To those who are new to cannabis, it may be a surprise that cannabis and positive mental health go hand in hand.
But low doses of THC or CBD have been shown to help some consumers with symptoms of anxiety. Cannabis can more safely provide an avenue of support for people struggling with alcohol or hard drug addictions. Cannabis can help some people with PTSD, it can help with nausea, and is well-studied in helping ease some forms of chronic pain.
Since May is national meditation day and national mental health awareness day, we are exploring some common mindfulness areas that may be enhanced with cannabis–yoga, meditation and a healthy diet.
But it’s not all good news. We’ll also explore areas where cannabis can harm mental health, to help you make informed decisions when it comes to whether cannabis can help or support you.
Yoga
Yoga is known for its calming affect on the body, which can pair perfectly with CBD since both calm the mind and relax the body, allowing the person to sink deeper into the pose and the practice.
Cannabis can increase sensory sensations and help a person be more present in their body, which works well in connecting with the yogic routine.
Calming the mind can support a person in focusing on their breath, which is a critical part of the yoga philosophy.
Yoga helps with pain and stress relief, and low doses of cannabis support that in many people’s bodies and minds.
RELATED: Everything You Should Know About Traveling with Cannabis
However, keep in mind that cannabis can be dehydrating, so if you are consuming before or during a workout, make sure to drink lots of water.
Since cannabis can be a wonderful form of pain relief, it can also create an opportunity for a person to overextend their body; and smoking can strain the lungs, which is counterintuitive to engaging in deep breathwork.
If you choose to partake as part of your yoga practice, choose an edible (or tonic) that is low in THC, focusing on CBD content.
Meditation
Many of the benefits in yoga exist in meditation as well. Cannabis helps calm the mind, relax the body and chill out the background noise. In one study, 66% of people felt cannabis supported them spiritually, and only 5% found it to be a detriment.
A psychoactive strain of cannabis can have obvious spiritual impact as it can radically change one’s perspective and enhance a sense of belonging or connection.
Similarly, Microdosing can be a wonderful way to bring cannabis into your meditation; some people prefer consuming after by using cannabis to transition their relaxation back into everyday life.
Diet
We’ve already touched on marijuana’s ability to heighten our sensory perception, which can be so helpful during mealtimes when bringing our awareness to our meals. Food is a sensory experience, and slowing down to savor our bites is a huge part of creating a healthy relationship with food.
In our diet culture, there’s an excessive focus on losing weight. But many people need to gain weight, or remember to eat consistently! Cannabis can be great at sparking appetite or increasing enjoyment when eating.
For individuals with stomach issues — such as IBD, celiac disease, or migraines that cause nausea — cannabis can be incredibly helpful in reducing nausea and supporting a healthy appetite.
How can cannabis can be bad for mental health?
Although more studies are needed, a general rule of thumb seems to be that low doses of THC or CBD are often good for you — but higher doses are more likely to be bad. Seems fairly intuitive, but a growing concern in the cannabis field is the potency increase in THC. Cannabis is becoming more concentrated — and edibles, dabs, and oils are even more likely to be concentrated, therefore more potent and dangerous.
Cannabis can cause negative changes in the prefrontal cortex, which can have worrying consequences for minors or even people in their early 20s. Even though cannabis is legal in Michigan for residents over 21, it may be wise to avoid heavy use while the prefrontal cortex is still developing.
Using too much, too soon, has been associated with an increased risk of developing mental health disorders — including depression and anxiety, but also bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
How much is too much? How soon is too soon? The data on that is mixed. But flower seems to be safer than edibles due to the potency question, and low-dose edibles are safer than high-dose edibles.
Essentially, all things in moderation.
