Can Cannabis Improve the Transition to Sleep?

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There are no good predictors in fact if you look in the literature it is not at all clear that people who have a heightened level of anxiety when they do not smoke cannabis will experience cannabis as less paranoia inducing or more relaxing. General categories of effects such as increased focus and reduced anxiety are largely due to activation of areas like the prefrontal cortex. When we talk about the cannabinoid system and I say effects biological effects psychoactive effects can be varied and often opposite in direction.

In this episode, I discuss cannabis (aka marijuana), including the biological mechanisms underlying its effects on the mind and body, its known medical applications, its impact on libido, creativity, hunger, hormones and more. I also cover the known adverse health consequences of chronic and even acute (one-time) use and the factors that determine if cannabis is helpful or harmful. Additionally, I detail how the various strains of cannabis: sativa, indica and hybrid strains, can produce such divergent effects depending on the strain type, THC-to-CBD ratio, total dosage, and frequency of use. I review why cannabis can impact speech patterns and one’s propensity to develop anxiety/depression during and after use and, in some individuals, paranoia. As the legal landscape for cannabis is rapidly evolving, this episode should interest a wide audience, including former/current cannabis users, those in the medical, sports, law enforcement, and educational communities and, of course, children, teenagers, and parents.

For the full show notes, visit hubermanlab.com.

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Timestamps

(00:00:00) Cannabis (Marijuana)

(00:005:02) Sponsor: LMNT

(00:07:03) Tool: Non-Sleep Deep Rest (NSDR), Sleep & Anxiety

(00:15:08) Cannabis Strains, Psychoactive Compounds: THC & CBD

(00:19:34) Sativa vs. Indica, Stimulant vs. Relaxation Effects

(00:25:55) Hybrid Cannabis Strains, Type 1, 2 & 3 Strains

(00:31:56) Naturally Occurring Receptors: Nicotinic & Cannabinoid Receptors (CB1)

(00:35:18) Sponsor: AG1

(00:40:35) THC, CBD vs. Endogenous Cannabinoids, Dependence

(00:43:14) Endogenous Cannabinoids, Cannabinoid Receptors & Nervous System Function

(00:53:07) Biological Effects of Cannabis

(00:56:29) Cannabis Sativa & Subjective Effects: Mood, Stress, Alertness, Paranoia

(01:04:58) Cannabis Indica & Subjective Effects, Memory, Dosage

(01:09:41) Brain Areas Affected by THC & CBD, Side Effects

(01:16:08) Creativity: Convergent vs. Divergent Thinking & Dopamine

(01:26:41) Does Cannabis Increase Creativity?

(01:35:08) Chronic Cannabis Use & Changes in Speech Patterns

(01:46:46) Cannabis & Libido, Dopamine & Prolactin

(01:56:55) Cannabis & Hormones: Prolactin, Testosterone, Estrogen & Fertility

(02:06:53) Smoking/Vaping Tobacco or Cannabis & Negative Health Consequences

(02:10:06) Avoiding Cannabis During Pregnancy/Breastfeeding, Fetal Neural Development

(02:18:13) Negative Health Consequences of Cannabis, Anxiety & Depression, Tolerance

(02:25:57) Cannabis Use & Adolescence/Young Adulthood, Predisposition to Psychosis

(02:34:36) Adolescent Cannabis Use: Brain Development & Mental Health Disorders

(02:41:44) Cannabis & Pain Management, Divergent Effects of Cannabis

(02:44:54) Zero-Cost Support, YouTube Feedback, Spotify & Apple Reviews, Sponsors, Huberman Lab Premium, Momentous Supplements, Neural Network Newsletter, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn

Title Card Photo Credit: Mike Blabac

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