H E A LT H & WEL L NESS
Is There a Role for Medical Marijuana for Helping Anxiety Symptoms? By Joseph C. Maroon, MD, FACS
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n July of this year, Pennsylvania’s Department of Health added anxiety to the list of qualifying conditions for the state’s medical marijuana programs. With this approval the Department noted that patients with anxiety should consult with health care providers to see if medical marijuana would be beneficial. This is always good advice to follow. They also noted the recent expanded research now demonstrating its benefits for anxiety. So, what do we know about role of medical marijuana for anxiety? Again, as the Department of Health noted, cannabis with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and high cannabidiol (CBD) is more effective for treating anxiety. Additionally, some studies have shown high concentrations of THC can actually lead to increased anxiety and paranoia. This statement and research on medical marijuana
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OCTOBER 2019 | www.northernconnectionmag.com
has consistently reported the molecule CBD, found in both marijuana and hemp plants, is strongly linked to the reported anxiety relief benefits.
Anxiety a Major Problem in the US
The approval for the treatment of anxiety by the Department of Health has been advocated for by both patients with anxiety and their healthcare providers as a possible non-prescription drug way to treat this oftendisabling condition. According to the CDC, the most common mental illnesses in US adults are anxiety and mood disorders affecting nearly 40 million American. In a report from 2010, 11% of middle‐aged women (ages 45‐64) and 5.7% of middle‐aged men were on an anti‐ anxiety drug(s). Large population studies have also shown (Continued on page 22)