Cannabis and paronoia – why do some marijuana users experience it and others do not?

Cannabis has interesting effects on the human body, but it can also cause conditions that you definitely don’t want. The least desirable one is the feeling that someone is after you. Yes, paranoia is very unpleasant and can happen to some people, but not necessarily. So what is the connection between cannabis and paranoia?

What is paranoia?

This condition makes us think that someone in your environment wants to harm or hurt you in some way. It is a certain disorder where a person is almost always suspicious and distrustful of their surroundings. Paranoia can be an accompanying effect of psychological disorders such as schizophrenia, but it is not the rule.

Symptoms of paranoia include the inability to trust others, the inability to relax, also the feeling that someone is always pulling the strings and influencing everything in the results, finding hidden cues in the behaviour of individuals, etc.

Everyone gets a little paranoid sometimes. It may be more common in people who come from poorer backgrounds, have little self-confidence, have experienced some trauma and poor mental health.

Cannabis can also make some people feel paranoid, but that can manifest itself in different ways?

What exactly is the connection between cannabis and paranoia?

According to a 2014 study, it was found that THC can indeed cause paranoia. The study also describes the fascinating ways in which THC can affect the thought processes of a paranoid individual.

Inappropriate reactions

It seems that THC can ground the brain’s ability to process random events. So your reaction to a given stimulus may be vastly different after consuming marijuana, but this effect is transient and only occurs when one is high.

More brain stimulation

THC binds to the endocannabinoid system and can activate endocannabinoid receptors such as the amygdala. The amygdala is responsible for regulating the brain’s response to fear-inducing events. These are anxiety, stress and paranoia. Overloading the amygdala can lead to uncontrollable bursts of negativity that lead to paranoia.

CBD varieties can alleviate paranoia

CBD has the opposite effect on amygdala function. Compared to THC, it can suppress the functioning of the amygdala, resulting in calmer reactions and the CBD user being more relaxed.

It is fascinating how two ingredients that are in the same plant can have such different effects.

Are some more prone to paranoid behavior after using cannabis than others?

While it is proven that more than half of marijuana users have paranoid thoughts, there are certain factors that may make some individuals more vulnerable to paranoia.

The Truth About THC – Researchers thought that telling study participants that THC causes paranoia would affect their defenses, but they were sadly mistaken. The people they disclosed this to developed symptoms of paranoid behaviour after consuming marijuana. Basically, they made them feel like the paranoia would come on by itself, without any way to defend against it.

Genetics plays a role – genetic predispositions to psychological disorders have recently been shown to increase the risk of paranoia while using cannabis. However, it should be noted that paranoia after smoking pot is not a sign of a psychological disorder.

Gender – According to a 2019 study, it has been shown that women can experience the effects of THC after smaller doses than men. Accordingly, researchers conclude that paranoia may occur earlier in women than men (at the same doses). Smaller doses are therefore recommended for women.

Tips for stopping paranoia

Finally, some tips on how to prevent paranoia.

Be sure to start with smaller doses of THC. These can be microdoses, but you should always start slowly. If the effects are weak, you can increase the dose until you find the happy medium and the desired effect.

You always need to be in a good frame of mind and preferably in a place where you are comfortable. With good emotions, the desired effect will always be accompanied by a delicious euphoria and not a negative charge that leads to paranoia.

Should paranoia happen to set in, try to remain calm. It’s a moment and you have to get through it. Mental exercise, breathing exercises, meditation (if you can do it). There’s always a way, you just have to find it.

Clearly the best way to deal with THC-induced paranoia is to choose a CBD cannabis variety. This will eliminate paranoia in the quickest way and put you at ease. You can try our Cleopatra cannabis strain, which is sure to work for these ailments.