Medical Marijuana Blog

An unbiased discussion on all aspects of Medical Marijuana.

Monday, May 29, 2006

Marijuana and Depression

Should marijuana be used to treat people with depression?

Or should marijuana be used in the short and or long term fight against depression.

Alternatively you may feel that marijuana should not be prescribed for depression, people think marijuana can make you feel depressed.

posted by Mark Levins @ 7:28 PM  

26 Comments:

  • At 1:15 PM, Blogger babybluesUSA said…

    YES. I believe that marijuana can help a great deal with depression, also countering medical side effects of many drugs created to deal with cancer. I have been diagnosed with major depression and although I don't smake as I used to, pot helps a great deal coping with a stressful day, episode with kids. Marijuana is an herb that has been growing on this earth long before we were here and there is a reason for everything . American Indians have known of marijuana uses and put it through the tests that rsult in a tried and true process that can't be equalled to the FDA. Everyones body is different so to speak and what works for one might not work for another. I know many people suffering and those that have been treated for cancer..they all agree. Marijuana can be used for many useful medical purposes.

     

  • At 3:46 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I believe that marijuana is a very useful drug that is judged way too often. It can aid in many illnesses to alleviate pain, such as glaucoma, depression, menstrual cramps (my choice:), AIDS, cancer, and the list goes on. I have been smoking for 14 years and I have felt no side effects that are harmful to me. I don't feel that marijuana is a cause of depression and I feel that much better while smoking. I have to admit that it is my first choice for any ache or pain that I may encounter. I feel very strongly about the legalization of marijuana for medicinal and other purposes, therefore, I have chosen to research this issue further.

     

  • At 4:21 PM, Anonymous ar13mka said…

    Depression...such a terrible feeling...being so bad and knowing that nobody can help you,needing nothing, you're like betrayed molested child that has lost the way in the dark forest...hate being depressed, hate being hated by all others that surround me when i'm bad, all others that can't do anything for me to feel better...but there's one thing that really helps, helps to feel better and to forget for a while all the pain and hatered, it's like super chance to feel free. Yes, it is marijuana, used for medical purposes. If you are bad, and can do nothing to kill the pain and all the stupid unneded thoughts that strike your head, try it as millions people worldwide and you'll understand the real happyness being free of all this filth.

     

  • At 7:39 PM, Blogger hlndr said…

    Any drug will enhance whatever the person taking it is feeling if they let it. I'm a firm believer that no one or nothing makes you feel anything. No one or nothing has that great a power over us. What we feel, we make outrselves feel. So if someone chooses to be depressed and doesn't want to feel happy...then no drug in the world is going to help. Personally....I'd hate to waste a nice buzz on being depressed. That's just a waste of good pot.

    But that's just my opinion.


    ***********************************

    ***Some mistakes are just too much fun to make only once***

     

  • At 11:02 PM, Anonymous John K. Ritchie said…

    I agree with babybluesusa @ 1:15pm and with anonymous @ 3:46pm however too much cannabis too soon makes me first very fearful; paranoid. But just enough gently is really beautiful as it enhances music and art of all kinds. I recall listening to some classical music when stoned and sleepy and it sounded like it was straight from heaven. Food tastes so much more exciting; lemon juice to the back of the throat is very pleasant; tinned peaches straight out of the tin chewed slowly; lentil soup someone else cooked, all really good tasting. And backache and anger always goes. But once or twice if I have had too much in too short a time (say four pipes in 20 minuits which is not a lot for some but I had an out of body experience with cannabis resin in tobacco the first time I got really stoned without a whitey* happening; saw the candle flame clearly through this young woman's solid body as I raced back to my own body from a starfield in deep space.) I only very rarely have a bad time with all kinds of unpleasant thoughts instead of getting the giggles if I was really sad when I decided to get stoned. Like a dear friend and lover died recently and I had a real tough time getting into a pleasant frame of mind as I got more and more stoned.
    But taken slowly I just love the uphoria that cannabis resin gives me.
    * A whitey:- so called because of the colour us white skinned folk go, all same very pale and sickly looking. The first one I ever had was in prison. I was gate happy and had become really impossible to live with on account of my compulsive cleaning of the wing washrooms. So two wing mates gave me two 3 skinners and a bucket all to my self. Well I thought I was dieing; diorea, vomiting, and a flop sweat cleansed my body and once it was over I felt sooo much better than before I got stoned. Happy, funny, and randy as a goat. So I made love to myself and the orgasm was probably the best DIY I've known before or since. I was still stoned the following morning at work in the prison laundry, which caused a few shocked retorts from folk who judged me double squeek clean.
    As to 'ar13mka 4:21 PM' declamations of such intensity just show how benificial the weed can be for some of us.
    My experience with bush is too limited to give a good reckoning and my experience of black leb was also too short lived to make any other statement than "CANABIS IS GOOD FOR PEOPLE. LEGALISE IT IN THE UK" please oh! pretty please.

