Sorry I just realized I was not directly answering your specific question SO only this and the next two paragraphs will be pertinent to you in that regard probably. The following paragraphs are relating personal experience having Mental Illness (MI), the effect marijuana had on those issues and lead to me becoming a 'legal' farmer that also manufactured other pot products from cooking oils, butter, and hard candies to sodas and ice cream. If you don't have substance abuse issues you may not relate to it. Also, you are more than likely NOT going to consume the quantity of cannabis day in and day out I was. I received my Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor Certificate 9/14. I think most (current) research on pot for depression shows no conclusive evidence that it helps BUT a lot of previously held beliefs such as it killing brain cells have been refuted. It's a very promising time for research and clinical trials . FDA lowered many barriers that were keeping researchers from using current technologies and research methods to explore possible therapeutic interventions of drugs classified Schedule 1. Mainly Marijuana, MDMA, psilocybin and LSD. That was in 1992 and no clinical trials started til 2003 because it has been extremely difficult to get funding from big pharmaceutical and banking corporations. Small individual donations and about 40 private investors fund ALL of this research...
You mentioned having Netflix? If so, I highly recommend watching the documentary "Neurons to Nirvana: Psychedelic Medications". Also, you might want to take a peek into the organization called MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies: nonprofit/charity) which has been the catalyst for most of this change in policy and thinking that is allowing for specific research and clinical trials to be done.
www.maps.org Because I was unwilling to address (or accept) the idea I needed to see a psychiatrist to be evaluated for MI issues, I started smoking pot (self-medicating) after nearly 14 yrs of abstaining from mind altering chemicals other than caffeine & nicotine. At first I thought marijuana was the answer and my moods became more stable and balanced after experimenting with many different strains for a few years BUT in the long run it made matters worse - greatly increasing the schizophrenia and delusion that comes with my manic episodes. Funny thing is that very severe depressions didn't start w/me til after I was dx'd BP type 1 and put on medications. I did go years with only 2 to 4 hours sleep a night in my 20's when I was drug free but not addressing the MI... Also, I should mention that I NEVER got a-motivational syndrome, rapid heartbeat, panic attacks or anxiety from smoking pot like a lot of daily pot smoking people I grew up with in Northern California as they grew into their 30's and 40's.
I will admit it should have been a no-brainer given my history of substance abuse which started at age 12. I am grateful I was clean from age 16 to 29 which allowed my brain to develop properly for the most part. The fact is, for me anyway, I want MORE of anything that feels good, relieves stress and anxiety and numbs my emotions. The only drugs I don't like are ALL stimulants other than caffeine and powder cocaine which allowed for me to drink more and more alcohol & later into the night as well. That is due to specific biological chemical imbalance which increased as I grew into adulthood rather than decreasing as it does with most who suffer from ADHD.
Joined: 01-25-2015