Caution
Marijuana (Cannabis)
Not a home remedy: a psychoactive plant with real risks, especially for youth and mental health -- distinct from its non-psychoactive relative, hemp, which can be used healthfully as a food.
🌱 What it is
Marijuana (cannabis) is a plant containing THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound responsible for its psychoactive "high," along with CBD and other compounds. It is smoked, vaporized, or eaten in food products, in forms whose THC potency has risen sharply over recent decades. Hemp is the same plant species bred to be very low in THC and is not psychoactive -- hemp seed and hemp seed oil are ordinary, healthful foods and are covered separately (see Hemp Seed).
✨ How it may help
- Purified, pharmaceutical cannabinoid medications (such as dronabinol or a purified CBD medication) are FDA-approved for a small number of specific conditions under a physician’s prescription and supervision -- this is a medical decision between a patient and their doctor, not a home remedy
- Non-psychoactive hemp seed and hemp seed oil are a genuinely healthful whole food, rich in plant protein and omega fatty acids (see the separate Hemp Seed entry)
🥄 How to use it
This site does not recommend marijuana use for any condition. If a physician has prescribed a specific cannabinoid medication for a diagnosed condition, follow their guidance exactly. Otherwise, this is not a home remedy to try on your own.
⚖️ Caution
Marijuana is never recommended here as a treatment for any condition. Its risks are real and well documented: regular use, especially starting in the teen years, is linked to a higher risk of anxiety, depression, and psychosis or schizophrenia in those with a personal or family vulnerability; today’s much higher-potency products have sharpened this risk compared to decades past. It impairs memory, attention, coordination, and judgment for hours after use, making driving or operating machinery dangerous. It is addictive for a meaningful share of regular users, especially those who start young, and heavy long-term use has been linked to cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome (cycles of severe vomiting), lung irritation when smoked, and possible harm to a developing fetus in pregnancy or a nursing infant -- it should always be avoided in pregnancy and breastfeeding. As with any mind-altering substance, this site’s position is that psychoactive drugs used purely to alter mood or perception are not a wellness practice worth pursuing, and are never a substitute for addressing the underlying reason a person feels they need one. If use has become hard to stop, this is treated the same as any other addiction here: a real health concern deserving compassion, honesty, and real support -- from a doctor, counselor, or a program such as SAMHSA’s National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) -- not shame or secrecy.
🍃 A note from nature
The same plant family can be bred toward two very different ends -- one a humble, nourishing seed, the other something that clouds the very mind it touches. Wisdom is knowing which one you are holding.