By what mechanism does cannabis cause paranoia?

[the_integerian]

I apologize if this question has been asked, but by what mechanism in the brain does cannabis cause paranoia? Does it cause a release of norepinephrine? Does it cause a decrease of GABA?

 

[jamesmartin]

By te government making it illegal , resulting in the user thinking he/she is doing something "wrong" , when then makes the user worry about people finding out , etc.

I don't think it has anything to do with how weed actually acts on the brain.

 

[SDforever420]

I was wondering this same thing today. I think its all in the persons head. Now that i think about it im paranoid on some level when im baked. I wonder if people can tell im baked when im in public. Then i tell myself i dont care if they can tell or not. Fuck it.

 

[Chauncey_GARDENer]

Haha this is really funny. Jamesmartin got it more than right, there is no specific neurological explanation for paranoia caused by Cannabis use. The issue is one of psychological implications, not pharmacology. First of all, not all individuals experience paranoia while high. I will admit, when I first began smoking many years ago I did experience the classical "they know I'm high" panic attack, but this was only when I was around large groups of people or my parents. Think about it, would having people around you actually alter the dynamics of CB1-CB2 agonism caused by the different cannabinoids that are dissolved in your brain? Probably not. But does having different people around you alter your perceptions, moods, activities, and methods of communication? Most certainly.

All I am trying to say is that paranoia is at best an indirect side-effect of THC, cannabidiol, and whatever else is in your herb. I suggest doing what I do, not think about it. For the most part, you have the choice of how you react to every situation and stimulus. That is why it a RE-action, because you are RE-sponding to the actions of others. It is silly to think that, just because you are high, you can only react to certain situations in a singular paranoiac way. It is this mindset that validates your paranoia in the first place. Perhaps Cannabis is not the drug for you, or perhaps you just need to have a good long think about I and many others have said. Either way I hope this helps.

 

[Arobskittle]

that was helpful thanks ChaunceyG

I think it may have something to do with racing thoughts generating panic, anxiety and paranoia, at such a rate that the thinker is unable to discard irrational thoughts.

of course i have no basis for actual facts as i do not experience such problems

 

[jamesmartin]

^ yeah . I think if one can control those thoughts properly ( it may take time ) your cannabis Hugh will be wonderful

 

[Artificial Emotion]

It's funny, I've never had paranoia from weed, just intense anxiety about getting caught, going temporarily crazy etc. Maybe that is paranoia but I always considered paranoia to be the type of situation where you're extremely suspicious of people for example.

 

[Mr_Fluffykins]

i think the majority of the parinoia is caused by the legal status, because the more often you smoke without getting caught you sorta get less of that sketchy feeling and feel more invincible to the law, and thne if you get caught that parinoia will come back,

but it also can cause anxiety not directly related to being caught

 

[MagickalKat777]

There is definitely a chemical reason behind it too though because people have outright panic attacks from weed... weed panic attacks are worse for me than ANY other kind.

 

[w01fg4ng]

A moderate amount of paranoia is natural, because it is human's instinct for survival. Getting high on pot often increases specific cerebral activity such as auditory or tactile sensations. Increasing these sensations is only naturally going to increase "paranoia"; it's biologically coded in us to be this way for survival. Pot simply increases this type of paranoia. A lot of drugs do actually. So yes, I would agree that it almost completely biological.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

i think the majority of the parinoia is caused by the legal status, because the more often you smoke without getting caught you sorta get less of that sketchy feeling and feel more invincible to the law, and thne if you get caught that parinoia will come back,

I think to say the 'majority' of paranoia is caused by cannabis prohibition is incorrect. Case in point, paranoid dutch smokers.

