There is not enough available scientific data about the long-term effect of using marijuana in managing anxiety and recovering after training. It may be the case; more and more people still turn to use cannabis to treat their anxiety and recuperate after workouts. There are actually reports which show that marijuana use delivers short-term benefits. And to make cannabis more palatable, it can be infused into your favorite fruit or vegetable smoothie.
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Treating Anxiety
Even if there isn’t enough study about the usefulness of marijuana, there are still those who drink it sans prescription. These people rely on the cannabis substance in helping them mitigate their anxiety disorder.
For them, cannabis makes them feel better when anxious; thus, they can use it for as long as there are no medical side effects. This conviction is reinforced by experiences and accounts of people and researchers on the interim result of using marijuana.
The Journal of Affective Disorders, a study published by scientists of Washington State University, talks about the effect of marijuana. It discovered that cannabis reduces the level of self-reported anxiety.
They discovered that marijuana also helps reduce stress and depression in the short-term. Nevertheless, researchers didn’t find any long-term remedy for reducing anxiety, stress, and depression with its constant use. The study also revealed that cannabis with high THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol) content best help reduce symptoms of stress. And some researches indicate that different strains will have different ratios of CBD and THC which might affect treatment in different ways. To know more about Sativa cannabis strains that have more THC, click here to read an article about it.
The THC in cannabis is the chemical compound that gives users a high feeling or psychoactive effects. On the other hand, CBD, which is extracted from hemp or marijuana, doesn’t provide a euphoric effect like THC. Thus, some users who do not want the feeling of getting high prefer weed with CBD content.
Though taking in drinks containing marijuana, like smoothies, has its benefits, long-term use on the substance has negative side-effects. Some of these side-effects are listed below.
Psychological Dependence and Increased Need
Taking in marijuana to cope with anxiety may result in psychological dependence on the substance. A glass of marijuana smoothie a day may become more and more as the tolerance to its effect increases in time. The developed tolerance in marijuana will eventually make users needing to get the same level of feeling “high” as previous experiences.
Memory Loss
The THC tends to impair the hippocampus, the part of the brain responsible for memory. Some studies found that long-term intake of marijuana can cause memory loss.
Worsening of Symptoms
THC causes an increase in heart rate. If a person is anxious, marijuana intake can be a source of a higher level of anxiety. Too much marijuana intake can also make people scared, paranoid, and confused, thus contributing to more levels of stress and anxiety.
Higher Levels of Psychiatric Disorders
Some studies found that extended intake of marijuana may increase the level of depression over a period of time. On the other hand, some people are prone to the development of psychosis with the use of cannabis.
Recovering After Training
What is more refreshing after a total body workout but to drink up a glass of fruit or vegetable smoothie? A few hours after body training, the muscles will feel sore and stiffen. For a body to recover from muscle soreness, one can drink supplements like protein or ibuprofen. One can also take in smoothie infused with marijuana as a supplement when muscle soreness happens.
Cannabis is a non-inflammatory substance. Still, no study has been conclusive on the effect of smoothie marijuana to help reduce muscle inflammation. Since marijuana alleviates pains, it thus aids gym enthusiasts to recover from muscle soreness faster. And unlike medicines that contain ibuprofen, cannabis is even safer to use for post-workout pain relief. Ibuprofen increases the risk of full-blown kidney failure if taken in when dehydrated, like when exercising.
But one must be careful when taking in marijuana smoothies. The effect might not be immediately felt, unlike when inhaling marijuana. Inexperienced marijuana users tend to ingest more and then realize that they had one too many when it kicks in. So it is advisable to watch out for the dosage when drinking smoothies infused with marijuana substances.
Some athletes take in CBD to manage muscle pains and inflammation after their grueling training. It is also said that a proper amount of CBD intake helps the muscles recover faster. Consuming marijuana by drinking smoothie infused marijuana is becoming a trend among athletes. More and more are becoming open to using cannabis for stamina and post-workout relief as alternative medicine.
Although more research still needs to be done, some doctors and natural medicine advocates are convinced of marijuana’s therapeutic property. Cannabis is gaining worldwide attention, and there might come a time when it is not considered as a prohibited drug anymore.
