Anxiety disorders affect about 40 million Americans across all age groups every year, and these disorders can cause severe disruptions to health and daily life.
Anxiety-related conditions such as generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and social anxiety have a variety of causes, which can create challenges for treatment. But decades of research have revealed that cannabis can be an effective and safe solution for many people who suffer from situational anxiety and chronic anxiety disorders. And now, qualified medical marijuana patients in Missouri can purchase a variety of innovative cannabis products for anxiety from the state’s many licensed dispensaries.
Understanding Anxiety and Anxiety Disorders
Everyone experiences anxiety at some time. It’s a natural response to uncertainty and unpleasant circumstances. For many people, anxiety passes once the situation causing it resolves. But for others, anxiety becomes a part of daily life. Common anxiety disorders include:
- Generalized anxiety disorder, characterized by persistent, excessive worry and anticipation of disaster or unpleasant outcomes
- Panic disorder, which consists of sudden and spontaneous attacks of extreme anxiety
- Social anxiety, is extreme anxiety about being judged or rejected in social situations
- Phobias, or severe anxiety reactions about specific things or circumstances such as flying, snakes or blood
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), a constellation of anxiety-related symptoms that arise after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event
- Depressive disorders
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder
Anxiety disorders can also occur along with many other health conditions such as ADHD, migraine, chronic pain, and gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome and Crohn’s disease. Anxiety and stress can also affect anyone diagnosed with a serious or chronic condition like heart disease, cancer, or diabetes.
Treatments for anxiety and anxiety disorders range from lifestyle and diet changes to talk therapy and a variety of prescription anti-anxiety and antidepressant medications. But the compounds in cannabis work with the body’s systems to reduce anxiety and promote relaxation without the side effects of common medications.
Cannabis Can Relieve Anxiety Naturally
Recreational cannabis users have always enjoyed the relaxation and good mood that comes from smoking weed. Now, science supports what they’ve known all along. The many compounds in the cannabis Sativa plant can work with cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain and body to calm anxiety, regulate mood, and promote relaxation.
The endocannabinoid system, or ECS, is a network of cell receptors capable of responding to cannabinoid chemicals naturally produced by the tissues and to compounds in cannabis such as THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). This system supports balance, or homeostasis, among the body’s many subsystems, including pain signaling, mood, and digestion. That’s why cannabis can help to relieve symptoms of anxiety, promote the production of “feel good” chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine, and relieve conditions that lead to anxiety, such as chronic pain.
Medical Cannabis is Legal in Missouri
Cannabis has been legal in Missouri
for medical use since 2018, so adults can now visit dispensaries throughout the state with a valid medical marijuana card. To qualify, patients must receive a referral from a healthcare practitioner in good standing who can certify that they have a qualifying medical condition, which can include debilitating psychiatric disorders or other chronic or debilitating conditions determined by a physician.
The 5 Best Cannabis Products for Anxiety in Missouri
Now, any qualified patient can choose from a variety of quality cannabis products designed to relieve anxiety and stress. Here are a few of the best options, available in-store and on order for card-holding Missouri residents.
Jet Fuel Pie #2 by Feelz Good Green Product
Jet Fuel Pie #2 flower from Feelz Good Green Products is an Indica hybrid flower with a THC content of 27.95 percent and a CBD content of just 0.12 percent. Jet Fuel Pie #2 is the result of crossing strain favorites Wedding Pie and Jet Fuel Gelato and is known for lessening symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
Bonbon Salted Vanilla Caramel by 1620 Inspired
These Salted Vanilla Caramel bonbons by 1620 Inspired feature vanilla and dark chocolate covering a creamy, cannabis-infused caramel center. Available in a pack of two, each bonbon contains 10 mg of THC to relieve stress and anxiety.
Care by Design 1:1 Tincture by 1620 Inspired
The Care by Design 1:1 Tincture from 1620 Inspired contains equal parts THC and CBD at 150mg each per bottle and 10 mg each per average dose. This tincture comes with a measured dropper for precise dosing and offers relaxation and relief from anxiety, stress, and insomnia.
Power Sherb Live Resin Cartridge .5 g from Flora Ceres
The Power Sherb Live Resin Cartridge from Flora Ceres contains the high-THC (68.71 percent) Indica hybrid Power Sherb, a limonene dominant strain that’s derived from Sherb and Cookies and Cream. The Power Sherb Live Resin Cartridge can relieve anxiety, depression, and insomnia, and provides pain relief without heavy sedative effects.
Cherry Diesel Live Resin Sugar from Happy Days
Cherry Diesel Live Resin Sugar from Happy Days is a pungent, cherry-flavored hybrid with a high THC content of 76.32 percent. Although Cherry Diesel is energizing and motivating rather than relaxing, it has a reputation for relieving symptoms associated with anxiety, stress, and depression.
Get a Medical Marijuana Card Online
It’s easy to get your medical marijuana document with the online Telehealth service HelloMD. Register, pay, and receive an online medical consultation with a licensed practitioner and purchase medical cannabis today. You don’t pay unless you’re approved!
