Rino Supply
Cake Pop
Ripple
Cherry Diesel, Durban Kush #8, Muffinz Breath #1, Yuk Mouth
Rocky Mountain Cannabis
Rocky Mountain Cannasol
Strawberries N Cream, White 99
Rocky Road
Cake Pop, Gastro Pop #4, Unicorn Poop, Veritas Cookies, White 99
Roots RX
Gastro Pop #4, Sour Diesel, Unicorn Poop
Roots Rx
Bananaghani, Cake Pop, Cherry Diesel, Durban Kush #8, FUN, Gastro Pop #4, Muffinz Breath #1, Slurricane, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Strawberry Shortcake, Triangle OG, WOF, White 99, Yuk Mouth
Solace Meds
Cereal Barz, Slurricane, Space Gello
Star Buds
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel
TGS
, Big Bubba Diesel, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Garlic Breath, Gastro Pop #4, Gelato 41, Lava Breath #2, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, Peking Duck #6, Pineapple Blast, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Super Sour Lemon, Unicorn Poop, White 99
The 404 Dispensary
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, El Chivo #4, Lava Breath #2, Malibu Mirage, Slurricane, Veritas Cookies
The 64 Store
Forza Sans Souci #4, Gastro Pop #4, Super Sour Lemon, Triangle OG, Unicorn Poop
The Dispo
Cereal Barz, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Gastro Pop #4, Miracle Alien Cookies, RUN, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Super Sour Lemon, Triangle OG, WOF, White 99
The Happy Camper
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, Cake Pop, Forza Sans Souci #4, MIL, Muffinz Breath #1, Sour Rado, Super Sour Lemon, Veritas Cookies
Tumbleweed
, Durban Kush #8, Miracle Alien Cookies, Peach Crescendo #2, Strawberries N Cream, Unicorn Poop, White 99
Twin Peaks
Gastro Pop #4
A Cut Above
Big Bubba Diesel, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Gelato 41, Sour Diesel, White 99
ANNA
El Chivo #4, Malibu Mirage, RUN, Veritas Cookies
BUDS LTD
Durban Kush #8, Strawberries N Cream, White 99
Berkeley Dispensary
Miracle Alien Cookies
Best High
, Bananaghani, Gastro Pop #4, Sherb Crasher, Unicorn Poop
Blue Heron
Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, White 99
Buku Loud
Bananaghani, Durban Kush #8, Peach Crescendo #2, Sherb Crasher
COS Confidential
El Chivo #4, Forza Sans Souci #4, Muffinz Breath #1, RUN, Slurricane, Space Gello, WOF
Canna Cabinet
Big Bubba Diesel, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Gastro Pop #4, Lava Breath #2, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, OZ Kush, Pineapple Blast, RUN, Sour Diesel, Strawberries N Cream, Triangle OG, Unicorn Poop, White 99
Cannabicare
Frozen Dessert, Gastro Pop #4, RUN, Sour Diesel, Sueno
Cherry Peak
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, Cake Pop, Cereal Barz, Cherry Diesel, Cherry Punch, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, FUN, Forza Sans Souci #4, Gastro Pop #4, Gelato 41, Grape Gasoline S1, MIL, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, Peach Crescendo #2, RUN, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Sunset Drive, Super Sour Lemon, Triangle OG, Unicorn Poop, Veritas Cookies, White 99
Colorado Harvest Company
Bananaghani, Cereal Barz, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Gastro Pop #4, Gelato 41, Malibu Mirage, Strawberries N Cream, Veritas Cookies, White 99
Euflora
, Dosilato #8, Durban Kush #8, Super Sour Lemon, Veritas Cookies
Herbal Healing
Big Bubba Diesel, Gelato 41, Lava Breath #2, Malibu Mirage, Veritas Cookies
Higher Grade
FUN, Forza Sans Souci #4, OZ Kush, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane
Kika Kush
Malibu Mirage, Sour Diesel, Triangle OG, Veritas Cookies
Kind Meds
Cake Pop, Muffinz Breath #1, Yuk Mouth
Kush Masters
Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, White 99
Livgreen
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, Cake Pop, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, FUN, Gastro Pop #4, Grape Gasoline S1, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, Sherb Crasher, Strawberries N Cream, Triangle OG, Veritas Cookies, WRZ, White 99, Yuk Mouth
Lucky Monkey Buds
Forza Sans Souci #4, Muffinz Breath #1
Magnolia Road
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, Cake Pop, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, Forza Sans Souci #4, Frozen Dessert, Lava Breath #2, MIL, Malibu Mirage, Muffinz Breath #1, OZ Kush, Peach Crescendo #2, RUN, White 99
Magnolia Road
Bananaghani, Big Bubba Diesel, Cake Pop, Cereal Barz, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, FUN, Forza Sans Souci #4, Gastro Pop #4, MIL, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OZ Kush, Peach Crescendo #2, Peking Duck #6, RUN, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Space Gello, Strawberries N Cream, Sueno, Super Sour Lemon, Triangle OG, Unicorn Poop, Veritas Cookies, White 99
Makena
Bananaghani, Cereal Barz, Slurricane, Space Gello, Wedding Crasher
Native Roots
Bananaghani, Cake Pop, Cereal Barz, Cookies N Cream, Durban Kush #8, El Chivo #4, FUN, Forza Sans Souci #4, Frozen Dessert, Gastro Pop #4, Lava Breath #2, Malibu Mirage, Miracle Alien Cookies, Muffinz Breath #1, OZ Kush, Peach Crescendo #2, Peking Duck #6, Pineapple Blast, RUN, Sherb Crasher, Slurricane, Sour Diesel, Sour Rado, Space Gello, Strawberries N Cream, Super Sour Lemon, Triangle OG, Unicorn Poop, Veritas Cookies, WOF, Wedding Crasher, White 99
Peak North
Bananaghani, Cake Pop, Gastro Pop #4, Grape Gasoline S1, Super Sour Lemon, Veritas Cookies