     

  • At 10:09 AM, Anonymous surge said…

    I think cannabis may cause depression in some people. Although I only get depressed when I run out of cannabis

     

  • At 7:52 PM, Anonymous John said…

    Well, if you carefully study the research, you will find that this is perhaps the most significant potential use of marijuana.....
    What does marijuana do?
    If it does anything, it is a mood elevator.
    So, what better place to start the consideration?
    Current research is starting to focus upon the potential of marijuana for treating depression, but progress is slow.... due to the ludicrous laws surrounding marijuana in many countries....
    Myself, I have suffered with acute clinical depression for many, many years. I have tried numerous pills and potions from my Doctor, all either did not work, or the side effects were terrible: 3stone{40 lbs} wait gain, impotence and feeling like a zombie are some of the effects.
    Two and a half years ago I stopped drinking {alcohol} as it had become a problem.... since then, quite by accident, I noticed that I was beginning to manage my depression through smoking marijuana - this has been effective.
    So, I decided to give growing a try.....
    Currently, I am bailed and awaiting Court: I live in Scotland, UK, and my outdoor crop in my back garden was removed last November by 13 Police officers...... I am charged with Production and Supply. 14 years in gaol.......?
    I reckon that, if it goes to court, I can mount a substantive case for medical use, and necessity.
    But, things are really shitty at present - all my bank accounts are frozen, my car, motorcycle and house are arrested also..... I have not been able to get a penny of my Incapacity Benefit since November last year, and the Police wont allow me to get my teachers pension in full.......
    I have NEVER sold drugs. I am NOT a drug dealer.
    But, I am now guilty until I can prove myself innocent - I have to prove I did not do something I have never done.......
    So much for Justice...........
    I would welcome any serious correspondence regarding either depression or my legal difficulties.

     

  • At 2:32 AM, Anonymous J said…

    Cannabis (Marijuana) is an excellent tool for SOME combatants of anxiety and depression. Take my case.

    As I wrote in a recent blog here I smoke marijuana medically thanks to the great state of California, USA.

    Without marijuana I turn into a non-productive hermit.

     

  • At 3:48 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I use it occasionally to manage depression and anxiety, in addition to arthritis pain that can become overwhelming. Typically, doing the nightly clean-up is very frustrating for me. I have ADD as well, so that coupled with the depression and anxiety makes things like keeping the household up to high standards difficult. I can't normally put mess of any sort into perspective. Instead of the few easy-to-handle things that is reality, I instead see a huge, intimidating, tangled mess that would take days to get through.

    Anyway, after having a little bit to smoke, only a few tokes, I get through the evening housecleaning as well as planning out my next day quite well, lay out any ingredients that need to defrost, just generally doing what I should for the household to run smoothly all the time, and have no trouble getting to sleep once I'm done (I have frequent insomnia).

    It's very nice because I use the full effects of being able to think and focus better to make my entire week better, all out of just a few hours of the altered state of mind. I think it's also made it more clear that I have a real depression problem, because I've realised that I shouldn't have to smoke something to feel 'normal'. So I'm checking into options now to work on my depression at least. Actually, I've only recently (in the last several months) started it. I'd put it away long ago as something from my 'wayward youth' days.

    I think it should be avalible and legal, at least for medical use, everywhere. My biggest worry is getting in trouble.

     

  • At 4:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    fully understand the comments of those that have struggled with depression, and now find that they get some benefit from smoking a moderate amount of marijuana. Glad to see that some areas of the world have been moving toward passing more rational and reasonable marijuana laws.... it is about time!

     

  • At 10:21 PM, Blogger Corey said…

    im started smokin at 15 and now im 17 and i smoke everday so make it legal before i get lock up and then i cant smoke!!!!!!!!!!

