As a result of the research is observational, it may possibly’t say by which route this affiliation runs — if depressed persons are extra prone to flip to pot, or if marijuana use fuels despair.
“I believe it is in all probability each of this stuff on the identical time,” Aoun stated. “Marijuana could possibly be inflicting depressive signs. Additionally, people who find themselves depressed who’re in search of remedy are in search of out choices to assist cut back the influence or burden of their depressive signs. When conventional remedy choices are inadequate, they’re turning to marijuana.”
THC, the chemical in pot that causes intoxication, has been proven to extend ranges of dopamine within the mind, Wetter stated. Dopamine is a “really feel good” neurotransmitter that straight stimulates the pleasure facilities within the mind.
Which may make a depressed individual really feel higher quickly, however it’s actually masking emotions that can return, Aoun stated.
“Medicine do not introduce new emotions that you do not have in you,” Aoun stated. “They only enable for disinhibition. Should you’re depressed and also you smoke marijuana, it isn’t going to treatment your despair.”
What’s extra, these dopamine rushes alter your mind chemistry in methods that may exacerbate your despair.
“It requires extra use with a view to really feel good,” Wetter stated. “When you do not have that, you’ll begin to really feel the signs of extra elevated despair. You expertise the crash, if you’ll.”
Eleven states have adopted legal guidelines allowing leisure marijuana use, however Aoun stated he is extra involved concerning the 34 states which have handed legal guidelines permitting medical marijuana.
“When states are pushing for the legalization of medical marijuana with out credible proof, you are sending so many fallacious messages,” Aoun stated.
Not sufficient medical analysis has been accomplished to firmly set up marijuana’s well being advantages, however legalization has nonetheless made pot right into a seemingly professional different for folk battling a temper dysfunction, Aoun stated.
He in contrast pot to insulin, a remedy for diabetes examined in large-scale analysis research earlier than it turned accessible to sufferers.
“With marijuana, it has been a very totally different story the place these choices are actually pushed primarily by corporations with a big monetary curiosity in selling marijuana use,” Aoun stated.
