Cannabis has become almost as accepted as it is consumed.

For many, it relieves stress and improves the joy of living among friends or even in solitude. But what if enjoyment suddenly unexpectedly turns into an uncomfortable experience? One of the disadvantages of consuming more cannabis than we can tolerate is a feeling of anxiety or even paranoia.

Studies have shown that cannabis use helps our bodies release a neurotransmitter called dopamine, sometimes referred to as a ‘chemical messenger’, which influences the way we feel pleasure (and think).

However, cannabis affects different people in different ways. While it can help decrease stress and anxiety in some, it can have the opposite effect on others.

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Why this happens

James Giordano, a professor of neurology and biochemistry at Georgetown University Medical Center, noted that while anxiety reactions aren’t typical, they’re also not uncommon, especially for people just starting out on cannabis use.

“Disorientation can lead to a lot of anxiety,” Giordano told Vice.

Fortunately, there are scientific reasons why you may feel anxious after using cannabis. THC binds to cannabinoid receptors in the brain, releasing dopamine, serotonin and GABA (a neurotransmitter that prevents neurons from firing), Giordano explained. While researchers suspect that GABA may improve mood or have a calming effect on the nervous system, increased GABA and serotonin activity inhibits norepinephrine, a neurotransmitter involved in alertness and anxiety, which calms most, but not all, people.

Herein lies the problem of anxiety: it has a lot to do with people’s metabolism and response, and not with the plant itself.

Giordano warned that, for some people, reduced norepinephrine has a rebound effect, which causes the sympathetic nervous system to accelerate, generating an increase in heart rate and the release of cortisol, which we tend to perceive as anxiety.

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What needs to be done?

If a person close to you is having an unpleasant experience with cannabis, Giordano suggests accompanying them and letting them know they are in a supportive environment and, of course, not joking about their situation.

He added that if you’re lonely and in a state of marijuana-induced anxiety, getting fresh air and moving around could help metabolize cannabis. Some also find that relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation can help.

Those who get anxious when they use cannabis “should be very frank about what they’re experiencing, especially if it’s not pleasant,” Giordano said.

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