Everything You Need to Know About Cannabis and Paranoia

From hilarious movie quotes to personal experiences, cannabis has a well-known track record of fueling paranoia when taken in big doses.

However, why does paranoia happen, and how can you stop it in its tracks? Below, we’ll discuss everything you need to know about marijuana and paranoia.

From avoiding it entirely to reducing its intensity, you’ll soon discover how to manage paranoia while enjoying cannabis in any setting.

Does Cannabis Make You Paranoid?

Everyone reacts differently to cannabis.

As cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system, a cascade of chemical reactions takes place. As this occurs, individuals may or may not experience the sensation of paranoia.

Therefore, let’s take a look at why paranoia occurs for some individuals and not others below.

Increased Paranoia Due to the Type of Strain

It’s a well-known fact that certain types of cannabis strains increase the possibility of paranoia.

Specifically, landrace sativas are known to push the mind to its limit. From introspective thoughts to trippy visuals, Sativa-dominant strains are capable of fueling worry instead of relaxation.

Remember, paranoia is a mixture of fear and stress, and certain Sativa-dominant strains provoke a strong mental response that can trigger an episode of paranoia.

Ultimately, the individual’s response causes paranoia — not the strain.

Paranoia Due to Ongoing Mental Issues

From post-traumatic stress to bipolar disorder, individuals grappling with ongoing mental issues are typically more at risk of experiencing a paranoid episode from cannabis.

Once again, paranoia is a case-by-case experience. In other words, PTSD may be relieved by cannabis, whereas cannabis may be a trigger for others. The individual experience is paramount when getting to the bottom of paranoia and individuals with mental issues.

Lastly, it’s important to remember that everyone can experience paranoia from cannabis, even if it has never happened to them.

The Type of Cannabis Product Consumed

Another consideration on why paranoia occurs while consuming cannabis is the type of product used.

One of the most common stories about paranoia and cannabis stems from edibles. Whether you’ve experienced it or heard a story, it’s clear that there’s something about edibles that trigger the paranoia effect.

Think back to the movie Super Troopers, where one of the occupants in the car eats an entire bag of weed because there’s a cop car behind them. Although you can’t get high from eating raw flowers, the movie clearly shows the paranoid result of eating weed.

Overall, edibles appear to hit differently because of the pathway they take within the body. Ultimately, the cannabinoids within edibles (specifically THC) pass through the liver, thus amplifying their effects.

The sudden shift from being sober to stoned to the bone is jarring for most users. Thus, fear sets in, and paranoia is the result unless the user can calm themselves down.

Your Environment

In some cases, paranoia can be induced based on the environment you consume cannabis.

Typically, cannabis enthusiasts who smoke weed in nature are less likely to experience paranoia. From bird calls to running streams, there’s little to inspire fear instead of awe.

Alternatively, consuming cannabis in a noisy environment may fuel paranoid thoughts, such as a party. Additionally, consuming cannabis and seeing police nearby may add extreme paranoid thoughts.

Ultimately, it’s best to consume marijuana in a comfortable and quiet location to avoid paranoia.

How to Avoid Paranoia While Consuming Marijuana

Next, let’s discuss how to avoid or stop paranoia from occurring.

Consume Cannabis in a Relaxed Environment

As noted above, consuming marijuana in a relaxed environment is essential to avoid paranoid thoughts.

Whether that environment is your room filled with a comfortable pillow or a trail bursting with greenery — the environment plays a major role in how cannabis affects your mental state.

Therefore, always consider your environment before consuming cannabis. If you feel that your current location is too stressful, consider waiting until you’re in your happy place to light up.

Always Carry CBD With You

One of the most important discoveries in recent memory is that CBD decreases the effects of THC.

Studies show that CBD changes the size of receptors within the endocannabinoid system, thus blocking THC from binding. Therefore, it’s good to carry CBD with you if you’re prone to paranoia while consuming marijuana.

Another option is to buy cannabis products with a 1:1 ratio of THC and CBD. By doing so, users can experience the benefits of cannabis without the side effects.

Start Meditating

Outside of consuming CBD or altering your environment, meditation is a tried-and-true method to decrease or stop paranoia.

Taking the time to control your mind is the first step to understanding how to stop paranoia in its tracks. Being mentally comfortable and relaxed will decrease your chances of experiencing paranoia while high.

Remember, meditation is well known to reduce stress, fear, anxiety, and depression, which are leading factors in causing paranoia.

Thus incorporating a mediation regimen into your daily routine is an excellent way to stave off paranoid feelings while enjoying cannabis.

Start Slow to Reduce Paranoia

Another method to reduce or stop paranoia from occurring is to consume less cannabis.

If you experience scary thoughts after taking a massive dab of 90% THC concentrate, it’s safe to say that reducing both variables is a good idea. Whether it means taking a smaller hit or buying less potent concentrate, reducing the amount of cannabis hitting your system is the first step.

The same can be said when consuming cannabis edibles. Instead of eating half of the entire edible, consume half of the recommended dose and wait for the effects to take place.

Once you find the appropriate dosage, you’ll reduce your risk of having paranoid thoughts.

Conclusion

Ultimately, paranoia is an issue that cannabis enthusiasts experience due to various circumstances.

However, we’ve provided an extensive list of methods to reduce and stop paranoia from occurring while consuming cannabis. If you’ve experienced paranoia while indulging in weed, changing your environment or habits may completely change your cannabis experience for the better.