Is Weed the New Prozac?

by Jonah Lehrer

Fifteen million Americans, or five percent of the population, are currently taking a drug that treats most of their anxiety symptoms. This drug isn’t addictive, can be delivered to your door in certain metropolitan areas, and is cheaper than most of its competitors. Its main side effect? The munchies.

I’m talking about marijuana, a.k.a. Cannabis sativa, and both scientists and pharmaceutical companies are looking to it as a possible cure for what may be our generation’s most pressing psychological affliction.

Perhaps it’s the War on Terror, or our stagnating incomes, or just the fact that Prozac is running out of fresh supplicants and Eli Lilly needs a new disease. Whatever the cause, the data is clear: Americans are growing more nervous, and we want something to take the edge off. Every generation needs a new pandemic, and anxiety is our new depression.

Despite the fact marijuana was first cultivated almost 10,000 years ago, modern medicine has yet to find a pharmaceutical equal. No other substance melts away our fears with such slick efficiency. But that may soon change. A cadre of neuroscientists is now using the natural potency of pot—its active ingredient is Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—as the possible basis for a next generation anti-anxiety pill.

Before you can understand why pot might be the next Prozac, you have to know a little bit about how marijuana works inside the brain. Our cortex contains a class of proteins called endocannabinoids. These compounds might sound illegal, but they are actually an essential ingredient of normal human brain function. For some mysterious reason, the active ingredient of a tropical shrub—THC—is able to perfectly mimic our natural endocannabinoids, and activate our neural receptors. Pot doesn’t infuse our brain with a foreign substance so much as it activates system that is already there. As Roger Nicoll, a neuroscientist at UCSF, puts it: “the brain makes its own marijuana.” Smoking a joint just helps you make more of it.

It wasn’t until 1984 that scientists even knew the endocannabinoid system existed. By the early 1990’s, researchers began to realize that this neural system was extremely important. For one thing, endocannabinoid receptors (CB1) proved to be one of the most abundant G-protein coupled receptors in the brain. Secondly, CB1 receptors were clustered where it counts, and seemed to populate many of our most important brain areas, like the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala.

But scientists still couldn’t figure out what all these natural endocannabinoids did when we weren’t smoking pot. After all, our brains didn’t evolve so that we could get high; our CB1 receptors must also control some aspects of normal brain function. A tantalizing solution arrived in 2003, from Giovanni Marsicano of the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Munich. After painstakingly dismantling their endocannabinoid system, he showed that mice lacking normal CB1 receptors could feel fear but couldn’t forget it. In other words, their anxiety is chronic. They are always nervous and twitchy.

Neuroscientists now believe that a faulty endocannabinoid system might play a large part in all sorts of anxiety syndromes from post-traumatic stress disorder to irrational phobias. Furthermore, they are using this knowledge to invent new drugs. The Holy Grail is a THC compound that is targeted to the parts of our brain—like the amygdala—that modulate our sense of fear. Such a pill would give us the anti-anxiety effects of pot, but without the giddiness, stupidity and hunger. While scientists still don’t know if such a site-specific pill is possible—can we just get our amygdala high?—experiments done in the next few years should help resolve the issue.

Needless to say, such a pill would raise all sorts of legal issues at the FDA. Although the FDA has already approved other types of synthetic THC—these drugs are used to treat the nausea brought on by chemotherapy and AIDS—it might be less prone to approve a pot inspired pill that is psychoactive, and deliberately imitates the effects of a fat spliff.

Jonah Lehrer is an editor-at-large for Seed Magazine. He blogs at scienceblogs.com/cortex. His first book, Proust Was A Neuroscientist, will be published by Houghton-Mifflin next year.

(Sketch from flickr.)

Comments

[Nicholas]

Are we really willing to risk the side effects? They are much more questionable than Mr. Lehrer would have us believe. The munchies? That's just the tip of the iceburg. We know that depressed people who use Prozac are often more likely to commit suicide. A drug made from THC would never fly - though it's users might.

[Lynn Garrett]

It seems Nicholas is the one living in the "iceburg" with his cool attitude towards marijuana. The benefits of THC have been known for years, yet the drug is still socially unacceptable and illegal. If scientists isolate the drug for use in cancer patients and anxiety sufferers, perhaps those who genuinely need such a drug could have easier access to it, without facing retribution. And Nicholas, try to learn the difference between "its" and "it's" so that people might find your comments legitimate.

