wide array of medicinal\r\nuses. One of the most well-known cannabinoids goes by the name of\r\ntetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. THC is a psychoactive compound that bears\r\na close resemblance to anandamide, which is a naturally occurring\r\ntransmitter in the human brain. When cannabis is consumed, it interrupts\r\nthe brain's normal neural process to streamline thought and [enhance\r\ncreativity](https://www.ocf.berkeley.edu/~issues/articles/18.2_Talise_J_Marijuana_1.html).\r\n\r\n**The Monkey Study**\r\n\r\nIn a [2011 study](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3115444/)\r\nconducted by a branch of the National Institutes of Health known as the\r\nIntegrative Neurobiology Section of the National Institute on Drug\r\nAbuse, squirrel monkeys were granted free access to a lever that would\r\ngive them a hit of THC when pulled. They were also given access to a\r\nlever that dispensed MSX-3, a powerful form of caffeine. At first, the\r\nmonkeys in the study mixed and matched THC with the MSX-3. As the study\r\nprogressed, however, researchers noticed that the monkeys were using the\r\nTHC lever less and less as their concentrations of MSX-3 went up. In\r\nlight of this, researchers concluded that higher levels of caffeine in\r\nthe body interacted with THC in a way that allowed monkeys to consume\r\nless THC while still enjoying the same effect.\r\n\r\nIn addition to validating the connection between coffee and cannabis\r\nthat aficionados have known about for years, the study also found that\r\nwhen the monkeys consumed large amounts of caffeine in concert with high\r\nconcentrations of THC, they experienced more addictive symptoms, making\r\nit [more difficult for them to quit\r\nTHC](http://www.medicaldaily.com/drinking-coffee-and-smoking-pot-caffeine-dosage-impacts-marijuanas-effects-337848).\r\nWhile this data is limited to findings from animal studies, it's\r\npossible that this addictive behavior may be present in humans as well.\r\n\r\n**The Outcome**\r\n\r\nCurrently, the monkey study is currently the best body of data\r\nscientists have surrounding the topic of caffeine and cannabis. From it,\r\nresearchers deduced that while the chemicals in caffeine don't actually\r\ninteract with THC to *improve* a cannabis high, they can prolong it.\r\n\r\nWhen consumed together, coffee supplements the effect cannabis has on\r\nthe brain, thus prolonging the chemical high produced by the\r\npsychoactive compounds contained in cannabis. Because cannabis and\r\ncaffeine both trigger the reward centers of the brain, consuming them in\r\nconcert can be a very pleasant experience. Cannabis users should be\r\naware, however, that while marijuana addiction is very rare, it's\r\npossible that maintaining a heavy caffeine-and-cannabis routine can make\r\nit harder to put cannabis aside down the road.\r\n\r\nAs a side note. Some people are predicting that the marijuana market in the US will reach $60B; which is about 5 times larger than the market for coffee in the US (at $11B).\r\n\r\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/lupilis/8694008393/in/photolist-efg4Nr-9HjXYk-cB9YT9-CrJLGj-jddJoG-9yZmz6-9soRP4-eoQpwC-zpb9zz-9gREcB-fFTHCY-doygR6-dX3FvQ-8bYveY-oQxenm-naooin-df7q4x-ovHESs-jPCwG6-cbsvrd-ftX57f-gPyc64-e3bumP-jt85Yw-vQmKM-7Z7cAA-9hnXzF-b9Re3D-r3fNji-jGdpjR-dBJjYL-f5GS8Y-auuNAC-gm6wjo-duwZBF-e63s1h-cKCGJw-bndTkP-bwmawk-pq8z6t-qECPTE-cAZreS-oXsSR4-m3zrMt-RJEzr-duy4cH-nNWvAm-9WdE1E-dKyz98-csyXC5)\r\n","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.4285714285714286,"src":"/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/ee604/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.png","srcSet":"/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/69585/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.png 200w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/497c6/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.png 400w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/ee604/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.png 800w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/5ff0a/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.png 940w","srcWebp":"/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/58556/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/61e93/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.webp 200w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/1f5c5/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.webp 400w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/58556/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.webp 800w,\n/static/45673ff6da1781ee1a12100c71def50e/01a89/b7de0c4be4eeed247f0a8592fc5bf2e7.webp 940w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}},{"node":{"id":"Article_2046-markdown","title":"The Connection Between Marijuana and Anxiety","slug":"the-connection-between-marijuana-and-anxiety","content":"People familiar with marijuana know that the plant can have two very\ndifferent effects. Sometimes, people who consume marijuana feel\npleasantly mellow and anxiety-free. Other times, marijuana consumption\nresults in paranoid feelings that leave the consumer less than relaxed.