Mental Health & Medical Marijuana

Don't get me wrong, I'm happy that we have evolved to including Medical Marijuana as a source for dealing with psychological issues such as depression and anxiety. However, the same way I get on my soap box to emphasize the importance of psychotherapy along with psychotropic medication management for all the other "prescribed drugs" out there, I am going to do the same with Medical Marijuana. Just because Medical Marijuana gives you that "feel-good" feeling does not exempt it from the same caution, care, and consciousness as ingesting any other substance that alters your state of mind.

WHAT IS MEDICAL MARIJUANA?

“Medical marijuana is marijuana used to treat disease or relieve symptoms (Mayo Clinic, 2016).” To be clear, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not approve medical marijuana as it is still considered a Schedule I drug; deeming it illegal on a federal level in all states. Yet, marijuana’s chemical properties (cannabinoids) are being used to derive prescribed treatment methods to dealing with both psychological and physical ailments on state and local levels. There are two cannabinoids being studied by the medical community which are THC and CBD. THC has found to increase appetite and decrease nausea. CBD, does not have the psychoactive effect (feeling high) of THC and may be helpful in “reducing pain and inflammation controlling epileptic seizures, and… treating mental illness and addictions (Marijuana as Medicine, 2017).” However, due to its classification of a Schedule I drug, the research on its benefits are limited in comparison to the adverse effects.

WHAT DOES IT TREAT?

As stated previously medical marijuana treats both physical and psychological ailments. Medical marijuana has found to have affects for the following ailments:

1. Nausea & Vomiting

2. Anorexia & Cachexia

3. Spasticity

4. Movement Disorders

5. Pain

6. Glaucoma

7. Epilepsy

8. Asthma

9. Dependency & Withdrawal

10. Psychiatric Symptoms

• Mood disorders, Anxiety, Sleep Disorders

1. Autoimmune Diseases &Inflammation

2. Mixed Syndromes

EFFECT ON THE BRAIN

Within our brain we have what are called cannabinoid receptors. Cannabinoid receptors are part of the Endocannibanoid System (EC), which is a communication system that regulates different functions such as an individual’s emotions, motor activity, and reactions. Our body already produces natural forms of cannabinoids that have a specific role in our system. When THC is consumed, it can interfere with the functions of cannabinoids (i.e., how information is sent, received, and processed in the brain). When marijuana is introduced into the lungs via a concentrated dose, THC is quickly released into the brain, increasing the onset of effects of slower motor activity, muted emotions, delayed reactions, etcetera. When ingesting marijuana in different ways (oils, smoking, eating, etc.) the onset of effects vary. Effects of medical marijuana also vary on the individual due to their chemical make-up. Some mental illness symptoms such as, temporary hallucinations, temporary paranoia, increased severity of symptoms for those diagnosed with schizophrenia have been found in those who use marijuana over long periods of time.

PSYCHOTHERAPY & MEDICAL MARIJUANA

Due to the novelty of medical marijuana being legalized, the research regarding the benefits or consequences of the combination of psychotherapy and medical marijuana are limited. There has been significant research conducted on the effects of psychotherapy and psychotropic medication. According to Dr. Salters-Pedneault (2017):

Psychotropic drugs are medications that affect your central nervous system,

changing how your brain processes information, such as altering your mood,

thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors.

Results from multiple studies have indicated individuals receiving a combination of psychotherapy along with psychotropic medication are beneficial in their overall treatment outcomes. These results have shown valid over decades through meta-analysis of studies evaluated by Campbell (1998), Richards et.al (2013), Wiles et al. (2014), and Greenberg (2016). There was a 54% experience of gains in treatment outcomes by participants versus their counterparts who did not receive a combination of treatment.

Although, medical marijuana has not been deemed legal by the federal community, thereby limiting funding and research opportunities, its importance in the field of psychology is an exponential unknown. There is an increasing normalization of medical marijuana, as evidenced by the legalization in multiple states. With this normalization requires the education of its use in healthy doses and situations, how to benefit most from it as a medicine for psychological concerns. That includes the need to engage in psychotherapy or some other form of mental health counseling that will address the root issues of your symptoms.

References:

1. Abuse, N. I. (2017, April). Marijuana as Medicine. Retrieved January 11, 2018, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/marijuana-medicine

2. Abuse, N. I. (n.d.). Marijuana. Retrieved December 12, 2017, from https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/marijuana

3. Campbell, T.L. (1998). Collaborative treatment of depression in primary care. Families, Systems, & Health, 16(1-2), 189-194. Doi:10.1037/h0089933

4. Greenberg, R.P. (2016). The rebirth of psychosocial importance in a drug-filled world. American Psychologist, 71(8), 781-791. Doi:10.1037/amp0000054

5. Medical Uses of Cannabis and THC. (n.d.). Retrieved November 05, 2017, from https://www.cannabis-med.org/english/patients-use.htm

6. Mintz, D., MD. (2006, October 01). Combining Drug Therapy and Psychotherapy for Depression. Retrieved January 11, 2018, from http://www.psychiatrictimes.com/articles/combining-drug-therapy-and-psychotherapy-depression

7. Richards, D. A., Hill, J. J., Gask, L., Lovell, K., Chew-Graham, C., et al. (2013). Clinical effectiveness of collaborative care for depression in UK primary care (CADET): cluster randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal, 19, 347:f4913 . doi: 10.1136/bmj.f4913.

8. Salters-Pedneault, K., Ph.D. (2017, July 07). What Are Psychotropic Drugs? Retrieved January 11, 2018, from https://www.verywellmind.com/psychotropic-drugs-425321

9. The Science of the Endocannabinoid System: How THC Affects the Brain and the Body. (2011). Retrieved January 05, 2018, from http://headsup.scholastic.com/students/endocannabinoid

10. Steinberg, D. (2014, August 15). NIDA’s Huestis Warns of Adverse Cognitive Effects of Marijuana; Some Therapeutic Uses Seen - The NIH Record - August 15, 2014. Retrieved December 12, 2017, from https://nihrecord.nih.gov/newsletters/2014/08_15_2014/story1.htm

11. What you can expect from medical marijuana. (2016, October 14). Retrieved January 11, 2018, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/consumer-health/in-depth/medical-marijuana/art-20137855?pg=1

12. Wiles, N. Thomas, L., Abel, A., Barnes, M., Carroll, F. et al (2014). Clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of cognitive behavioural therapy as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy for treatment-resistant depression in primary care: the CoBalT randomised controlled trial. Health Technology Assessment, 18, 1-167.