Is Marijuana a Stimulant: Understanding Its Effects
This post is part of our Best Dispensaries in Utah series, brought to you by Cannabist Springville.
Is marijuana a stimulant? The answer to this common cannabis question may surprise you.
In reality, marijuana is both a stimulant and a depressant — multiple factors can affect the way your body reacts to weed. In addition, cannabis can also be a hallucinogen.
Knowing that weed is a stimulant, a depressant, and a hallucinogen can help you enjoy your cannabis responsibly. Here’s what you need to know about weed’s effects.
Table of Contents
What Is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a plant that contains a psychoactive compound known as THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). This compound is what gets you high when you consume cannabis.
Cultures around the world have been using marijuana in different forms for thousands of years. In fact, the earliest recorded cannabis use dates back to 2800 BC in China.
Cognitive Effects of Marijuana Use
Marijuana use can have a variety of different effects on your body and mind. Weed can make you feel relaxed and euphoric, and it can also increase your perception of the information you take in with your senses.
Everyone reacts to weed differently. That’s why the answer to the question “Is marijuana a stimulant?” has a slightly complicated answer. Depending on the person, the strain of weed, and the amount consumed, weed’s effects can range from stimulating to relaxing.
Stimulant
So, is weed a stimulant? In many cases, yes. The sativa strain of cannabis is known for producing feelings of alertness, which is one of the primary effects of stimulant drugs. THC can increase the amount of dopamine produced by your brain, which may explain why some people feel stimulated when consuming cannabis in different forms.
Depressant
Now that we know the answer to the question “Is marijuana a stimulant?,” let’s look at how weed can also function as a depressant.
A depressant is a substance that relaxes the body and mind and can induce feelings of sleepiness. THC can sometimes have the effects of a depressant, especially in the case of certain types of weed. As a result, indica weed is more likely to make you feel mellow, relaxed, and sleepy.
Hallucinogen
THC stimulant or depressant effects aren’t the only effects of weed. In some cases, marijuana can also act as a hallucinogen, a substance that alters your perception of reality. This doesn’t mean that you’ll hallucinate while high, but it does mean that weed may change the way that your environment looks and feels.
Pain Management With Marijuana as a Stimulant
We’ve established that THC can increase the amount of dopamine produced by your brain, but did you know that that makes weed a potential source of pain relief?
Marijuana can be used to manage pain in multiple forms, including gummies, tinctures, concentrates, and more. Research is still limited, but it looks like THC’s stimulating effects and its impact on the production of dopamine may make it easier to manage chronic pain.
What Can Influence the Effects of Marijuana Use?
A wealth of environmental and individual factors can affect the way that weed makes you feel. For example, if you consume cannabis alongside alcohol, some of weed’s adverse effects may be amplified. In addition, the strain of weed you choose can also impact the way you feel while high. Indica weed is thought to be more relaxing, while sativa is thought to be more stimulating.
No matter what, make sure to pay attention to how you feel when using cannabis products and only do what feels comfortable to you.
Where To Buy Weed
The best place to buy weed is from a reputable dispensary near you. At a dispensary like Cannabist in Springville, you can purchase legal cannabis products, get help finding the right items for you, and talk to other cannabis enthusiasts.
Conclusion
Weed can be a stimulant, a depressant, and a hallucinogen, and the drug’s effects vary from person to person. If you’re new to cannabis, we encourage you to start with small dosages and see how weed makes you feel. It’s also smart to talk to a medical professional and address any questions you have about weed and your health. Once you feel confident, you can go enjoy your favorite cannabis products without any worries.
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