[Aimee]

Side effects of THC? Well, theo nly think Lehrer misses here is paranoia. Doesn't he? I mean, who was that? What? See what I mean?

[Jane Eisenbaum]

I have been a daily marijuana user for 4 years--without it, I could not function. It is the best stress reducer and anti-anxiety medication I have ever encountered. I hope a THC pill is manufactured so that I can manage my disorder without resorting to illicit activity!

[meg]

Jane, I read your comment and I want to let you know there is a synthenic thc pill called marinol. hope it treats you well.

[Steve]

Why would you want a synthetic pill compared to the real thing? If the government were to allow pharmaceutical companies to create drugs with THC, then why not just legalize marijuana? I would much prefer to cultivate my own medicine for free than pay a corporation for the same effect. Atleast then I would know what I am putting into my body is organic.

[Thomas]

I don't see where our government gets off legalizing dubious synthetic THC knockoffs that patients have reported to be less effective than the real thing. The fact is that marijuana has been around for thousands of years and has been actively used for several generations, yet there have been no conclusive unbiased studies. The real pressure should be put on the medical companies that license the drugs to actively fund studies that delve into the effects and the causes of the effects of Marijuana. THC is only one of several thousand active chemicals found within marijuana, so synthetic THC only serves as one slice of a much larger cake. The problem is that pharmaceutical companies are out to help patients and make money at the same time. Unfortunately, you can't patent a plant, so we're at a stale mate, with marijuana illegal in most states and drug companies scrambling to utilize its benefits so they can put money in their pockets, while ignoring a much simpler solution (legalization).

[loonidood]

As an everyday user for 19 years, I can attest to the lack of long-term effects of marijuana. I have not suffered any paranoia, not to say that others haven't. It has just provided me with relief from the nausea and pain from a lengthy illness. I don't know what I would do without it.

The action of legalization would cost many large companies a lot of money, including the drug, oil, tobacco, and alcohol industries. With the combined lobbying efforts of these and other right-wing fanatic groups, there is a slim to none chance of ever happening.

We always thought the democrats would be the party, if there ever was one, to legalize marijuana. If there was a democratic president elected in 2008, and they could hold the house and senate, there would be a real possibility. But even then, there are still people in office taking money from lobbies. Until there is a bigger lobby for legalization, I do not see it happening.

[T-Money]

SMOKE WEED EVERY DAY

[Jacob]

Who the hell cares if it is legal or not? People smoke weed on a daily basis anyway and still continue to get high. The only thing that legalization would do would is instead of buying weed from your local dealer, you would get it from some other store with weed that would be manufactured from another company. If it is legal or not people are always gonna smoke pot. When was the last time you heard someone not smoking pot because it is illegal?

[Peter eichenberger]

I'm witcha Jacob. It is a good thing da po-leese are kinda not so good when it comes to catching weed smokers -- or growers. Weed has become the US's no 1 cash crop. HOOOO-RAAAAY. I take it for seizure. And so concerned are the Feds about our health a substance, nicotine, that kills around a half a million people a year plus makes you stupid, especially if you mix it wit alcohol is sold on every street corner. Weed has never in some 7000 years of human pharmacopoea ever been linked to a single death. That's looking after the little people, huh?

[Larry]

You say the new prozak been working for 25 years
please tell the people who make the dumb laws. If I lived in one of the 11 medical marujana states I would not have to fear police. and I have to be frighten in order to get my meds

[Mikayla]

i'm 16 and have been dealing with depression my whole life. my psychiatrist has yet to find a pill that is effective on my mood. i have tried prozac, zoloft, depicote, cymbalta...well like 7 different pills none of them work. but i have been smoking marijuana and although i use it recreationaly and not to calm me down, it has an enourmous effect on my depression and helps me a lot. what could be a better drug for humans than something you can grow? i feel like the plants on this earth were put here for a reason and marijuana is here to help people.

