Does Medicinal Marijuana Help or Exacerbate the Symptoms of Depression

Since the legalized use of medical marijuana in 14 States the investigation by medical facilities and individuals has begun to release findings on the benefits of the use of medical marijuana. One question that has been asks by individuals and Medical Institutions is, "What affects does the use of medicinal marijuana have on patients who suffer from Depression? Do the benefits out way the problems of the medicinal marijuana user?"

After researching this subject I found from three different sources this information:

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines depression, "as a serious mental illness that negatively affects how a person feels." Symptoms that are most commonly found in patients with depression are deep feelings of sadness, weight loss or gains, insomnia or oversleeping, loss of energy, feelings of worthlessness to name a few. The APA states that, "depression is one of the most eatable mental disorders and that almost all patients gain some relief from symptoms when given standard medical treatment and medications for depression."

However, the question here is does the use of medicinal marijuana assist a patient with the symptoms and affects of Depression.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) indicates that their studies have shown that there is an association between chronic marijuana use and an increase in the rate of depression, anxiety and even suicidal ideation of those who use marijuana on a daily basis. Is the use of Medicinal Marijuana causes or exacerbates the patients mental problems by exacerbating the feeling of depression how then can the constant use of Medicinal Marijuana be a good treatment method for this mental illness.

The Mayo Clinic quotes Dr. Daniel K Hall-Flavin, M.D. in answering a question on their website regarding the use of medicinal marijuana for Depression as being a form of self-medicating. Dr. Hall-Flavin says, "Some search suggests a connection between marijuana and depression, particularly regular or heavy marijuana use. However, it is not clear whether marijuana actually causes depression or whether marijuana use simply goes hand in hand with depression for some users."

The bottom line appears to be that marijuana use and depression seem to go hand in hand with each other. There is just no concrete evidence of which come first the depression and then the use of marijuana as a form of self-treatment or the use of marijuana causing the feelings and symptoms of depression.

Clearly medicinal marijuana is needed in some cases for the treatment of some diseases and or symptoms of some treatments for disease. However, it is necessary that the use of medicinal marijuana, and it's ability to be used for the treatment of other illnesses and medical treatments needs much more testing before the outcome can be said one way or the other to be beneficial.