Understanding Cannabis, THC, CBD, and Delta-8/9: What Patients Should Know

1. What Are These Substances?

  • Cannabis: A plant that includes marijuana and hemp. It contains natural chemicals that affect your brain and body.

  • Marijuana: A type of cannabis with high THC levels. Often used for its “high.”

  • THC (Delta-9 THC): The main chemical that causes a high. Can help some symptoms but may also cause anxiety or paranoia.

  • CBD: A non-high-forming chemical in cannabis. Some people use it for sleep, anxiety, or pain, though results can vary.

  • Delta-8 THC: A weaker version of THC. Still gives a mild high and may cause some of the same risks.

2. How People Use These Substances

Smoking:

  • Takes effect within minutes.

  • Lasts around 2 to 3 hours.

  • May irritate the lungs and is hard to dose accurately.

Vaping:

  • Fast-acting like smoking.

  • May be easier on the lungs, but unregulated products can be risky.

Edibles (gummies, brownies, etc.):

  • Take 30 to 90 minutes to kick in.

  • Effects last 4 to 8 hours or longer.

  • Easy to accidentally take too much. Start low and go slow.

Tinctures (liquid drops under the tongue):

  • Start working in 15 to 45 minutes.

  • More predictable than edibles. Effects last around 3 to 5 hours.

Topical creams or lotions:

  • Used on the skin for local pain relief.

  • Do not cause a high.

3. How These Substances Can Affect Your Mental Health

THC may temporarily help with anxiety or sleep, but it can also cause or worsen:

  • Panic, paranoia, or emotional numbing.

  • Depressed mood or flattened motivation.

  • Reduced ability to see things positively or empathize with others.

  • Brain fog, poor concentration, and trouble with memory.

  • ADHD-like symptoms, especially with regular use.

  • Worsening of existing mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder.

  • Psychosis or hallucinations in people who are vulnerable.

Additional Psychiatric Risks of THC:

  • Impaired Insight: May lower emotional intelligence, reduce self-awareness, and increase negative or paranoid thinking.

  • Cognitive Effects: Regular use is associated with slower processing speed, poor focus, and 5–10 point drops in IQ (especially in teens).

  • Emotional Numbing: Makes it harder to connect with others or experience joy naturally.

  • Increased Risk of Psychiatric Illness: May worsen anxiety, depression, or trigger psychosis in vulnerable individuals.

4. Cannabis and Dependence

  • Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD): Around 1 in 10 adult users (and 1 in 6 teen users) develop dependence.

  • Signs of Dependence: Needing more to feel the same effect, using even when it causes problems, trouble cutting back.

  • Withdrawal Symptoms: Irritability, anxiety, low mood, insomnia, loss of appetite, and cravings. These can last up to 2–3 weeks.

Using cannabis daily or in high doses increases your risk of dependence and withdrawal.

5. Cannabis and Your Medications

THC can interfere with how psychiatric medications work:

  • Increase side effects like drowsiness or emotional blunting.

  • Worsen mood stability, especially with antidepressants or mood stabilizers.

  • Counteract benefits of medications for anxiety or psychosis.

  • CBD may interact with medications by increasing their levels in the body, especially SSRIs and antipsychotics.

6. What You Can Do

  • Be honest with your provider about any cannabis, THC, CBD, or Delta-8 use. We’re here to help, not judge.

  • Keep track of your mental health symptoms when using or stopping these products.

  • Use with caution, especially if you’re under 25, have a history of mental health conditions, or are on psychiatric medication.

  • Choose safer forms (like tinctures or regulated gummies) and avoid products from unreliable sources.

  • Take breaks and observe if your clarity, energy, or emotions improve.

Key Takeaways

  • Cannabis and its compounds can affect your brain, mood, and medications.

  • THC can help or harm depending on the dose and your personal mental health background.

  • Regular THC use may reduce emotional insight, increase negativity, and worsen focus or memory.

  • CBD is generally safer but still may affect how your medications work.

  • Talk openly with your provider so we can make the best plan for your care.

This guide is for general information. It does not replace medical advice. Always talk to your provider about any substances you are using.

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