[Anon]

Thank you Thomas for pointing out that THC isn't the only endocannibinoid - and thats part of the problem with THC pills such as marinol. Unfortunately, marinol has been proven to be significantly less effective than marijuana. As a chronically ill molecular biology student it boggles me why the people in charge of "the drug war" don't have any clue as to how marijuana works physiologically. Marijuana has been approved in some states for certain illnesses because it has been proven to decrease pain and sometimes heal (as in the case of Crohn's, which I have). I had never smoked until during one particularly bad episode of my illness I went to the doctor. He was going through everything that I would be "exposed" to at college - alcohol, tobacco (both would make me sick) and marijuana. He told me many of my patients had had relief from smoking, so I went to my friends (who had been smoked for many years already) and asked if I could smoke with them. I can't explain to you what it feels like to be symptom and pain free after being in pain everyday for 7 years. I had forgotten what it felt like to feel normal. I wish I could go to the senate or to someone and sit in front of them, an educated pre med student who goes to a prestigious university and tell them to legalize. Unfortunately, I would probably be arrested and kicked out of school. This is the dilemma..

[RaNdY]

Weed is the shit and any ne that thinks diffrend can scrap the rez out off my pipe. and the new thing is coke and THC pills suck balls

[Patrick Thomas]

I started smoking weed in Viet Nam in 1968 and I never stopped.
Needless to say I'm still alive and kicking and in good health
I used it in Nam just to be able to cope with the stress that comes with being in a combat zone and fearing for your life every waking moment.
I have a problem going outside and no motivation to do anything unless I can smoke a little weed.
It makes me normal and able to go out and do things.
What's so bad about feeling good?
It seem ridiculous to outlaw a plant that grows naturally.

[Michael]

Hi!!! Very nice design, by the way!!! I think ... What do you think about my?

[Ryan]

Though weed may have beneficial effects for some of the population, it will always have aversive effects on the majority of americans. I smoke almost everyday because of the people I affiliate myself with and I have to say though I'm not dependant on the drug I love it enough that I would label it an addiction. Trust me when I say we do not want a vast number of the american population addicted to marijuana. Yes, it's a badass drug, but to say that it doesn't effect your brain in the long run is silly and childish. May I remind you of the term "burnout"? You wouldn't want people that control your life and well being to be the same as the people you smoke pot with would you?

[Jeff]

It's NORML to smoke pot.

I am 18 years old and have had problems with ADHD and/or possibly Racing Brain Syndrome, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, insomnia and bad eating habits throughout my life. I had always believed the anti-marijuana propaganda as a child; and, for the record, I only say propaganda because though it does hold some truth, most of the time it is outlandish and biased to the point that, in my opinion, any credibility is negated.

It wasn't until a few of my friends tried it freshman year of high school, that I even considered trying myself. I finally decided to take a risk and try it my sophomore year, and it felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. It was also the first night that I took the Adderall that my doctor prescribed for my newly diagnosed ADD, which I believe is why it was such an overwhelming night for me. I didn't smoke again for 5 months, while continuing to take Adderall daily. As time passed I noticed that the Adderall was causing me to act in ways that I was not okay with; it seemed to change my basic personality structure.

Over the next two years, I made it a serious point to find something that helped me focus while doing the least amount of damage to myself in the process. My rate of smoking over time resembled exponential growth as I noticed that it helped me to relax and let go of my stress, which helped me to think clearly and sleep soundly; which is exactly what the Adderall was preventing me from doing. After experimentation, I came to the conclusion that Adderall was making the problem worse rather than providing a healthy solution, so I unofficially replaced it with cannabis.

After two and a half years of experience smoking marijuana, I have noticed that despite the temporary, short-term memory impairment when I'm high, my memory has improved dramatically, both short and long term. Though I very well could have managed to receive the same results without having smoked marijuana, doing so helped me to be the calm, compassionate, patient and happy person that I am by helping me stop holding myself back with my own negative emotions.

My self-confidence has also improved tremendously as being under the influence has forced me to handle myself in strenuous situations in a calm, effective manor rather than having an anxiety attack, breaking down, and losing any confidence in my own abilities. Feeling more confident, my self-esteem has risen drastically.

Bob Marley said, "When you smoke herb, it reveals you to yourself." This cannot be backed up with scientific evidence, as far as I am aware, but in my particular case, I believe that this is true. It exposed me to so many different aspects of myself and the world around me that I would have overlooked otherwise. It exposed me to parts of myself that I wasn't proud of, which, in retrospect has been extremely beneficial. It has given me direction for my own self-improvement which has transitively made me more appreciative, loving, careful, considerate, functional and an overall happier, more productive person.

If it weren't for Cannabis, I don't think I could have gotten past my nicotine addiction. I smoked cigarettes for almost a year and the effects opened my eyes to the fact that smoking anything, weed or tobacco, is harmful and should not be taken lightly.

