From treating the debilitating after-effects of chemotherapy to eliminating insomnia, the potential medical applications of cannabis seem infinite. Now, we can add obsessive-compulsive disorder as one more condition that cannabis can help with. Nobody knows exactly what causes OCD. But, regardless of cause, there are plenty of reasons why weed can help with OCD by alleviating symptoms like:
- Compulsive, repetitive behaviour
- Impulsive behaviour
- Intrusive thoughts
- Social isolation
- Stress
- Depression
- Anxiety
Using cannabis for the treatment of OCD has had a particularly noticeable impact on the last three items on the above list, as anyone who regularly smokes weed knows that it can be great for lessening anxiety and stress.
Those are some of the biggest reasons people use cannabis, after all- medically or not- and this has created a lot of excitement among OCD patients and the scientific community at large.
So what does the science say about weed and OCD?
What is OCD?
OCD is a common anxiety disorder. People who suffer from OCD get stuck in repetitive behaviours in order to deal with their anxiety.
The following example will give you an idea of what it feels like.
Have you ever been driving to work when suddenly you start freaking out because you can’t remember whether you shut off the stove before you left the house? It might bother you for a little while, but you will more than likely let it go and find out when you return home in the evening that the stove was indeed off the whole time.
But for someone with OCD, that thought—Did I really shut off the stove?—becomes all-consuming. Anxiety levels continue to increase until there may be no alternative but to check out of work and head home to make absolutely sure that the stove is off. Your OCD won’t let you focus on anything else until you do.
Depending on the severity of the condition, OCD can range from a mere annoyance to a seemingly insurmountable barrier against living a normal life.
If the only way someone can cope with severe OCD is to complete the rituals they’ve designed for themselves, they might get nothing else done, and their life can come to a screeching halt.
Treatment usually involves cognitive talk therapy combined with anti-anxiety and anti-depression prescription drugs, including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), mood stabilizers, and antipsychotics. Since the compulsive behaviours associated with OCD are a way for sufferers to control their anxiety and depression, prescription drugs are a logical choice to alleviate some of that anxiety, thus lessening the need for coping mechanisms. Such drugs do, however, come with serious side effects like insomnia, headaches, and nausea.
Can Cannabis Cause OCD?
Plenty of OCD sufferers have reported using cannabis to treat their symptoms. One inpatient treatment center said that 30% of its patients had used weed at least once. But we still don’t completely understand how weed interacts with OCD.
There have been no clinical human trials on marijuana use for the treatment of anxiety—the prime cause of OCD symptoms, and there have only been limited animal trials on the effects of cannabis on social anxiety.
Some early research shows that cannabis is linked to an increase in psychotic symptoms. There is no proof, however, that smoking weed causes psychotic symptoms- as you’ve probably heard before, correlation does not equal causation. But since cannabis use can affect brain development, kids and people who already have problems with psychosis might want to avoid smoking weed.
While there are anecdotal reports from OCD sufferers that their anxiety and OCD symptoms worsened while using marijuana, there are other reports that claim smoking weed helped OCD sufferers feel less anxious.
A study in the Journal of Affective Disorders found “inhaled cannabis reduced the severity of compulsions by 60% and intrusions by 49%.”
Marijuana’s effect on OCD varies by individual. Much depends on a person’s experience with smoking weed, the amount smoked, individual expectations about the experience, and frequency of use.
The levels of THC, as we discuss in further detail below, can also affect whether those who suffer from OCD have a positive or negative experience, as weed with high THC levels can increase anxiety in some people.
Either way, there is no definitive evidence as of yet that says smoking weed will cause OCD.
How Can Weed Help with OCD?
The first way smoking weed can help with OCD is by alleviating some of the side effects of the prescription drugs OCD sufferers take to treat their condition. Specifically, nausea and insomnia have been effectively treated with the right strains of bud.
That said, a case can certainly be made that smoking weed might replace the need to take prescription drugs altogether and eliminating those terrible side effects. This is why the pharmaceutical industry is so adamantly opposed to cannabis legalization- it hurts their bottom line significantly when you can grow your own medicine for free- and this alone might be enough reason for those affected by OCD to give weed a try.
You may have heard the phrase “Don’t harsh my mellow.” In other words, don’t interrupt the calm high others experience when toking up. The key here, then, is marijuana’s effect on anxiety and its ability to help you relax.
Certain strains of marijuana have long been known for their calming effects. And calm is just what OCD sufferers need.
Like many other medicinal uses of marijuana, there’s very little research on the effectiveness of smoking weed to treat OCD. But there is some, in addition to anecdotal reports of OCD symptoms being relieved through the use of cannabis.
While some people with OCD have reported an increase in anxiety when using weed as a treatment, many also report temporary relief from their anxiousness. At this point, some researchers say that the difference in experience may be attributed simply to individual body type and the way that body type reacts to the use of weed. It may also have to do with preexisting conditions, both physical and psychological, that leave some people more susceptible to anxiety.
Of the research that has been done, examination of cannabinoids and their effect on OCD symptoms seems most promising.
