In a number of social circles, it is a commonly held belief that in addition to its well-supported benefits for chronic medical conditions, using cannabis also aids with achieving general relaxation and reducing excess stress. While this may be true for some, a number of research studies reveal surprising and substantial evidence that long-term use is actually linked to anxiety disorders.
Evidence of this stress-based relationship was first examined as early as 2001, when Lorena Siqueira, M.D., and fellow researchers from Mt. Sinai School of Medicine conducted the study, “The relationship of stress and coping methods to adolescent marijuana use.” Reviewing the data from 918 participants between the ages of 12 and 21, 18.4 percent reported frequent marijuana use each week while 59 percent used it at least once in their lifetime. The results showed that adverse life experiences, a greater frequency of negative coping strategies such as anger and a lower frequency of positive coping like parental support were markedly correlated with those who identified as marijuana users. Read more