     

  • At 6:43 AM, Anonymous Christmas Raven said…

    The subject is whether cannabis "should be prescribed", short term and/or long term for treatment of depression.

    No rigorous scientific studies have been conducted into whether cannabis is effective as a treatment for depression, and what its side effects are.

    The scientific community is bound by its principles of experimental research to remain uncommitted until these studies are performed. It has no choice.

    So, from a scientific point of view the answer to the question is no, cannabis should not be prescribed for depression until proven effective.

    As a result, medical research into cannabis research is stalled. Cannabis can't be a prescription drug until it is studied, and governments won't fund these studies.

    There is also no scientific basis showing that cannabis is harmful or impairs safety and should be illegal or restricted.

     

  • At 1:47 AM, Blogger Joshua said…

    Marijuana is not a cure for depression which is a mental health disease. The chemical in one's brain has a typical level of the chemicals that allow you to feel happy.
    these chemicals are dopamine, cerotonin, and noreponephrine. when one takes heroin, the level of one of these chemicals sky rockets to an amount unobtainable with out substance which is why it creates a temporary euphoria. the comedown from a drug such as heroin or LSD is horrendous because the user desires that feeling at which the neurotransmitters and chemicals are at such high speeds and levels. like heroin, smoking marijuana raises the levels of chemicals in your brain, although not to the same extreme) When someone is depressed, there is a chemical unbalance in their brain that prevents them from feeling the state of happy. an example: if i was depressed, i have a lower level of those chemicals in my brain so it is more difficult for me to feel happy. when a depressed person introduces marijuana into their brain it sends them to the level of being happy, (this is a possible outcome but each human responds differently). when they comedown from the drug, they are left with an even lower level of those three chemicals making it harder to feel happy. this is possibly why there is a higher chance of suicidal tendencies and depression in pot smokers.

    just my thoughts.
    despite whether or not it becomes legal, it should not be used for an ailment to treat depression. there are effective, FDA approved medicines to do that.

     

  • At 6:35 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    does nobody in this world understand.....all these FDA approved medicines for depression anxiety and pain have so many side effects....read the pill bottles....may cause heart attack stroke heart failure breathing problems etc. why would u want to take a pill that has a chance of killing u it doesnt make any sense.....i suffer from depression anxiety and anger problems....ive tryed those "medications" such as xanax colonapin seroquil cymbalta etc. andevery one of them has side effects that make me like a zombie i dont want to move i dont want to do anything some of them even make my problems worse.....when i smoke a joint i feel incredible.....no being angry no depression no anxiety i feel normal after smoking pot.... i myself do not label marijuana as a "drug" to me its more like a miracle if i was never introduced illegally to pot i would still be suffering badly from all 3 of my problems the government has labeled marijuana as an illegal substance....what makes it so illegal the side effect of red eyes....its naturally grown it wouldnt be on earth if god had never created it there is reasons for everything and marijuana has its reason to....to help people with problems to make people feel better about themselves.....let me place an example out there: deaths from alcohol in a year are in the 600,000s deaths from ciggarettes are right up there with alocohol, now these r "legal" substances i dont see alocohol and ciggarettes being a reason to arrest people.....its just stupid because there arent any deaths from marijuana use....so why arent ciggarettes and alcohol made illegal and marijuana legalized it just doesnt make any sense to deprive tax paying citizens of feeling good about thereselves just by smokin a joint anyways i just wanted to leave my comment saying what i think about marijuana usage....so if u ask me LEGALIZE MARIJUANA

     

  • At 2:33 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    i smoked weed very much for 3 months. i loved the feeling it gave me so happy calm and relaxed. i was able to chill so much which i can't really do coz i suffer with depression and have done for years. i went off weed and am now getting more and more depressed but would still love to smoke so weed. but im off it.

     

  • At 9:29 AM, Anonymous fluffy said…

    marijuana prevents me from killing myself. for instance, earlier today i was feeling unbelievably miserable, so to prevent myself from descension into deep depression i smoked some herb to chill myself out; distract myself from my suicidal thoughts. after smoking my desire to kill myself went away. instead, i desired a snack.

