The Relationship Between Marijuana And Depression

b. Joe Messerli of Balancedpolitics.org, states, “There are a number of medical benefits of marijuana, most notably in the treatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy. Others believe it helps in the treatment of depression unlike alcohol.”

Also, marijuana can be seen as being addictive in nature. “Approximately 9% of individuals that use marijuana become addicted” (Marijuana Statistics). Marijuana contains many chemicals, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which can cause many positive and negative effects to the human body and brain. A major attribute for medical marijuana is the economic advantages that are produced from the distribution of the drug. Also, the legalization of medical marijuana can portray positive and negative outcomes for law enforcement. Therefore, medical marijuana has many positive effects, such as treatment for diseases, and negative effects, such as immune system suppression. Throughout this research paper, medical marijuana will be thoroughly explained to exemplify the advantages and disadvantages of legalizing the

Marijuana and Cocaine are both considered substance one types of drugs. There are multiple effects of the use of Marijuana and Cocaine in the United States. Marijuana is a drug typically smoked by teenagers and adults. People use Marijuana for medical reasons or recreational reasons. As for Cocaine, derived from the leaves of the coca shrub is an abused illegal drug (Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th edition, Q1, 2017). In the United States Marijuana and Cocaine have been around in numerous states, such as, New York and Colorado. This will be a discussion about Marijuana and Cocaine’s emotional, psychological and physical effects.

Using marijuana has been connected to paranoia, anxiety, depression, short-term forgetfulness, lung cancer and even heart attacks. It can complicate medical conditions like liver disease, low blood pressure, or diabetes. Some people use it to calm their anxiety or to escape their problems, but research shows a link between marijuana use and mental health problems (Web MD).

Today in America, millions of American citizens are both confused and outraged by the fact that there are still laws that are preventing people from using one of the most popular and controversial, illegal substances in the world: marijuana. According to recent polls, fifty percent of Americans want marijuana to be completely legal and decriminalized (Blodget), and a whopping eighty percent of Americans want it to be at least legalized for medical use (RangelMD). So why do so many Americans want marijuana to be legalized? To some this question can be easily answered, but to others, it’s not so simple. There are way too many reasons to count why

Marijuana is also much less harmful than addictive drugs, such as cocaine and heroin (“Office of National” 4). Some skeptics may say that this is an instance of replacing one drug with another. However, marijuana has been proven to be non-addictive and to alleviate many symptoms for people suffering from mental and emotional disorders (Musto 1-9). Researchers note that cannabis, more commonly known as marijuana, may effectively treat a number of different physical and mental ailments, including post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, and depression (“Office of National” 3). Research shows the benefits of using marijuana to help in successfully treating mental illnesses.

According to the authors, recent studies have shown that there is another compound in marijuana that is increasing the attention of both scientists and medical marijuana providers known as cannabidiol, or CBD. CBD is not an intoxicating product, and does not produce a high when alone, but some researchers claim it may calm the anxiety produced by THC. Some research suggests that marijuana with a better balance between CBD and THC is less risky than the high-THC, low-CBD strains that now dominate the upper end of the marijuana market (Caulkin 9). With scientists discovering the new compound CBD, it makes them more interested in doing further research in order to discover more roles of other compounds

The body naturally produces these compounds, which are similar to the chemicals in cannabis. Reduction of endocannabinoid production is one reason why chronic stress is a major risk factor in the development of depression. The research team at the university administered marijuana cannabinoids to the rats, finding it to be an effective way to restore endocannabinoid levels in their brains, alleviating some symptoms of depression. In addition, the university that found synthetic cannabinoids activated the part of the brain associated with traumatic memories in rats, preventing the behavioral and physiological symptoms of PTSD. The article notes that depression is such a complex mental disorder as well as alleviating it with cannabis. Because of the lack of testing on the relationship between cannabis and depression, there is no 100% statement claiming that marijuana can help depression in human trials, although there are promising lab tests on rats.

Available scientific evidence indicate that marijuana contain a useful chemical that treats several mental disorder illnesses. The useful purpose of this drug has prompted a long standing debate as

When a receptor receives information, it causes changes in the nerve cell. The chemical in marijuana that has a big impact on the brain is called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). It is the main active chemical in marijuana. Scientists recently discovered that some areas in the brain have a lot of THC receptors, while other have very few or none. These clues are helping researchers figure out exactly how THC works in the brain.

Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), also known as delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol is the main psychoactive substance found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis isn’t just a single drug molecule, like alcohol or cocaine, but a mix of over 420 different chemical components. 61 of the called cannabinoids are unique to marijuana. THC is the chemical that triggers cannabis’ main drug action and effects in the body and brain. THC is like a feel-good chemical bomb that explodes on contact, and then breaks up into at least 80 different by products (or metabolites) before it’s eliminated from the body. The process starts as soon as THC enters the blood stream, and begins zeroing in on cannabinoid receptors in the brain and central nervous system Once it checks into the brain, THC takes its own time in checking out. Unlike many other drugs, which are excreted from the body within hours, THC metabolites stick around--stored

Depression is a widespread issue in today’s world. It can be caused by abuse, conflict, a sudden change in one’s life, and much more. The number one cause of depression is stress. Cannabis, or marijuana, has been used to treat depression dating back to the year 1621 with doctors in India using it to treat depression in their patients. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, was shown to change negative images or emotions in the minds of the patients who smoked marijuana. Many patients stated that it took them to another world, a place where they felt comfortable and the feeling of depression was obsolete. The sad part is that since marijuana is still classified as a

It's likely that the genetic, environmental or other factors that trigger depression also lead to marijuana use. Some people with depression may use marijuana as a way to detach from their depressive symptoms. Heavy users may appear depressed as a result of the dulling effects of the drug on feelings and emotions.

The principal psychoactive constituent in marijuana, THC, produces the sensation of being stoned by binding to receptors in the brain. One of these receptors is known

Many regions of the brain contain cannabinoid receptors, of which anandamide molecules, concerned with regulating mood, appetite and emotions, naturally bind to. Cannabis contains an active ingredient known as ‘delta-9-tetrahydrocannabonic’ (THC), and when smoked or eaten, the THC imitates the activity of anandamide by binding to cannabinoid receptors on nerve cells, and therefore influences