Written by Merita Ra Wheel-Zot
Since marijuana has become readily available in local dispensaries across the United States it is a potential treatment for depression. In the past ten years there has been a rise in depression and suicide especially in the United States where pharmaceutical drugs have not been curing people of chronic mental illness and PTSD. Many patients who have depression (an estimated 16 percent) have reported that cannabis treatment helped them manage their mental illness and anxiety without the harsh side effects of benzodiazepines and antidepressants. It is apparent in today’s high stressful lifestyles that the healing power of the Cannabis plant is a warrior medicine for treating anxiety and depression.
Grape Ape – Indica. Grape Ape can provide a health consumer with a soothing and calm feeling that treats symptoms of depression, anxiety, insomnia and pain. Its name hints, fruity taste and smells like grape juice, with a slight damson taste. Its deep purple and green flower ancestors, the strain grows into a deep purple bud and leaves to go with its deep berry and damson attributes. It helps with chronic pain, migraines, anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Northern Lights – Indica. Northern Lights is a sacred and powerful strain that came from crossing Afghani and Thai Landrace strains. Aromatic, spicy, and sweet with hues of a citrus punch. Northern Lights can be effective in treating anxiety, pain, insomnia and loss of appetite.
Granddaddy Purple – Indica. Equals a 100% Indica strain and is memorable for its vibrant purple buds and green frosting. When this cannabis is grown indoors it can pass 80 centimeters in height. Granddaddy Purple is a compact strain that rarely pushes above the 1-meter mark. Granddaddy Purple is a strain with very low CBD content. A Granddaddy Purple bud is considered the grandfather of all cannabis strains that gives a user a pleasurable euphoric sense of wellbeing that can treat chronic pain, depression, PTSD, and anxiety.
Blue Dream – Hybrid. Blue Dream is a mild sativa effective hybrid with a potent 60% sativa and 40% indica. The Blue Dream has a dominant THC level that has about a 24% THC purity for an experienced user with an immediate cerebral high that can motivate a user with focused creativity. The Blue Dream has been reported by patients suffering from ailments such as chronic stress, chronic pain due to injury or illness, depression, and overwhelming insomnia. Blue Dream gives off the taste and aroma of blueberry fruit and remanences stay on your tongue after smoking it.
Girl Scout Cookies – Hybrid. GSC, it is an indica-dominant hybrid cannabis strain created from crossing OG Kush with Durban Poison. This plant bud hybrid is known for its euphoric effects, giving the body a sense of calm and relaxation. A mild hit of the GSC can leave you feeling a sense of joy and contentment treating patients with depression, and anxiety, however it can make you feel hungry. A THC level of 19% that is recommended for an experienced health consumer. This is a medicine that should be taken in very low doses for those new users seeking the healing benefits of cannabis.
Euphoria – Sativa. Euphoria is a sativa cannabis strain created from the Skunk marijuana as one of Amsterdam’s generation Z or the year 2000 by the Dutch Passion seed company. This infamous and popular bud takes about nine weeks to grow which has received the 2000 High Times Cannabis Cup and Best Seeds Highlife Cup in 2002 placing second place among all marijuana buds. The aroma is a more softer and fragrant smelling bud from its parent the Skunk which gives off a more floral smell. The strain is reported by users as a very high energy feel that can help with social anxiety and depression. Overall, this marijuana flower can promote a sense of well-being.
Outer Space – Sativa. This strong marijuana strain that is a hybrid of Island Sweet Skunk and Trinity and has been reported by patients for its cerebral and creative effects. It gives off a citrus scent and taste that can help with mild depression, anxiety, and headaches.
Overall, when trying this medicine plant to treat any illness or disorder such as depression, anxiety or PTSD you must consult with your health care provider and prevail with the choices you make to heal your body from any challenging condition you face.
