When someone smokes marijuana, they could experience elevated moods, relaxation, an altered perception of time, or an increased appetite. The effects of marijuana differ from person to person and between the type of marijuana. But is marijuana a stimulant, a depressant, or something else?
Read more about how marijuana affects different users below. If you live in Eastern Oregon, visit Cannabis and Glass to find several cannabis products and glassware.
Different Reactions to Marijuana
Two of the primary compounds in marijuana are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC in marijuana can alter your perception of reality and is responsible for the high a person gets when someone smokes marijuana or otherwise ingests the compounds. THC can also slow down your brain function, which can affect short-term memory and motor functions long after the high ends.
CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it will not produce a high. Instead, many medical marijuana users prefer CBD-only formulas to block pain receptors and other neurotransmitters to reduce their reliance on prescription painkillers.
Common effects of marijuana include:
- Euphoric feeling
- Relaxation
- Deeper sensory perception
- Altered perception of reality and time
- Improved appetite
- Increased anxiety or nervousness
- Paranoia
Not all reactions to marijuana are pleasant. Sometimes negative reactions occur when someone uses too much marijuana in a single dose, or uses a product sourced from a different weed strain. Your experience could be different each time you use marijuana, and some people naturally don’t have a good reaction to smoking or ingesting pot products.
Drug Classifications
So is marijuana stimulant? A depressant? That depends on how marijuana affects you. The effects of marijuana consumption determine its classification. While depressants can relax you, stimulants can cause a euphoric feeling to energize you. Marijuana sometimes acts as both, similar to alcohol.
Depressants
Depressants can slow your brain function and suppress your nervous system response to different stimuli, resulting in reduced anxiety, muscle relaxation, reduced pain, delayed reaction time, and difficulty committing new information to short-term memory.
Stimulants
Stimulants can help fight depression with elevated moods, but these drugs can also increase your heart rate and blood pressure by increasing blood flow as vasodilators.
Hallucinogens
Drugs that alter your perception of reality or time are hallucinogens. While marijuana doesn’t cause hallucinations like ecstasy or LSD, it can affect perception, and is therefore mildly hallucinogenic.
Opiates
Opiates include prescription painkillers and narcotic drugs derived from opium that can cause a euphoric feeling. The opioids in these drugs block pain receptors and are highly addictive, requiring larger doses as users develop a tolerance.
Does Weed Fall Under Multiple Drug Classifications?
Marijuana qualifies as a depressant, a stimulant, and a hallucinogen. The exact specification depends on your individual reaction to the drug. For example, while many people report that indica acts as a depressant and sativa as a stimulant, the opposite could be true for you.
When someone smokes marijuana, takes an edible, or drinks a cannabis tea, the THC, CBD, and terpenes enter their system through the lungs or stomach lining. The active ingredients in the marijuana could take approximately 30 minutes to begin a high when smoked, and can last for about two hours after smoking. Edibles take longer to take effect but can last up to eight hours.
THC more readily passes through the lung barriers into the bloodstream, making smoking preferable for users who want more immediate effects. For users looking for a steady night’s sleep, gummies or edibles taken after dinner can help you get a full eight hours and wake up feeling refreshed.
How Will Marijuana Affect You?
If you’re new to using marijuana, starting with lower doses can help you determine your tolerance for the effects of marijuana and whether you get a better reaction from smoking or ingesting the active ingredients.
Even regular smokers should start with lower concentrations of THC when trying edibles for the first time. Because the delivery system is different, you could experience a different reaction to edibles than from smoking or vaping.
Visit a Cannabis and Glass Location Near You in Eastern Oregon or Washington
So is marijuana a stimulant or depressant? It can be both! Whether you’re looking for a favorite strain or want to try something new, visit us at Cannabis and Glass in Ontario, OR today! View our dispensary menu online now.
