Marijuana is something of a paradox when it comes to anxiety. On the one hand, pot is well-known to cause mild panic and paranoia in many users. At the same time, countless medical cannabis patients attest to the drug’s ability to alleviate anxiety and stress.
The reality is, patients with anxiety disorders often do benefit from medicinal pot, but it’s important to find the right marijuana strains to do the job. Here’s a list of some of the best strains for anxiety.
Grandaddy Purple
“Purps,” as the kids call it (or used to), is an all-time favorite among stoners both medical and recreational, but it’s especially popular for its ability to calm chronic anxiety.
Granddaddy Purple is a near-pure indica made by combining Purple Urkle and Big Bud. With such strong indica heredity, this strain is ideal for treating stress and insomnia, both common aspects of anxiety and panic disorders, as well as lack of appetite and depression.
Purps generates a decent amount of euphoria, but mostly the sensation is physically relaxing and sleepy. That makes it a great choice for drifting off without the endless distraction of anxiety.
Cannatonic
Most medical marijuana patients seek out pot with high levels of THC. That makes sense, as getting high is part of the healing process for many. But for others, there’s such a thing as too much of a good thing.
That’s where Cannatonic comes in. This cannabis hybrid, one of the best strains for anxiety, offers an equal balance of THC and CBD, another critical chemical component of the marijuana plant. The THC still provides a kick, but the CBD helps reduce the anxiety and paranoia that can come with it.
Bubba Kush
Bubba Kush, another potent indica classic, delivers a strong dose of drowsiness and physical relaxation. A few quick puffs are followed by loosening muscles, lifting moods, and a blast of euphoria.
This California native is noted mostly as an effective therapy for stress, both physical and mental, and for chronic pain. Anxiety, as anyone who has experienced it knows, often comes in the form of physical pain, lack of appetite, and insomnia – all symptoms that respond to Bubba Kush.
Blue Dream
Sativas aren’t typically associated with unwinding, but this favorite hybrid manages both a deep sense of calm and a healthy wallop of cerebral euphoria. Best of all, Blue Dream usually coes packed with THC, making it a great choice for patients with daily anxiety, stress, and pain.
What’s more, this strain works faster than most, delivering medical benefits in a matter of seconds without leading to couch-lock. For this reason alone, Blue Dream is one of the best strains for anxiety.
Strawberry Cough
Social anxiety is one of the most common forms of mental illness, and it can cripple a person’s ability to function in the wider world. Thankfully, there are marijuana strains such as Strawberry Cough that can help.
Like Blue Dream, this is mostly a sativa, but the pep it generates is part of how it works, adding a bit of social energy while also keeping distractions and panic to a minimum. That can make it easier to enter any room with less anxiety, more confidence, and a greater sense of calm.
