HOW TO USE MARIJUANA FOR ANXIETY

We are living through an anxious time. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Alex Thomas, a cannabis consultant at RISE Dispensary in Naperville, Illinois, is seeing the stress in her customers and feels it herself.

“These days, I feel like everybody has some anxiety; the world is really hard,” she says. For Thomas, cannabis has provided a natural and effective way to deal with chronic anxiety and panic attacks. “My brain is loud and annoying and very frustrating. It’s nice to have cannabis to calm that down.”

People with anxiety issues can find relief with cannabis, but it’s important to use with care, says Beth Whitley, an outreach specialist for RISE Dispensaries in Illinois. Choosing a product with the correct chemical makeup is the key to achieving relaxing effects.

When cannabis consultants look for the best marijuana products for someone with anxiety, they focus on terpenes, Whitley says.

For example: Cannabis with high levels of linalool, found in lavender and berries, and myrcene, found in mangoes, can be relaxing and calming.

Whitley advises that people with anxiety “start low and go slow” and keep a cannabis journal to track how different doses, strains and products affect them. You can bring that information to a cannabis consultant at RISE to help inform your next purchase.

“We have so many varieties, we really can personalize each person’s experience,” Whitley says.

In these uncertain times, it’s important to remember that cannabis is a tool to improve anxiety, not a cure. Other parts of your wellness routine, like your diet, exercise and sleep, remain critical, Whitley says. “Cannabis in conjunction with a positive, well-rounded lifestyle can be really helpful when we’re experiencing all these things as a society.”

Find a RISE Dispensary nearby and give us a call or send us a message today.