 

[RecklessWOT]

Funny, I never used to worry about getting caught or anything like that as a kid because i was safe about it. I started having my hardcore panic attacks (body numbing, blue lips, 150bpm heart-rate, loss of vision/ hearing) after I moved out into my own house where the threat of getting caught was zero. I also was not worried about the 'legal status' of smoking weed because with all of the real crimes that I commit, a little weed is like kissing my mother, it doesn't count for shit. Granted I have an anxiety disorder in regular life anyway, but I only have really bad panic attacks to the point where my personal health could actually be at risk while smoking weed. I would have to assume that there is a reason directly linked to the weed just from my personal experiences. I'm not just talking paranoia here, i'm talking actual anxiety. Maybe it's not a neurological link to the THC, but possibly the increased heartrate and blood pressure that any central nervous system stimulant (including marijuana) causes could potentially make one become uncomfortable enough to the point where they worry about the condition of their body and freak out. That plus other side effects such as cotton mouth/ coughing would really make one even more uncomfortable and further agitate that person's already upset condition. Especially if you're not really doing anything to occupy your mind you tent to focus on these negative feelings (when out and about with good friends I rarely have any anxiety problems whatsoever). I know on cocaine I never have panic attacks even though that seems like more of a stimulant, but it also has pleasant physical side effects like energy and numbness (not to mention that you're wayyy too busy talking the nearest person's ear off to think about much else besides where to find a beer and some women), not just a dry raspy feeling with nothing else on your mind but listening to the sound of your own heartbeat. Smoking is rarely unpleasant, but if you become uncomfortable in any situation it is enough to heighten your anxiety.

 

[Mr_Fluffykins]

I think to say the 'majority' of paranoia is caused by cannabis prohibition is incorrect. Case in point, paranoid dutch smokers.

ok yeah i worded that wrong
i think the parinoia in countries where marijuana is illegal is heightened by the legal status, as well as the fact that many people over smoke,

i only get anxious if i smoke like one toke over the line

but never sitting downtown at a railroad station

 

[Artificial Emotion]

ok yeah i worded that wrong
i think the parinoia in countries where marijuana is illegal is heightened by the legal status, as well as the fact that many people over smoke,

i only get anxious if i smoke like one toke over the line

but never sitting downtown at a railroad station

That makes more sense.

The theory that the paranoia is caused by cannabis' illegality is far from new. I've seen this theory being touted when I was only 16 years old. I think it's just one of those myths floating around the internet to be honest. However, prohibition would cause some anxiety/paranoia obviously.

 

[Tillianne]

IMO, toking too much in general, whatever method you chose to use. Consuming cannabis is probably the method that causes the most paranoia because people over consume quite a bit, leading to the severe paranoia.

 

[broagan]

one toke over the line

 

[MagickalKat777]

I think its ridiculous to assume marijuana's paranoia comes from the illegality... Shit if that was the case I'd be paranoid all the time between the research chems, methylone, molly, and other shit I do!

 

[hydrochron]

Well it's the fact that's your paranoid, I learned along time ago when I was smoking ways of not being paranoid. Because it kills the buzz imo. Take a valium.

Weed expands your mind, and what you might already be thinking. Is magnified. My advice would be relax lol.

 

[MagickalKat777]

Somehow while meditating when I was like 12 years old, I learned to turn the thoughts in my head off from being actively heard - too much chatter in there - probably why I don't really "trip" like most people do although mescaline is the sole exception there. But yeah, I'm not really thinking anything - its the FEELINGS in my body that get me going. Hashberry had me curled up in a ball rushing so hard it literally felt like my entire body was my heart beat and it was going alarmingly fast - even after finding my pulse was 84, 80, and 90 respectively, I couldn't convince myself of that fact so I took two xanax which made it worse, then I chewed up a klonopin and was still fucked so my friend cuddled me and I passed out shortly and woke up fine...

 

[Blowmonkey]

I apologize if this question has been asked, but by what mechanism in the brain does cannabis cause paranoia? Does it cause a release of norepinephrine?

Pretty much comes down to that. Adrenergic activity is the most likely culprit, but in reality it's a bit more complex than just adrenergic activity alone.

This following thread has some great information on the subject:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=149852