\nMany people wonder how the same plant can produce two reactions that are\nso very different. The answer comes down to brain chemistry and each\nuser's individual experiences.\n\n**How Marijuana Affects the Brain**\n\nIn order to understand why marijuana sometimes causes relaxation and\nsometimes causes paranoia, it's important to understand how the\ncompounds contained in marijuana affect the human brain. When marijuana\nis consumed, the cannabinoids (such as THC) in the plant react with\nreceptors in the brain. Many of these receptors are located in the\namygdala, which is responsible for processing complex emotions such as\nstress, fear, and paranoia. As the cannabinoids react within the brain,\nthey influence the function of the amygdala, causing a series of\nemotions that can be either positive (relaxation and happiness) or\nnegative (paranoia and anxiety).\n\nIn some cases, cannabinoids like THC can overstimulate the brain,\nleading to feelings of paranoia and anxiety. This is especially common\nin people who are new to the use of medical marijuana. While nobody\nknows exactly why THC produces anxious feelings on some occasions but\nnot on others, one working theory is that the human body relies on a\nstore of natural endocannabinoids that act very similarly to the\ncompounds found in medical marijuana.\n\nThe brains of people who have suffered trauma or intense stress have\nbeen found to have lower levels of endocannabinoids. When individuals\nwith depleted endocannabinoid levels consume medical marijuana, the\ncannabinoids contained within the plant replenish the body's store of\nendocannabinoids, which produces a relaxing effect. This may offer some\nhint as to why marijuana makes some people feel relaxed and others\nanxious. While further research is needed to solidify this connection,\nresearchers are optimistic about the potential treatments that this\nconnection may pose for people suffering from mood disorders.\n\n**Marijuana and Anxiety**\n\nThe first thing to understand about the connection between marijuana and\nanxiety is that a consumer's pre-marijuana anxiety levels have a huge\neffect on post-marijuana anxiety levels. According to [a 2009\nreview](http://www.uniad.org.br/desenvolvimento/images/stories/arquivos/Cannabis_and_anxiety.pdf)\nof several prominent cannabis and anxiety studies, people who use\ncannabis frequently have higher anxiety levels than moderate users.\n\nAdditionally, these consumers generally show signs of anxiety disorders\n*before* they show signs of cannabis dependence. Upon further review,\nresearchers interpreted these results to mean that people who are\nnaturally prone to anxiety tend to use cannabis as a means to cope with\nthat anxiety. This theory lies in direct opposition to the theory that\ncannabis causes anxiety.\n\nWith those results in mind, however, it is important to remember that\nthe presence of anxiety is highly dependent upon many factors, including\nthe following:\n\n-   Family history\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Personality\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Gender\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   A consumer's personal history of paranoia or anxiety\n\nWhen a consumer uses cannabis on a regular basis, other factors like the\nfrequency of cannabis use and the dose consumed can affect anxiety\nlevels as well. With that being said, researchers have noted that people\nwho use marijuana on a regular basis actually see a decrease in anxiety\nlevels. As a general rule, new users or those who consume a high level\nof THC are more likely to experience marijuana-induced paranoia or\nanxiety.\n\n**Avoiding Paranoia and Anxiety When Using Marijuana**\n\nDespite the fact that marijuana and anxiety are highly individualized,\nthere are things consumers can do to avoid marijuana-induced spells of\nanxiety and paranoia. These include the following:\n\n-   Consumers who are new to marijuana or have experienced anxiety and\n    paranoia while using cannabis in the past should opt for a strain\n    that is low in THC and/or [high in\n    CBD](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56b4fec6ea6a2d000c000077/high-cbd-marijuana-strains).