The Washington Post this week reported something like a small double-blind study at the University of Illinois-Chicago. Researchers put 42 people through a stressful situation and then measured whether cannabis (specifically THC) reduced stress.
The 42 subjects received either 12.5 mg or 7.5 mg of THC. A third of the subjects received a placebo. Those who use marijuana they grow or purchase in herbal form (rather than the pure THC) get about 39 mg of THC in half a joint, so the test didn't exactly reflect typical circumstances. Moreover, as the article notes, marijuana plants (smoked or eaten) have other cannabinoid substances that were not tested in this study.
The results showed that those who received the highest dose of THC actually had the most stressful response. Anybody who smoked dope in college will immediately recognize the "paranoia effect."
Scientists posit that lower doses of THC may have a more calming effect on those who use marijuana for that purpose. This is NOT encouragement to use marijuana. But many people do take it to cope with the side effects of hydroxyurea (Hydrea) or to deal with stressful periods in their illness. Those who do should level with their doctors about their use in case benefits or problems arise among those with ET regarding marijuana use.
My guess is that as marijuana is legalized in more states for both medicinal and recreational use, better studies will emerge that will guide those who use pot as a palliative drug. We will continue to follow the science on marijuana as it emerges.
Be well!
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