Cannabidiol, or CBD, has been shown in some clinical trials to reduce not only anxiety but also alleviate some of the compulsive behaviour associated with OCD.
A bonus effect of CBD is that it shows great promise in reducing nausea. So, if an OCD sufferer feels it necessary to continue using prescription drugs for anxiety and depression, they may find CBD to be helpful in both treating OCD symptoms and in countering at least some of the side effects of their prescription drugs.
Of course, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has long been associated with anxiety reduction. But smoking weed with high levels of THC can also contribute to a feeling of loss of control, something an OCD sufferer may not find helpful.
In light of all this, people with OCD have some options to weigh and decisions to make when seeking relief through smoking weed.
CBD vs. THC
Each OCD sufferer has unique symptoms and severity of symptoms. And so, when considering cannabis as a treatment for OCD, each person has to find the best types of cannabis and strains for their particular situation.
The first question that needs to be answered is: Do you want a high CBD strain or a high THC strain? The short answer is to go with CBD first, as it’s non-psychoactive, unlike THC. This eliminates the possibility of over-stimulation, which does not benefit people with OCD.
But the anxiety-relieving properties of THC cannot be overlooked. Therefore, strains with higher THC levels can be explored as the OCD sufferer evaluates their reaction to weed as a means of alleviating OCD symptoms.
Neither are THC and CBD the only options to choose from when considering smoking weed for OCD. Cannabis strains of sativa and indica must also be considered, as certain combinations of strength and source might work better for certain individuals over others.
Some strains that may help with symptoms of OCD include:
- Cannatonic CBD: This strain has minimal THC levels and has been shown to be effective in treating symptoms of ADHD, anxiety, and depression.
- Platinum Blackberry: This Indica strain has been shown to be beneficial for anxiety and depression.
- Do-Si Pie: This Indica strain has a high THC-to-CBD content but is known to combat stress and worry. It is known to be effective in treating depression and ADHD.
- Blue Coma: This Indica/Sativa hybrid has been shown to reduce stress in lower doses. Users report success in treating symptoms of anxiety, stress, and depression.
Are Indica or Sativa Strains Better for OCD?
The basic rule of thumb is that sativa strains are about the head, and the indica strains are about the body. Sativas are mentally stimulating, while indicas provides a more relaxing body high.
Considering that people with OCD are already over-stimulated, indicas are generally the preferred choice for treating OCD and its symptoms.
And so, when warming up to the idea of using weed to treat your OCD, the best treatment option is likely to be an Indica strain with high cannabinoid levels.
Some pot strains that fit this profile include:
- Mandarin Cookies: The effects of this Indica strain are described as calming and soothing and are known to have positive effects for people who suffer from anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Pine Tar Kush: This pure Indica strain is known for its heavy sedative effects and has been found to alleviate anxiety and stress
- Sweet Gas: This strain is a hybrid of Indica and Sativa. While it is more mentally stimulating, it has also been shown to help those suffering from anxiety, depression, and stress.
- Bubba’s Gift: This Indica strain is known for its effectiveness in treating anxiety, stress, headaches, insomnia, and bipolar disorder.
There are many varieties of indica and sativa cannabis strains. Some research and experimentation will be required to find the right strain for each individual OCD sufferer. Again, it’s always best to start with higher CBD content and lower THC content before adjusting that ratio in favour of the latter.
Living with OCD
As with almost every other medicinal use of marijuana, more research is needed to determine the exact effect weed has on OCD. However, it’s clear that the medicinal effects of cannabis on anxiety and stress can be potentially beneficial to those with OCD.
Prior experience with smoking weed can be a critical factor in the reaction of OCD sufferers to treatment with cannabis.
Someone who has never smoked weed before may find that their anxiety levels increase when they start toking up to treat their symptoms. This is why it is vital to start low and go slow, especially at the beginning.
Since OCD sufferers get trapped in compulsive behaviours as a way to relieve their high anxiety, if smoking weed can alleviate some of that anxiety, it is certainly worth a try.
At this point in our understanding of cannabis and its effects on OCD, we know weed can:
- Relieve anxiety
- Relieve stress
- Relieve depression
- Lessen OCD compulsive behaviour
- Alleviate nausea (side effect from anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs)
- Alleviate headaches (side effect from anti-anxiety and anti-depression drugs)
All of these can be beneficial to someone who suffers from OCD.
Still, OCD and its symptoms are highly individual. The only way to know whether cannabis will help your OCD is to try it.
How to get the benefits of cannabis without smoking
Smoking weed is not the only way to experience its benefits. Today, there are many ways to get the medical benefits of cannabis without smoking flower, including:
- Edibles
- Tinctures
- Beverages
- Vaporizing
If “blazing one up” isn’t your thing, consider alternative ways to get the medical benefits of weed. Just know that the human body processes edibles and tinctures much differently than smoking weed, so be sure to consult your marijuana dispensary expert to understand proper dosing in these alternative forms of consumption.
You can review the available strains of indica, sativa, and hybrid weed, their CBD and THC contents, and their reported effects at budmail.life, Canada’s original online dispensary.
