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Cannabis for Depression
by Peter Kershaw, contributing writer
Depressive Disorder( DD) is a mental health disorder, and one of the most common. Almost 30 % of adults have been diagnosed with DD at some point, though the actual figure is likely much higher since many cases go undiagnosed. For this reason, depression is sometimes referred to as“ a hidden epidemic.” According to a 2023 national survey, 18 % of Americans are currently experiencing depression. 1 Women are more susceptible than men, and younger adults( 18-25) are more likely than older adults to have depression. 2 Depression can occur at any time and at any age, but on average, it tends first to appear in the late teens to mid-20s.
Symptoms of depression vary from mild to severe and may manifest differently in each person. These can include:
● Feelings of deep sadness, irritability, emptiness, and hopelessness.
● Loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyable.
● Significant change in appetite, i. e., eating much less or more than usual and / or weight loss or gain.
● Sleeplessness or sleeping way too much.
● Decreased energy or increased tiredness or fatigue
● Meaningless physical activity( e. g., inability to sit still, pacing, and handwringing) or slowed movements or speech severe enough to be observable by others.
● Feeling worthless or excessively guilty.
● Difficulty thinking or concentrating, forgetfulness, and / or difficulty making minor decisions.
● Thoughts of death, suicidal ideation, or suicide attempts.
The last one, in particular, is serious enough that it makes prompt intervention from loved ones mandatory.
It’ s commonly believed that at least one of the likely causes of depression is an imbalance or deficiency of key neurotransmitters in the brain— serotonin in particular. In 1987, Prozac( Fluoxetine) was approved for the treatment of depression by the FDA. Prozac lacked some of the most dangerous side effects that previous antidepressants exhibited. However, this isn’ t to say that Prozac is inherently safe. Prozac and other Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors( SSRIs) like it often have unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects. Those side effects are why so many patients quit taking them and resort to self-medicating. Perhaps the most dangerous potential side effect is
“ night terrors”— nightmares so vivid and realistic they may result in suicide, especially for those already suffering from PTSD. Yet SSRIs remain one of the most commonly prescribed medications by the VA for military veterans diagnosed with depression and PTSD. Is it any wonder our vets are suiciding at record levels?
SSRIs don’ t stimulate the production of serotonin. They merely inhibit the reuptake of old serotonin. Rather than addressing the cause for the deficiency, SSRIs only treat symptoms and often not very effectively. Prior to the advent of SSRIs, it was common that mental health professionals recommended tryptophan, a natural amino acid food supplement. Tryptophan is the necessary ingredient for serotonin production in the brain. Most Americans are chronically deficient in tryptophan. But within 30 days of FDA approval of Prozac, the FDA“ scheduled” tryptophan as a pharmaceutical drug available only by doctor prescription. Tryptophan prices skyrocketed, making it more expensive than Prozac. A decade later, the FDA de-scheduled tryptophan, but by then the mental health community had all but forgotten tryptophan ever existed. It’ s now readily and inexpensively available as“ 5-HTP.” In this author’ s experience, 100-200mg of 5-HTP an hour before bedtime( empty stomach) does wonders, and not just for depression but also insomnia. 3
Cannabis and Depression
Cannabis has been used for thousands of years in the treatment of many ailments, including depression or, as it was once termed,“ melancholia.” In his book The Anatomy of Melancholy( 1621), 4 English Clergyman Robert Burton recommended cannabis as one treatment for melancholy. Surveys indicate that as many as 30 % of all medical cannabis patients say they use it primarily for managing depression. These same patients list as secondary reasons anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Left untreated, those secondary issues are some of the very causes contributing to, or resulting from, depression. However, treating depression with cannabis alone isn’ t recommended. Of particular concern are those who become dependent on cannabis in pursuit of treating a mental health disorder, yet may ultimately end up abusing it. This is guaranteed to become counterproductive. Moderation is key to success.
There is no shortage of medical papers masquerading as“ studies” claiming a“ link between depression and daily cannabis use.” Such warnings get especially loud where it concerns teens and young adults.
18 November 2025