February 23, 2021

Cannabis and Anxiety: Exploring the Science and Strains

Many people find that cannabis relieves symptoms of anxiety, but unlocking these benefits requires careful navigation so that you donโ€™t take a wrong turn.

When it comes to anxiety, cannabis has the potential to be quite beneficial, but there are a lot of variables at play. Many consumers find that a smoke sesh, tincture, or well-timed edible is just the ticket for keeping symptoms of anxiety at bay. For others, weed can temporarily send them into spiraling worries or paranoia.

However, treating โ€œcannabisโ€ as a monolith either way is problematic. Delving into ratios of cannabinoids and terpenes, and exploring the qualities of various strains can pay dividends for those wondering if cannabis is good for anxiety, including people who have had negative experiences with cannabis products in the past. 

Itโ€™s all about being self-aware and recognizing what works for you and what doesnโ€™t, whether itโ€™s the strain or the settingโ€”or both. 

Is Cannabis Good for Anxiety? Hereโ€™s the Research

While cannabis can have a range of effects when it comes to anxiety, it makes for an effective chill pill for many people. Thereโ€™s no shortage of anecdotal reports of people utilizing cannabis to combat anxiety, particularly social anxiety.

Research published in 2020 hints at the neurological basis for how cannabis can provide mental relief effects. Scientists identified a certain molecule, 2-AG, that temporarily blocks the connection between the frontal cortex, associated with conscious processing, and the amygdala, a brain area highly associated with anxiety and stress responses. Researchers have found that this connection is stronger in people with clinical anxiety, and the neural receptors that respond to 2-AG are also activated by cannabis. 

While speculative, the finding points to a neurological explanation of how cannabis can relieve anxiety by keeping the amygdalaโ€™s signals from disrupting the frontal cortex.

A study out of the University of Washington found that THC lowered anxiety at low doses and raised it at higher doses, while CBD lowered anxiety at any associated dose. But thereโ€™s a lot going on in cannabis beyond THC and CBD. The study authors acknowledge: โ€œAs a plant, marijuana is composed of more than 500 chemical substances. Only a fraction of these have been studied.โ€

In-depth clinical study of the interplay between these myriad compounds and how the human body interacts with them, known as the entourage effect, is still in the early stages. But scientists are laying the groundwork for further study of the mechanisms of cannabis and anxiety.

What Are the Best Cannabis Strains for Anxiety?

Cannabis affects different people in different ways, and thatโ€™s doubly true when it comes to anxiety. 

As you consider aiding your anxiety management with cannabis, consider what amplifies or quells your symptoms. Are they activated by spiraling thoughts? Physical discomfort? Certain social situations? Also consider what alleviates those anxious thoughts. Feelings of wellbeing? A meditative state? Physical relaxation? Answering these questions will help steer you in finding cannabis strains that improve your mindset.

Because high-THC sativa strains are more likely to spark anxious thoughts in some people, at Veritas we recommend indica or indica-forward hybrids in our Alleviate and Rejuvenate categories, as these tend to have a nice mellowing effect, and starting with modest doses. If you find thatโ€™s the type of feeling you want, try different doses and strains in that same category. 

Here are a few of our personal favorite strains in the Alleviate and Rejuvenate categories, and why we like them: Sunset Animal promotes feelings of tranquility, as do other indica-dominant strains like Sundae Float and La Kush Cake. If youโ€™re looking for more of a boost of positive energy and sunshine, try Animal Mints or Papaya Cake. The First Cut exclusive Old Family Purple features the parent strain Purple Urkle, which many have found to be helpful for anxiety relief. 

When it Comes to Cannabis and Anxiety, Stay Mellow

Experienced cannabis consumers can often navigate based on their own past experiences, but for people who are less practiced, or who have recently developed anxiety issues, the key is to take it slow. 

Start with low-THC strains at modest dosages, and change course as needed and desired. When you're in new mental territory, take it one step at a time. That gives you the best chance of finding where you want to go.
Learn more about Veritas strains and cannabinoids on our blog.

Donate to Last Prisoner Project

$