Why is it so polarizing?
Even people who used to smoke a lot just can t anymore, myself included: I used to exclusively smoke until my early 20s; Now even a couple tokes make me either feel self conscious or totally overwhelmed and „braindead“.
Others have the exact opposite effect, where it makes them super relaxed or even forget all their worries to a point that they need to stop to confront their problems.
In: Biology
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i think it’s really just your state of mind that determines if you are going to be paranoid or overwhelmed.
also your tolerance will build back up after the first few times.
I can’t tell you. I’m not even sure we know the hard science behind it. We’re still learning a lot about cannabis and the active cannabinoids involved in the high (and potentially even terpenes, as they seem to affect the high).
Some scientists will tell you there’s literally no difference between sativa and indica. In my experience they’re obviously missing something (maybe just talking about THC i think?) because there is a massive and noticeable difference.
Honestly it has so much to do with your personal brain chemistry and metabolism and mental habits and attitude. That’s the best answer I can give, it depends on you.
*Edit* i should perhaps elaborate more. I work in a recreational cannabis dispensary in Alaska. I try to get customers the best they can find for their needs, but it’s tough in an industry that is entirely recreational and non medical.
I don’t know if terpenes are actually part of the causation of the high, or if they’re just correlative (as in those specific terpenes are just more common in certain strains and the effects aren’t related to then directly).
But different strains *definitely* have a different effect, and while it’s not entirely consistent across all individuals, it’s decently consistent.
Indica dominant strains will make people feel relaxed, sleepy, drowsy, but some people will feel paranoid.
Sativa dominant strains often make people feel awake, energetic, creative, motivated, but can cause anxiety.
Terpenes are essentially just “smell molecules” as we currently understand them. Though terpene science and aroma therapy seem to suggest they do actually affect the people smelling them. (Most people agree lavender is relaxing, where as lemongrass is stimulating and makes you feel awake)
So the same seems to be true for terpenes in the cannabis. So it might be causative and the terpenes may be a part of what makes certain strains unique in their high, it might even be a part of what differentiates indica and sativa.
Ugh, I wish I was better at explaining things to 5 year olds, sorry.
The truth is I don’t think we really know yet. It’s only just starting to be legalized, and once it’s federally legal it will be a lot easier to get funding for reach and get larger sample groups for research.
Why does alcohol make some people bubbly, giddy and love everyone and others but makes angry and violent? I don’t think it’s the substance I think it’s more the person and their brain chemistry
There’s a very recent NY Times article that looks at exactly that, here: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/04/us/cannabis-marijuana-risks-addiction.html
Some people react more strongly, yes, but the main reason seems to be that marijuana today has a MUCH higher percentage of THC, and it’s becoming a serious public health problem.
It about responsibility. Similar to why I can’t play video games for more than an hour or two anymore.
When I play games I just think about better uses of my time if I play too long. When I smoke I think about all the things I’m neglecting so I can be high.
Doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy those things anymore, but I know I won’t if I don’t have my shit taken care of
There’s a lot of set and setting to any mind altering substance. Albeit, it’s far less noticeable and dramatic with cannabis than stuff like magic mushrooms or LSD. If you think pot will make you anxious, have panic attacks, overwhelmed, it can intensify and bring out those feelings after smoking.
Part what you’re describing is a change in tolerance. After about 25-30, your body is done growing and goes into more of a preserving state. This changes how your body will react and respond and alter how tolerant you are of something, making you more or less tolerant to various substances.
It’s technically viewed as a suppressant/depressant. I personally get more of a stimulant like response from it. So there’s definitely a lot more understanding needed into what cannabis does and the neurology of individuals. This neurological difference in how we are wired could very well be why some people are so much more influenced by cannabis effects differently.
Anecdote:
I’ve been regularly smoking cannabis since about 18, 19 years old. I’m going on 35. I’ve personally not found my tolerance or response to it change. If anything, it’s harder for me to get overwhelmed, too stoned, or paranoid/anxious from pot. But some strains do make me feel more anxious but I can identify that I’m stoned and more perceptually aware, so my anxiety is gonna be more heightened. But in general, cannabis use has dramatically helped my anxiety. I actually find strains that cause most people to get paranoid and anxious helps with my anxiety more.
The first time I smoked the strain, Ghost Train Haze, mad anxiety attack. After that, never again from smoking that strain. But it’s also helped me understand my anxiety and sit with it. Ghost Train Haze is known to cause higher anxiety in users who smoke it. This is also a bit of where set and setting come into play. I have a ritual around my cannabis use. I enjoy the aroma it gives off while I prepare and roll a joint, and I go outside and I breathe, meditate and focus on being present, and set a framing for my mind while I smoke. If the strain had previously caused me to become anxious, I tend to just become more aware that I am more perceptually aware of my surroundings and I can actually focus on being mindful and present.
TL;DR the anecdote, I use cannabis in a therapeutic ritualist manner, utilizing set-and-setting concept to help meditate and work on cognitive behavioural therapy tricks for managing anxiety and depression.
I think of it like a massage. Some people will feel the mild discomfort and new sensations and relax the muscles in response then feel less stress, some people will tense up even harder at the pressure. It really depends on the pressure given(how strong a change it is from normal) and a bunch of things about who the person is that changes how they respond to it. Some people are put into a new state of mind and find that it allows them to break from the stress patterns they were following because it’s different enough for them to realize they were tensing and relax. Others are in a new state of mind and instead of it freeing them from their existing worries they just occupy this new space with new worries.
It’s super weird, and science doesn’t know exactly why. My anedoctal evidence is that it has to do with your personality and state of mind. My brother has ADHD, autism, and is a somewhat agressive and reactive person. He has real bad effects from weed, such as paranoia and anxiety. I’m bipolar but overall very chill person, and I helps me immensily, even when I’m going through high amounts of stress. Even when I have “bad” trips, it can be cathartic and help with my state of mind.
Also different strains and dosage can have varying effects. It’s worth experimenting with if it’s safe for you.
Both can be true. I get paranoid as balls but if i focus on a thing like video games its much betta
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