Biopsychosocial Blog

I do not judge others for use,  because I have done the same. We’re all out here just trying to get along in life, that’s all. However, experientially speaking, in my attempt to do that, I had found myself in an abusive relationship with both cannabis and alcohol. Why? Because it worked (at least for a short time). For me, it’s like a game of Whack a Mole. Instead of leaning into my feelings and thoughts of distress, I try to take these away, and   when I learn that a certain strategy is not good for me, if I don’t find a healthier means to feel better, I resort to other bad strategies. When I quit alcohol almost 6 years ago (and believe me, my love of high gravity beer and good wines were high in calories), I gained 25 pounds. Go figure. Why? Because I turned to food for emotional regulation. We do this with a plethora of behaviors as well as substance. We just want to feel better, give us a break!

So, alcohol and weed worked, until it didn’t. Chronic impairment of judgement aside, these were taking a toll on my health, and that physiology is the construct I’d like to focus on here in this short explanation. I was told by friends and acquaintances (persons who knew) that I had developed an alcohol problem. As a drug and alcohol counselor, I chose to gradually stop drinking by using THC.  Great thinking Charles, now you’re drinking and smoking weed chronically. That’s real healthy!

I won’t discuss here the physiological substrates of anxiety (the main reason I used) causing anxiety increase with chronic alcohol use, as I have already explained that in a graduate level paper (https://www.charlespopov.net/blog/952805-the-paradoxical-and-pervasive-nature-of-alcohol-use-to-reduce-anxiety-understanding-underpinning-neurobiology-for-efficacious-treatment-approaches_2), but allow me to expand on the same problem as concerns marijuana use:

Drawing from Dr. Andrew Huberman’s research at Stanford University shows that THC does not reduce anxiety as commonly believed; instead, it raises baseline anxiety levels due to neuroadaptations.  He explains it better than I do in the following:

1. The Acute vs. Chronic Effects of THC

Acute (short-term):

When someone uses cannabis containing THC, it binds to CB1 receptors in the brain, especially in areas like the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex. This reduces anxiety for many people in the moment, because THC decreases neuronal excitability in circuits linked to fear and stress. You might feel calm, euphoric, or detached temporarily.

Chronic (long-term):

With repeated use, the brain starts to downregulate (reduce) CB1 receptor activity and endocannabinoid signaling. This means the brain produces fewer natural endocannabinoids (like anandamide) and becomes less sensitive to THC and to natural calming signals. As a result, when you’re not high, your baseline level of stress and anxiety increases.

2. The "Baseline Shift" Concept

Huberman often talks about how the brain adjusts its baseline in response to repeated stimulation — this applies to dopamine, serotonin, and cannabinoids. If you frequently rely on THC for relaxation, your nervous system “expects” that external input. When THC isn’t present, the brain’s stress circuits become overactive — particularly in the amygdala, which processes threat and anxiety. This creates what he calls a “rebound anxiety” or a higher baseline of stress. He frames it as:

“If you use something repeatedly to control your state, the brain will adapt by doing the opposite when that thing isn’t there.”

3. Effects on the Endocannabinoid System

Chronic THC use reduces anandamide and 2-AG, the brain’s natural “bliss molecules.”

Those molecules normally help dampen stress and maintain emotional balance.

So when they’re depleted, even ordinary stressors can feel more intense.

It’s like turning down the volume on the body’s internal anti-anxiety system.

4. Sleep and Cortisol Disruption

Huberman also notes that long-term THC use can:

Disrupt sleep architecture (especially REM sleep),

Alter cortisol rhythms, and interfere with stress recovery.

Charles Popov is sober/recovering ACT/CBT therapist and founding owner of Resiliency Behavioral Health Services LLC in Peachtree City Georgia. He is an LPC, CACDII, and Nutritional Therapist and life coach, holding graduate level degrees and certifications in counseling psychology, drug and alcohol addiction and behavioral addiction recovery from the University of Cincinnati, the University of Georgia, and the Mental Health Academy. He can be contacted through his agency at www.resiliencybhs.net of Psychology today.