     

  • At 4:32 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I suffer from depression/anxiety, And im on Fluoxetin(Prozac) for it. Side-effects that i have noticed are weightgain, and a slight "zombification" in lack of a better term.
    I recently tried Marijuana, and maybe i just got bad stuff but i lost my sense of feeling almost completely and the world around me went into slowmotion.
    I think this happened because of a reaction between my antidepressants(Prozac) and the THC in the marijuana (as you probably know THC is the psychoactive component of marijuana) Because none of my friends got this very scary and unpleasant effect.

     

  • At 2:01 AM, OpenID A1ic31nCha1ns said…

    Personally: I believe that any substance isnt the answer to a problem in your life.

    If there is something in your life that is making you depressed, although pot may eliviate the problem while buzzed, the problems in your life dont stop existing. I know of people who experiance an intense session of deep thought, while high. These intense thoughts have created a long depressing life, to be resurfaced, and recreated again and again. This person looks for pot as an answer, but only finds the problem staring her in the face. It makes her analize and pick apart all apsects of a dark time in her life, and in return, makes her more depressed and irritable.

    I believe that the euphoria of a high is just that. A euphoria. It happens, but then it is gone. And afterwards, you are still the same, empty, depressed being you were before it.

    I do believe that pot should be legalized for other reasons, but as a reliever of depression, I know first hand, this is not the case for everybody.

     

  • At 10:34 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Marijuana is a wonderful anti-depressant for major depression! It works quicker and is much more effective than FDA approved anti-depressants, but the draw back is the smoking part of inhaling the marijuana substance. The reason why marijuana is not approved for depression is the drug companies. They know that if the FDA approves marijuana for major depression, there goes their pills, and therefore their $$$! That’s why it will never be used to treat major depression in the United States. It’s unfortunate because, even though I don’t smoke pot anymore, when I did smoke it, what a relief! I felt normal, happy, and relaxed!! It’s interesting to note that the FDA does approve Desoxyn, a legal METHAMPHETIMINE which we all know is more deadly and dangerous on the brain compared to marijuana . It also backs up my claim about the drug companies and FDA.

     

  • At 9:53 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    People make a BIG deal out of Marijuana, when at the same time they're out there doing worse things that kills them such things like Alcohol & Nicotine/Tobacco/Cigarettes...me myself I have been Depressed for about maybe 6 or 7 years, but it gotten worse since a bit over a year ago, but before that I had my times of smoking marijuana & believe me that it just made me forget about my issues, my problems with my parents, I was more social, I was able to focus on my projects, I took it as if it was my medicine, it would calm me down becaue i would always be in a BAD mood, or sad, people would never see me happy, (I been told I might have BI-POLAR DISORDER &/or A.D.D.) at times I would make myself seem like I was happy, but that was just to cover what i was going through, at times I have my moments of having SUICIDAL thoughts, or do something that would make me lose my memory, but then again I do have great memories of my past, but I've just had it of going through this DEPRESSION that has been toubling me for years, so I'm telling ya, Marijuana is as I would say "a good medication" because it's a way to relieve you from stress, feeling DEPRESSED etc.
    and I mean we also need a good LAUGH every now & then right?

     

  • At 8:10 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    ill go out on a limb here and as much as id love to say its ok to smoke it. for some it just isnt, im a heavy smoker been for a long time however its toll on my life shows everyday, i am no different then a crack fiend searching for his stone.... if this isnt addiction i dont know what is... and you can throw all the medical research at me you want, i live it. just keep in mind that it effects everyone differently... and by differently that can mean good and bad, the marajuana makes me depressed cause its a cycle... its also expensive to the point of paying rent is hard.. the grass isnt always greener on the other side.

     

  • At 8:13 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    just wanted to add that A1ic31nCha1ns hit the nail on the head.

     

