Cannabis Use and Stress: A New Perspective

Cannabis has long been regarded as a stress reliever – at least for some users. However, recent findings suggest that regular use might actually increase stress levels instead.

Researchers at Oregon State University decided to delve deeper into the link between cannabis and stress after prior studies hinted that the substance could elevate stress, rather than alleviate it.

The focus was on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is the body’s primary stress response system. It involves connections between the brain and kidneys, regulating the secretion of cortisol, a stress hormone.

According to results published in Cannabis, regular cannabis users showed elevated cortisol levels upon waking in the morning. “Our research indicates that cortisol levels at awakening could serve as a neurobiological marker for problematic cannabis use, warranting further investigation,” explains behavioral neuroscientist Anita Cservenka.

The study examined 39 frequent cannabis users against 43 controls who rarely or never used cannabis. Participants provided saliva samples immediately after waking, 30 minutes later, and that evening at 9 PM.

These samples were tested for cortisol, and participants also completed questionnaires about their perceived stress levels, sleep quality, and mental health symptoms.

A particular interest was the cortisol awakening response (CAR), which refers to the natural spike in cortisol that occurs in the morning to prepare the body for the day. “CAR is the increase in cortisol levels that most people experience, peaking about 30 minutes after waking,” Cservenka notes.

Interestingly, while the rise in cortisol levels was similar for both cannabis users and non-users in that initial half-hour, regular users exhibited higher baseline cortisol levels. Still, it’s important to note that these observations reflect only a moment in time and don’t establish a cause-and-effect relationship.

There’s also a complex dynamic to consider—individuals under more stress might be inclined to use cannabis more frequently, and vice versa. Despite these nuances, the findings are significant enough to provoke further questions regarding the impact of habitual cannabis use. Elevated cortisol can have detrimental effects, potentially contributing to anxiety and heart disease.

“We would need to study the same individuals over an extended period to grasp any causal relationship. However, we believe this provides a crucial starting point,” adds Cservenka.

This research comes against a backdrop of increasing cannabis use, notably as legalization spreads in various regions. The researchers cite that around 29 percent of 19- to 30-year-olds in the U.S. reported using cannabis in the last month, a figure that has nearly doubled in two decades.

Moreover, over 10 percent within this age group indicated using cannabis 20 or more times during that 30-day span, and that percentage has more than doubled in the past 15 years.

The new study contributes valuable insights into an already intricate topic. Interestingly, earlier research indicated chronic cannabis users might experience a diminished CAR, prompting the need for further research to clarify these findings.

“Previous studies from other researchers found a blunted CAR in frequent cannabis users, but we didn’t replicate that result. This suggests there’s more nuance possibly linked to analytical methodologies and participant characteristics,” Cservenka remarks.

The findings have been documented in Cannabis.