Have you ever wondered why some people get anxious, or even paranoid, after smoking cannabis, while others – ones like you – embrace that awesome giggly mood and a state of complete relaxation?

 

The answer to this question is pretty simple: it all depends on how cannabis interacts with our endocannabinoid system. However, despite the all-time high of cannabis use and legalization in the United States, there’s still much to clarify in terms of why cannabis affects everyone differently.

 

One thing remains undisputable. Cannabis does affect everyone differently. With hundreds of marijuana strains out there, it’s impossible to always get the same effect each time you use the herb. Even if Jack Herer works great for you, the same strain will give someone else a headache or trigger anxious thoughts.

 

In this article, you will find our explanation as to why cannabis affects everyone differently.

 

If you could follow, please.

1. It’s All In Genes

Nothing less, nothing more. Genetics plays an extremely important role in our lives and it determines how we respond to different stimuli. When it comes to the relationship between cannabis and humans, it’s estimated that around 20% of the U.S. adult population have an unusual genetic mutation that results in increased level of our body’s own cannabinoids.

 

That being said, if you’re in those 20%, you will most likely be less susceptible to anxiety and less prone to the effects of THC and CBD. This is because your body already produces enough of its endocannabinoids.

 

Others, whose endocannabinoids levels are below the average, are more inclined to feel anxious or paranoids, and experience psychotic effects of cannabis. Being more prone to the effects of THC means that while your buddies may remember literally everything from the moment you lit the joint to the point where everyone came back home, you, on the other hand, may be more likely to have memory impairments from THC.

 

2. Biochemistry is Key

While this may sound like a truism, everyone is different, so cannabis is presumably not the only substance that affects people differently. We bet you know someone who is bouncing off the walls after having a single cup of coffee. Or – because it’s perfectly possible – you have a friend who gets drunk after two glasses of wine?

People react differently to lots of things and cannabis is just one of them.

 

Your biochemistry can be the reason why you don’t feel the same as your friends once you welcome THC and CBD to your system. You see, how the endocannabinoid system works is a resultant of many different factors. The aforementioned genetics, lifestyle, stress, diet, habits – they all contribute to how the endocannabinoid system works in every individual.

 

For example, endocannabinoids come from fatty acids, and their production is particularly increased in the presence of omega-3 fatty acids. With that in mind, if your diet lacks fatty acids, or their intake is insufficient to keep your endocannabinoid system working properly, it will eventually go out of whack. Of course, you will experience the cannabis high more intensely, but you will also be more prone to anxiety and psychotic effects of the herb.

 

To cut the long story short, your biochemistry can change the way you experience the cannabis high at any given moment. Oh, and let us not forget that no two people are alike in terms of biochemistry, so there you have it – our second reason why cannabis affects everyone differently.

3. Gender Matters, Too

Oh, sweet gender equality! Alas, you are absent when it comes to the effects of cannabis on people. Men and women respond to marijuana differently. For example, men are more likely to crave food than ladies, but on the other hand, women are more sensitive to the overall effects of the health. They need less cannabis to experience its analgesic properties.

 

Women are generally more complex than men, but in terms of using cannabis, ladies have much more to keep in mind than men. Need some examples? There you go – hormones! Did you know that the time of the month in which a woman consumes cannabis can influence her high? THC, the primary psychoactive compound in the plant, is closely related to estrogen. To be more precise, the effects of THC are at their peak after estrogen levels have reached the top limit and are on the decline.

 

Now, at least, you know how to plan your cannabis session, dear ladies.

4. Your General Health – How About That?

There is a world of difference between healthy cannabis users and those who consume the plant to combat their ailments. If you have a medical condition, it’s very likely that your biochemistry is altered in some way. Plus, when you consume cannabis, it triggers a series of chemical processes in your body, which, again, alters your biochemistry.

 

Let’s say you have fibromyalgia or PTSD. In your case, this alteration will be the desired effects. Using cannabis can just bring you to your regular safe. You may not necessarily get super high, but the herb can help you get up from the couch, handle the pain or trauma, and get that minimum dose of motivation to function like a normal person. Both PTSD and fibromyalgia are attributed to undesirable changes in the endocannabinoid systems. When these patients use cannabis, they rebalance any deficiencies in endocannabinoids, which is referred to as endocannabinoid tone.

5. Tolerance

Finally, here’s our dead giveaway. Let’s face it, if you smoke a lot of cannabis, you’re going to experience its effects in a very different way than someone who does not enjoy the herb so frequently. The more you consume, the greater your tolerance for cannabis.

 

When you get used to the effects of THC, the sudden influx of plant cannabinoids will not make you stoned, but you’re more likely to experience something we like to call ‘the vibe.’ The vibe means that you’re just relaxed, slightly energized, and focused, without getting the stereotypical goofy smile and red eyes after several puffs.

 

On the other hand, someone who has never tried cannabis before will react in a totally different way because the body is not used to so many cannabinoids in your body at a time.

 

So, there you have it! These five factors will surely help you understand why cannabis affects everyone differently. Next time, when you’re blissfully medicated and your friend starts to fight with anxious thoughts, show some empathy and explain that this is totally normal.