  • At 8:16 PM, Blogger gutterpunk said…

    joshua,
    your research seems unfounded.
    I have suffered from severe depression and anxiety attacks from an early age. As others with depression may know, it can lead to horrible pain and problems in almost any part of the body. I personally have suffered unusual gastrointestinal problems, accompanied by tremendous pain in limbs and joints. I am regularly sick, and often have migraines. Through personal trial, i have found that use of marijuana as an anti-depressant is highly effective. The main two chemicals affecting depression are serotonin, and dopamine. A lack of serotonin causes depression, whereas a lack of dopamine causes mania, or something along the lines of hysteria. When marijuana is used, dopamine receptors are enabled,thus causing the high . it does NOT drain you of the serotonin. I've found that in smaller amounts marijuana is an extremely effective anti-depressant, although one must consider that when smoking larger amounts more dopamine is present in the brain . This could possibly cause abnormal or more depressive than usual behavior during the coming down period or "burning out". It could also potentially have these effects in the near future ie.the next morning. Overall if one were to start using marijuana to treat depression,as with any drug, they should carefully, and closely regulate intake according to personal reaction to the drug. If half a gram doesn't work, smoke a little bit more. Anyways, its a way safer alternative to things like lithium carbonate, paroxetine, and zoloft. basically no side effects except for the munchies.Also one of my main reasons for endorsing it as an anti-depressant is that it works RIGHT AWAY. no bullshit six-weeks for the pills to start kicking in.

    thanks for reading and i hope i helped
    andre.

     

  • At 3:17 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    My doctor diagnosed me with anxiety and depression and put me on 20mg. of paxil. I did not tell him I was a pot user. 5 years ago I got injured on the job and failed thier drug screen. I lied about how much I was using and thier counselor told me I was not a candidate for rehab. So I had to cheat my work drug screens for a year and all was good until I got appointed to a position where I am a labor balancer doing a different job every day. I decided to be a light smoker just on weekends and flush my system out of thc using niacin and plenty of fluids at the beginning of my work week. By midweek I feel myself getting more depressed and more anxious not to mention waking in the mid of the night a few times from bad dreams. So I feel it is safe to assume the pot was helping my disorder. Having said this I am reaaly pissed at our government for making pot illegal, I guess they rather see us addicted to prescription drugs and make the drug companies rich. Thats just wrong!!

     

  • At 3:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I believe the effects of Marijuana are based on the person who is using it.

    I know very many people who have very different experiences on the drug--some claim to feel relaxed and quiet while others feel stimulated and talkative. So it would make sense that the side effects of the drug would depend on the person.

    I find that pot is great when I am on it, but a few days after the fact I will get pretty depressed.

    It makes perfect sense too since pot changes the seratonin levels that make you feel better and are located in the brain.

    When you are no longer high the seratonin levels are depleting and depression is very likely to occur. In fact, that is exactly what happens to the brain when a person is depressed.

    A person that occasionally smokes pot probably only runs the risk of short-term depression, and a bit longer term for those that ritualize the wake-and-bake.

    It's a bit over the top, but any drug messing with brain chemistry is going to have some sort of withdrawal. Because this drug is "natural" many assume that it is benign, but it is still a drug--a drug that has been proven to tweek the brain chemistry levels. Even though the side effects are not as apparent they still exist.

    This does not make pot bad and by no means do I think people should stop doing it, but I believe people should be aware. Many people smoke pot have depression and never even think to link the two together. When studies are made it is usually based on when someone is in the state of being high, not how it effects the body after.

    When people make the decision to go off anti-depressants they normally monitor their own depression levels knowing that the brain chemistry is going to take some time to adjust, I think it should be the same way for long term pot heads. Just be aware that the body is going to have to adjust itself.

    Now is there a chance that the brain chemistry can't fully repair itself from pot? probably. But there are solutions to fixing the chemistry as long as the awareness is there to give some one the ability to do something about it.

     

  • At 1:11 AM, Anonymous Coal said…

    Being a severe sufferer of depression for over 4 years I have tryed many, many prescription drugs most with bad and even unbearable side effects. Even now on my current medication that does not *from my exsperiance* have any side effects, I sill found myself suffering. The best thing I have ever found to motivate and relax myself is weed, It relives my anxity/stress and also stimulates my verry weak apitite witch is a god sent cause most days I would hardly eat anything and was verry malnurrished.

    So in my exsperiance yes weed has helped me in alot of ways that no perscription drug ever has. I've been using now for 3 months and the effect is clear to my emediate family and freinds *of who I had little interest in interacting with befor* I have become quite out going in the past few months even going out in public regularly and even exersizeing *witch I had a huge fear of befor* Things realy are starting to look up and I credit weed for it, even now as i write this I am under the influance and having one of my better days.

    One of the big things I hate is I have to reliy on gangs to aquire my weed and I hate that fact, I am in the prosses of growing my own but still have many months befor harvest witch I estimate will last my 5 months to a year and I'm so looking forward not to not feeling guilty about buying weed.

     

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