I agree with what Ryan said about loving marijuana so much it could be labeled as an addiction, only I feel as though I am appreciative of what it can give me, and if I stress myself out because I don't have it, then I deserve to be stressed for letting it get to me. A friend of mine said to me, jokingly, "I never need weed, but I always want it." If I am addicted to marijuana, then the audiophile is addicted to music and the chef is addicted to gourmet food. I believe that every person is addicted to something, regardless of whether or not they need to put it into their bodies. I try my best to eat healthfully and to control my emotions rather than allowing my emotions to control me, which I feel is critical to living addiction free.

I could confidently, and patiently, argue my case for much longer, but unless someone has a rebuttal, I will say this is good enough. Marijuana has been a wonderful addition to my life, is an integral part of the lives of hundreds of thousands of people today, not to mention the 7,000-10,000 years worth of people throughout the history of mankind.

Historically providing over 30,000 products and the world's safest and most effective source of medicines, Cannabis Sativa gets my vote for closest modern-day interpretation of a Tree of Life.

[Concerned4all]

Side effects are of little consequence when you face hell everyday.

A family member of mine faces the hell of an extreme form of bi-polar illness.

If a pill like this were legal he might be able to lead a more normal happier life.

I would rather see him live less years on this earth than to have the years he has full of emotional and mental anguish.

[nigga g]

i am 15 years old,
and i smoke everyday.
at least once.
sometimes 5 times if i have the freetime.
marijuana should be legal.
i dont get why its not.
its a plant.
it doesnt hurt you.
i mean, you COULD get lung cancer,
but look at ciggarettes.
they're way worse with all the chemicals and shit.
and ALCOHOL.
that impairs your brain WAYYY more than pot.
and with how many people are getting busted, and going to rehab, and illegally smoking, it would save the government money, no it would MAKE them money, to legalize it.
think about it.
those rehab centers cost thousands of dollars a person. and most people in there are state wards.
which means the state/government is paying for their treatment.
plus they could be selling weed like ciggarettes, and making more money.
idk
just a thought

[jm]

Briefly, my son is now temporarily diagnosed with Psychosis. It's only been a month since he was hospitalized and the doctors say that he experienced his first Psychotic break. Right now he is on Risperdal which makes him very slow. He has paranoia some times, still very depressed and lacks focus among many other symptoms. he just told me recently that he remembers now that the weed he took while a student in new York might have been laced.He took weed here in california but didn't feel bad at all. A few days before he was taken to the emergency for treatment he called us his parents at three o'clock in the morning to ask if we were okay. We were told by his roomate that he had woken up screaming from a bad dream that he thought was real. He thought his parents were dying.

[ogkush]

im33 yo been smoking daily for 10 plus years without missing a day until recently i moved to ohio and have had a horrible chain of events which has left me broke ive not been able to purchase my marijuana aka medicine ive not been able to sleep and my anxiety has been out of control i can't even explain i dont feel this is due to my financial situation because im with family and do not need any money i can live 4 free but myy meds are expensive as hell 25-30 per gram and i need about 4 per day sounds crazy but true and could use 28 every other day if it were readiily available well to make things worse try none at all its hell on earth i dont believe in going to th dr. and gettin pills to alter chemicals in my brain even though ive tried valium and xanax and they will allow me sleep they have given me horrible side effects moody and outright anger problems the next day and i dont like who it makes me become i choose to smoke og kush and sour d throughout the day and grandaddy purple at night but this is not happening for me right now i know the thought of legalization is way to radical for this generation of law makers but when are we as a country going to demand the recreational use of this special herb i would give my life for u to smoke freely in this world maybe one day just maybe we will be set free im not the burnout type i am a productive doper l can explain how much happier i am with the herb in my life long live the plant grow ur own and keep it for the head it will you do your body good

[Staircase]

Im 17 and I started smoking pot when I was 12 and I have the same exact personality as Jeff described. I could not agree more with Ryan and Jeff because the majority of my old friends were stoners. I watched each one of my friends lose motivation to become successful. Now I have moved on and am working on smoking pot in moderation.

[km]

Laced Weed!! My friend has recently smoked weed that made him go all weird and is now on medication to slow his mind down. The weed was purposely laced - supposedly with windex/ammonia? I realize there is neuro damage, but is this at all treatable? Maybe if detected at early stages such as this case??? Please help out with any feedback! Thank you!