Research out of McGill, covered by the CBC, examined possible anti-depressant benefits of cannabis (and by us here). They used rats injected with small and large doses of chemicals associated with the effects of cannabis on the brain. They found that the smaller doses did have an anti-depressant effect, but that larger doses had the opposite, they were depression enhancing.
Some people report having a mood boost by smoking marijuana, which is what led the researchers to study the effects of the drug on the brain, and hopefully the research can lead to more understanding of the brain and depression. Psychologically, smoking marijuana (or taking another substance) might have some positive chemical effect, and the experience is a temporary relief from feeling depressed, but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.
(14 votes, average: 4.5 out of 5)
Loading ...This entry was posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 10:43 am and is filed under General, Brain and Behavior, Depression. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
16 Responses to “Cannabis as an Anti-Depressant?” (Pingbacks/trackbacks not shown below)
Andrew at 8:42 pm on
October 26th, 2007
“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief. ”
Did he just say that? Do you realize Will that many, many LEGAL drugs are addictive? Doctors are always prescribing addictive drugs to people.
John M. Grohol, Psy.D. at 9:19 pm on
October 26th, 2007
Sure, many, many legal drugs are addictive (e.g., alcohol), but that doesn’t mean this is a *good* thing.
The interesting study would be to see if something like cannabis was more or less beneficial for depression symptoms compared to other herbal remedies (e.g., St. John’s wort) and other commonly prescribed antidepressants. That’s the study I’d like to see!
“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”
uh, I kinda think that antidepressants and psychotropic drugs in general are “substances.” And yeah, I wouldn’t recommend using them in general to find relief either. They sure as heck didn’t help me out at all.
Shanon at 1:25 pm on
October 28th, 2007
Cannibas definetely should be legal,It helps in all different areas other than mental health,It can’t be no worse than lithium i mean come on! Who is this guy trying to fool,dont want anyone taking an addictive drug to get over a problem.It’s happening everyday eveywhere.
No more depression at 5:34 pm on
October 28th, 2007
While I am thrilled that they are doing more studies at ways to help people who have depression, as thrilled as I am; I am also a little worried at why would we be doing so many studies in regards to how cannibas can help. There are so many studies that link depression and addiction. I am one of those people who is in recovery from addiction to many unhealthy things and used to suffer from depression and for me it was insightpros.com and the people who loved me and supported me that got me to where I am today. I do believe that not everyone is the same and maybe hopefully cannibas will help others out there.
This is old news people. A book was published some years ago that reports the same thing. The Biology of Marijuana. Peace. It amazes me at how primitive are society still is.
JD at 8:26 am on
January 11th, 2008
It’s been proven marijuana it self is not addictive … Some people do become addicted to the high (these people have personalities were they would be prone to being addicted to various drugs).
I my self do self medicate for depression (seasonally) with marijuana because it does help and there are NO side effects (night tremors, sexual side effects, irregular heart beats, and weight gain) … I have tried Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Paxil; they simply do not work for me and are not worth the side effects.
It’s easy for people to say something is addictive if they NEVER tried it. The only reason why it was outlawed in the first place it that Mexicans and black jazz musicians were giving it to white teens in the 1960s … and we don’t wont white America exposed to that now do we.
I personally smoke it about maybe 5-6 times a year … Does that make me an addict?
Brain washed Idiots!
“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.” huh?? what do they think it is with the pills anti-depressants?? fucking idiots. Weed helps me!
lizardsmells at 10:10 am on
January 19th, 2008
Please educate yourself instead of regurgitating the misinformation you’ve been taught as truth. Marijuana is not physically addictive. No one has ever died from an over dose of marijuana. It is safer than aspirin.
Please, please educate yourself on the benefits of marijuana and its prohibitive history. You may be quite surprised to learn you’ve been blatantly lied to your entire life. Are still being lied to, in fact.
You can start here norml.org and here leap.org for some excellent information on marijuana and the drug war in general and how IT is the cause of our drug problem and not the drugs themselves.
Andrew at 9:59 pm on
January 25th, 2008
I agree with a lot of the others here about other commonly used anti-depressants being substances, and addiction from those other medications like Prozac, et. al. aren’t much better, but some of these prescription drugs can have pretty serious side-effects, and many of those can become addictive. It doesn’t make much sense, but some anti-depressants have a side-effect of depression, which only makes it that much worse on the person with the condition, sometimes resulting in suicides, although it’s not too common. I don’t think cannabis would really resolve the issue of depression. I think it’s just adding another medication option to the already huge pile of choices that we have out there right now. People don’t want or need more options, they just need something that works. Unfortunately, so far, there’s really nothing out there that does work effectively for a lot of folks. It all seems to lead right back to Square One.
