Research shows that mild paranoid thoughts are relatively common, especially when under high stress. However, paranoia can be caused by bipolar disorder, related disorders, and many other factors.

What is paranoia?

Paranoia can be described as thinking and feeling like you are being threatened somehow, even if there is no evidence that it is happening in reality. Paranoid thoughts can also be described as delusions and typically stem from exaggerated suspicions created in your mind.

When experiencing paranoia, many different kinds of threats may scare or worry you. For example, someone looked at you hatefully, which has escalated into trying to sabotage your life. Realistically, you may have caught them in a moment of deep thought or crisis, and they weren’t even looking your way in the first place.

Why do we experience paranoia?

People become paranoid when they lose their ability to reason and assign meaning to things. The exact cause of this experience is unknown. Researchers continue to conclude that paranoia could be caused by genetics, brain chemicals, or a stressful, traumatic life event. However, it is likely a combination of all or most of these factors.

How do we avoid it?

• Keep a Journal
• Practice Self-Care
• Meditation and Yoga
• Question paranoia thoughts
• Learn how to relax
• Spend time in Nature
• Get enough rest
• Maintain a balanced diet
• Drink enough water
• Get Creative
• Talk to a professional

What is anxiety?

Anxiety is the most common mental disorder in the United States, affecting approximately forty million adults nationwide. This number reflects about eighteen percent of our country’s population.

Anxiety is a treatable condition, however, only around thirty-seven percent of patients seek treatment. Anxiety disorders, including social phobia, stem from a combination of inherited traits, and brain structures that affect the fear response, life events, and environmental factors.

Social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, causes an intense fear that one is being evaluated or judged by others when in social settings. This persistent fear can affect many aspects of daily life, including work, school, friends, family, errands, doctor visits, and more.

Although it can feel beyond one’s control, social anxiety and other anxiety disorders are treatable. It is the most common type of anxiety disorder and if treatment isn’t pursued could lead to disruptions in everyday life and in severe cases could result in alcohol and cannabis dependence as a coping mechanism.

How can weed lessen anxiety?

The perfect strain of medical marijuana for anxiety disorder would have a more considerable amount of CBD, and lower levels of THC, which depending on the type, can induce anxiety and panic. Critical cure is a great strain because CBD and THC are in a nice balance. Safe access to medical marijuana strains with the combination of cannabidiol CBD concentrations could allow for the health benefits without the risks.

THC and CBD cannabinoids can improve sleep quality and duration in anxiety disorders. These clinical trials tell us that medical cannabis may help reduce social anxiety in the short term and help you sleep better overall.

However, before smoking weed or thinking of an edible as a way to ingest marijuana, we recommend speaking with your doctor and checking marijuana laws in your state. For recreational users, talking with a dispensary or healthcare provider that you trust should point you in the right direction.

Alternative treatments

 This category includes yoga, meditation, exercise, and acupuncture. These holistic therapies are popular for people looking to increase blood flow, change their lifestyles and build healthier habits. For some, they can assist in coping with mental disorders and relieve anxiety symptoms and physical issues like muscle spasms.

Some alternative solutions combined with THC or medication or meeting with a therapist could successfully result in a significant decrease in anxiety and build a healthy, happy, and productive lifestyle.

Types of Cannabis

There are two main species of the cannabis plant. Let’s compare Cannabis Indica and Cannabis Sativa.

Sativa

Cannabis Sativa does well in warmer regions of the Earth and can thrive with high humidity levels. The typical locations where Sativa strains are grown are Central America, South America, and Southeast Asia. Sativa is tall and slender with thin, light green leaves. 

Many people report that smoking Sativa makes them feel energized, creative and focused. These psychological effects make these marijuana strains best for daytime use because using them at night may cause insomnia due to the higher THC levels.  It can also be known to cause paranoia when significantly used.

Common effects

• Easing depression symptoms
• Headache and Pain relief 
• Decreasing Nausea
• Fighting appetite loss
• Better Focus
• Cerebral High

Indica

Cannabis Indica is commonly found growing in the dryer climates of the Middle East. They are short and bushy with large, dark green leaves. The buds tend to be much denser in Indica versus Sativa.

Indica strains have higher CBD content than Sativa. Most Indica weed contains an almost even amount of CBD and THC levels. Since Indica tends to be relaxing, they’re best for nighttime use due to the intense body high.  

Common Effects

• Relieving intense body and muscle pain
• Reducing nausea and increasing appetite
• Easing insomnia and promoting healthy sleep
• Reducing anxiety symptoms

Does Low THC mean less anxiety?