\n    Because CBD is non-psychoactive, it's likely to decrease anxiety and\n    produce a more relaxed and lucid experience.\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Regardless of whether a consumer is an experienced marijuana user or\n    not, it's important to be careful about doses while\n    consuming marijuana. As a general rule, it's more difficult to\n    control the dose of\n    [oils](https://www.hellomd.com/products/5c6c9b099fcb5d56b3f3df6d/wellness-cannabis-tincture)\n    and\n    [edibles](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56ce39abde99bd000c0000bb/how-to-make-marijuana-brownies-recipe)\n    than it is\n    [vaporizing](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/56b10a386d677f000b00007d/vaporizing-or-vaping-what-you-need-to-know)\n    or smoking. Consumers who have had poor experiences with marijuana\n    in the past should consider smoking or vaporizing and upping the\n    intake dose slowly to avoid uncomfortable episodes.\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   One of the best ways to avoid marijuana-induced anxiety and paranoia\n    is to always consume cannabis products in a comfortable and\n    calm space. Selecting to use these products at home rather than in a\n    crowded setting can help consumers reduce the likelihood of\n    marijuana-induced paranoia naturally.\n\n<!-- -->\n\n-   Consumers who are having difficulty avoiding anxiety even after\n    trying the above tips should consider changing the strain of\n    marijuana consumed. While this may seem like a simple tip, every\n    strain of marijuana offers a different selection of chemicals, which\n    affect the body differently. Consumers shouldn't be afraid to\n    experiment with [different\n    strains](https://www.hellomd.com/health-wellness/55d4c0dc6338310006000000/indica-or-sativa-making-the-right-choice)\n    to determine which ones work best for their personal preferences\n    and needs. When experimenting with new strains, consumers should\n    remember that Sativa strains generally produce a more active\n    experience while Indica strains are known to be more mellow\n    and relaxed.\n\nWhile marijuana-induced anxiety and paranoia do occasionally happen,\nthere are steps consumers can take to avoid these negative emotions. By\nbeing educated about how marijuana affects the brain and knowing what to\ndo to limit the risk of anxiety and paranoia, consumers can be proactive\nabout ensuring a positive marijuana experience every time.\n\n[Photo Credit](https://www.flickr.com/photos/aarontait/4838674414/in/photolist-8nztjW-5kvvMH-6nPdsQ-cHpX2U-7RcebZ-5GZ9gG-212Mh-8RfLJ6-2eoZM-5w7Yug-ZzSST-bmjrrW-aCZNJ8-5FjL5v-9pgCL-vadyu-bD2hug-vadyw-5fBjdX-9oFteL-59VJ6B-6bDkq8-4APEGb-4VdtNb-99ARHw-bAqUVa-s8iL6-3bNYMX-bnNUht-8f536s-AvTY1-kMkEz-5bU1W2-8LbqWZ-4FJL46-E6Ah6-8kRK6T-8pQUew-9Z95id-5SbiPY-5w9Cm5-8NTwV2-5XaTNt-4P4NsU-8FZhNo-4VdtN7-8kmdKZ-6CZwwt-4gVAQh-6U6qdZ)","image":{"childImageSharp":{"fluid":{"base64":"data:image/png;base64,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","aspectRatio":1.3888888888888888,"src":"/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/ee604/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.png","srcSet":"/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/69585/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.png 200w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/497c6/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.png 400w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/ee604/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.png 800w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/22700/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.png 914w","srcWebp":"/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/58556/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.webp","srcSetWebp":"/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/61e93/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.webp 200w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/1f5c5/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.webp 400w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/58556/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.webp 800w,\n/static/22cb299019a2bbd3be1e160ad19d6bfa/851bf/e63c76197dd32ac43740f55aaab18c5b.webp 914w","sizes":"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px"}}}}}]}},"pageContext":{"limit":12,"skip":0,"numPages":1,"currentPage":1,"id":5011,"name":"Brain","slug":"brain","country":"US"}},"staticQueryHashes":["3949754563","4179947113","4202924991"]}