At any rate, that’s my two cents.
Robert du Rivage at 7:23 pm on
August 19th, 2008
“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”
No one except the FDA.
Robert du Rivage at 7:31 pm on
August 19th, 2008
You know big pharma rules when the healing community you want to be admitted to is making you take a synthetic prescription psychotropic because you are using an herbal psychotropic.
Be a Part of the Conversation! Comment on this Entry Now:
“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief. ”
Did he just say that? Do you realize Will that many, many LEGAL drugs are addictive? Doctors are always prescribing addictive drugs to people.
Sure, many, many legal drugs are addictive (e.g., alcohol), but that doesn’t mean this is a *good* thing.
The interesting study would be to see if something like cannabis was more or less beneficial for depression symptoms compared to other herbal remedies (e.g., St. John’s wort) and other commonly prescribed antidepressants. That’s the study I’d like to see!
“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”
uh, I kinda think that antidepressants and psychotropic drugs in general are “substances.” And yeah, I wouldn’t recommend using them in general to find relief either. They sure as heck didn’t help me out at all.
Cannibas definetely should be legal,It helps in all different areas other than mental health,It can’t be no worse than lithium i mean come on! Who is this guy trying to fool,dont want anyone taking an addictive drug to get over a problem.It’s happening everyday eveywhere.
While I am thrilled that they are doing more studies at ways to help people who have depression, as thrilled as I am; I am also a little worried at why would we be doing so many studies in regards to how cannibas can help. There are so many studies that link depression and addiction. I am one of those people who is in recovery from addiction to many unhealthy things and used to suffer from depression and for me it was insightpros.com and the people who loved me and supported me that got me to where I am today. I do believe that not everyone is the same and maybe hopefully cannibas will help others out there.
This is old news people. A book was published some years ago that reports the same thing. The Biology of Marijuana. Peace. It amazes me at how primitive are society still is.
It’s been proven marijuana it self is not addictive … Some people do become addicted to the high (these people have personalities were they would be prone to being addicted to various drugs).
I my self do self medicate for depression (seasonally) with marijuana because it does help and there are NO side effects (night tremors, sexual side effects, irregular heart beats, and weight gain) … I have tried Wellbutrin, Prozac, and Paxil; they simply do not work for me and are not worth the side effects.
It’s easy for people to say something is addictive if they NEVER tried it. The only reason why it was outlawed in the first place it that Mexicans and black jazz musicians were giving it to white teens in the 1960s … and we don’t wont white America exposed to that now do we.
I personally smoke it about maybe 5-6 times a year … Does that make me an addict?
Brain washed Idiots!
“but I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.” huh?? what do they think it is with the pills anti-depressants?? fucking idiots. Weed helps me!
Please educate yourself instead of regurgitating the misinformation you’ve been taught as truth. Marijuana is not physically addictive. No one has ever died from an over dose of marijuana. It is safer than aspirin.
Please, please educate yourself on the benefits of marijuana and its prohibitive history. You may be quite surprised to learn you’ve been blatantly lied to your entire life. Are still being lied to, in fact.
You can start here norml.org and here leap.org for some excellent information on marijuana and the drug war in general and how IT is the cause of our drug problem and not the drugs themselves.
I agree with a lot of the others here about other commonly used anti-depressants being substances, and addiction from those other medications like Prozac, et. al. aren’t much better, but some of these prescription drugs can have pretty serious side-effects, and many of those can become addictive. It doesn’t make much sense, but some anti-depressants have a side-effect of depression, which only makes it that much worse on the person with the condition, sometimes resulting in suicides, although it’s not too common. I don’t think cannabis would really resolve the issue of depression. I think it’s just adding another medication option to the already huge pile of choices that we have out there right now. People don’t want or need more options, they just need something that works. Unfortunately, so far, there’s really nothing out there that does work effectively for a lot of folks. It all seems to lead right back to Square One.
At any rate, that’s my two cents.
“I would imagine that virtually no one would ever recommend developing a dependence on a substance for relief.”
No one except the FDA.
You know big pharma rules when the healing community you want to be admitted to is making you take a synthetic prescription psychotropic because you are using an herbal psychotropic.