A 2017 study by the University of Washington observed forty-two healthy adults and found evidence to suggest that consuming 7.5 milligrams of THC reduced adverse feelings associated with a stressful task. However, a higher dose of 12.5 milligrams had the opposite effect and increased those same feelings.

Strains that don’t cause paranoia

Here are four different strains that won’t trigger paranoia. Pure Indica and high CBD strains are typically the best strains to prevent paranoia. If it’s your first time with a new strain, start low and slowly increase as you feel comfortable.

Critical Cure 

Critical Cure is an Indica-dominant cannabis strain that has a lovely balance of CBD and THC percentages at around eight percent each. It’s quick-acting and long-lasting with mildly psychoactive effects. This descendant of Critical Kush will be sure to relieve tension, ease muscles, and provide a sense of deep relaxation. It can offset the effects of human experimental anxiety from caffeine, nicotine, and other legal substances.

Ringo’s Gift

Ringo’s Gift is a high CBD strain that has an average CBD-to-THC ratio of 13:1, but strains as high as 20:1 have been cultivated. Because of the high CBD, the THC interacts differently and enhances medicinal properties. Users boast relief for stress and anxiety as well as its sedative effects and full-body relaxation.

ACDC 

ACDC is a High Times cannabis cup-winning strain with fourteen percent CBD content. It has very little THC, so there won’t be a high associated with this one. It’s a great one for morning or evening and is sure to leave you happy, relaxed, and with pain-free physical effects. If you are going to be public speaking, this may be just the calming, clear-headed strain to relieve that mental anguish. Just make sure to bring some water in case you have a dry mouth.

Girl Scout Cookies

Girl Scout Cookies is a high-quality Indica-dominant strain known to reduce fear and depression. High THC concentrations of up to twenty-eight percent make it a popular strain among any cannabis activist. This weed can cause intense bursts of excitement and profound calmness, helping to relieve tension and anxiety. Many users report that taking girl scout cookies in a social environment promotes laughter and good vibes.

Are There Specific Cannabis Strains That Are Less Likely to Cause Paranoia?

Yes, there are specific cannabis strains that are less likely to cause paranoia. The level of THC in the strain is a major factor in determining why weed causes paranoia. Strains with higher levels of CBD and lower levels of THC are known to be less likely to induce feelings of paranoia.

Top Four Strains for Anxiety

Along with the legendary cannabis strains: Super Lemon Haze, Mango Kush, Blue Dream, OG Kush, and Strawberry Cough, here are the most effective strains that don’t cause paranoia or induce panic attacks for medicinal and recreational users.

Pound Cake 

London Pound Cake gets its name from its warm, fruity flavor profile. It is an Indica-dominant strain that can promote self-soothing and mindfulness. This fruity strain is excellent for a quick cure for replacing stress and anxiety with feelings of euphoria due to its extremely high THC level, which can go up to 29 percent. Pound cake will help you back to reality when feeling down while offering you a sense of physical relaxation.

Hawaiian Haze

Hawaiian Haze is produced by Botany Farms and is nearly THC free. This tropical strain will promote energy, creativity, and focus with almost 20 percent CBD content. Cannabidiol CBD maintains a sense of calm without the psychoactive effects brought on by THC, making it useful in social situations because not everyone wants to get high.

Frisian Dew

Frisian Dew is a balanced hybrid with a low THC content. This strain is helpful in social settings because it assists in staying present and letting your creativity shine through to come up with interesting questions and keep the conversation going with others. Frisian Dew is a good option for anxiety and treating pain because of its balance of Indica and Sativa.

Gelato

Gelato is an Indica-dominant hybrid with a sweet and fruity flavor profile. It produces optimism and euphoric feelings in many of its users and can help reduce negative thoughts. Despite its mildly Indica-dominant origins, this strain shouldn’t make you drowsy.

Gelato is similar to OG Kush due to its well-balanced high that sneaks up on the user, helping ease them into the cerebral and body effects. The uplifting benefits combined with the improved sense of satisfaction and calm are just a few reasons this bud with earthy cherry notes may be perfect for easing fear, stress, anxiety, and depression.

Strains to Avoid

Sativa strains or a Sativa dominant hybrid are typically ones to avoid so you don’t feel paranoid.

• Green Crack
• Jack the Ripper
• Serious 6
• Trainwreck
• Durban Poison
• Sour Diesel

Conclusion

Paranoia can be a disturbing feeling at best and intensely scary at worst. If you find yourself feeling this way due to cannabis use, try to stay calm and positive and remember the anxious feelings will subside once the high wears off. If you are interested in trying out cannabis strains to help with persistent paranoia, anxiety, or other mood disorders, be sure to seek the opinion of a healthcare provider first.