Marijuana Use and Social Anxiety Disorder

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Social anxiety disorder involves feelings of fear and anxiety in social situations due to concerns of being judged or evaluated, often leading a person to avoid these events altogether. Ifyou live with social anxiety disorderand are considering marijuana as a treatment option, you might be wondering whether it can help.

While some research supports the use of cannabis or “weed” for easing social anxiety symptoms, not all findings are positive. Plus, long-term studies on this drug’s safety and effectiveness are lacking. Here’s what you need to know about using marijuana for social anxiety disorder, including the potential risks.

The Most Important Things to Know About Marijuana Use and Social Anxiety DisorderSocial anxiety is highly associated with problematic cannabis use.Additionally, marijuana can be addictive and has negative side effects, both short- and long-term.

The Most Important Things to Know About Marijuana Use and Social Anxiety Disorder

Social anxiety is highly associated with problematic cannabis use.Additionally, marijuana can be addictive and has negative side effects, both short- and long-term.

Social Anxiety and Marijuana Use

Almost 30% of adults with cannabis dependence also have social anxiety disorder.This suggests that there is a strong connection between experiencing anxiety in social situations and engaging in marijuana use.

People with social anxiety disorder generally use marijuana for two reasons: coping and/or avoidance.They use the drug as a way toreduce the anxietythey feel, or they use it as a reason to avoid situations that don’t allow for cannabis use.

Is Marijuana Effective for Social Anxiety?

Answering this question requires looking at two marijuana cannabinoids:tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is the psychoactive substance in marijuana that is responsible for its “high.” CBD is not psychoactive but can affect the body via the endocannabinoid system.

Research indicates that CBD appears to decrease anxiety but, when it comes to THC, the dosage of this cannabinoid matters.Specifically, lower doses of THC may decrease feelings of anxiousness while higher doses appear to make anxiety worse.

A 2021 review looked at the effects of THC and CBD on social anxiety specifically. It noted that, while some showed positive effects, others did not.Therefore, it was concluded that there isn’t enough evidence to support the use of marijuana for social anxiety management.

The National Social Anxiety Center also warns that even if the THC or CBD in marijuana may help reduce anxiety in the short term, using marijuana may be more damaging for long-term anxiety relief.It indicates that marijuana use is a way to run from, fight, or suppress anxiety. It doesn’t help you learn how to get through it.

Does Weed Make You More Social?An older study found that after smoking a marijuana cigarette, individuals averaged more time interacting with others daily than those smoking a placebo.However, this study only involved 12 subjects and results varied between groups of individuals. So, it’s unknown if its findings can be applied on a larger scale.

Does Weed Make You More Social?

An older study found that after smoking a marijuana cigarette, individuals averaged more time interacting with others daily than those smoking a placebo.However, this study only involved 12 subjects and results varied between groups of individuals. So, it’s unknown if its findings can be applied on a larger scale.

Risks of Using Marijuana for Social Anxiety

Choosing to use marijuana to ease social anxiety disorder symptoms comes with several risks.

Problematic Use

Social anxiety disorder is the anxiety disorder most often associated with problematic cannabis use—affecting more than double the people withother anxiety disorders.Problematic use means that the usage of marijuana causes some type of problem for the person in their everyday life.

Addiction and Dependence

Marijuana can be addictive, maybe even more so for someone with social anxiety disorder. In fact, research indicates that people who experience social anxiety have a seven times higher risk of meeting cannabis use disorder criteria.

People with marijuana addiction may develop a dependence on this drug, using it more and more to get the “high” feeling. They might also have an increased risk of developing cognitive issues related to attention, memory, and learning.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat1-800-662-4357for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Negative Side Effects

People using marijuana can experience side effects. The most common side effects of marijuana use are dizziness and sedation—occurring in more than one in 10 users—with other common effects including dry mouth and psychological effects.

Frequent and prolonged marijuana use can result in long-term effects as well. Using this drug regularly over time has been associated withmood disorders, the worsening ofpsychotic disordersin some people, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and other health conditions.

Teens using marijuana risk that this drug will negatively impact their brain’s development. This can potentially lead to impairments in their thought, memory, and learning processes.

Alternative Social Anxiety Treatment Options

There are many alternatives totreating social anxietythat have been proven safe and effective, and don’t have the risks associated with marijuana use. Two preferred treatments for this disorder arecognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches you how to change destructive thought patterns, andselective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications.

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Summary

Using marijuana for social anxiety disorder is still in its infancy and more research is needed to confirm this drug’s effectiveness and safety for this use. Your healthcare provider can help you find treatment options that have shown over time to effectively manage social anxiety, including therapy and medication.

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12 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stoner SA.Effects of marijuana on mental health: Anxiety disorders. University of Washington and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.Single A, Bilevicius E, Ho V, et al.Cannabis use of social anxiety in young adulthood: A meta-analysis.Addict Behav. 2022;129:107275. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107275Buckner JD, Zvolensky MJ, Farris SG, Hogan J.Social anxiety and coping motives for cannabis use: The impact of experiential avoidance.Psychol Addict Behav. 2014;28(2):568-574. doi:10.1037/a0034545Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ.Evidence for use of cannabinoids in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD: A systematic review.Psychiatric Serv. 2021;72(4):429-436. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202000189National Social Anxiety Center.Is cannabis the new solution to social anxiety?Foltin RW, Brady JV, Fischman MW, Emurian CS, Dominitz J.Effects of smoked marijuana on social interaction in small groups.Drug Alcohol Depend. 1987;20(1):87-93. doi:10.1016/0376-8716(87)90079-2Buckner JD, Ecker AH, Dean KE.Solitary cannabis use frequency mediates the relationship between social anxiety and cannabis use and related problems.Am J Addict. 2016;25(2):99-104. doi:10.1111/ajad.12339Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addiction.Grotenhermen F, Müller-Vahl K.Medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabinoids.Crit Rev Plant Sci. 2016;35(5-6):378-405. doi:10.1080/07352689.2016.1265360Karila L, Roux P, Rolland B, et al.Acute and long-term effects of cannabis use: A review.Curr Pharmaceut Des. 2014;20(25):4112-4118. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990620Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Marijuana and youth: The impact of marijuana use on teen health and wellbeing.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder.N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701

12 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Stoner SA.Effects of marijuana on mental health: Anxiety disorders. University of Washington and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.Single A, Bilevicius E, Ho V, et al.Cannabis use of social anxiety in young adulthood: A meta-analysis.Addict Behav. 2022;129:107275. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107275Buckner JD, Zvolensky MJ, Farris SG, Hogan J.Social anxiety and coping motives for cannabis use: The impact of experiential avoidance.Psychol Addict Behav. 2014;28(2):568-574. doi:10.1037/a0034545Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ.Evidence for use of cannabinoids in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD: A systematic review.Psychiatric Serv. 2021;72(4):429-436. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202000189National Social Anxiety Center.Is cannabis the new solution to social anxiety?Foltin RW, Brady JV, Fischman MW, Emurian CS, Dominitz J.Effects of smoked marijuana on social interaction in small groups.Drug Alcohol Depend. 1987;20(1):87-93. doi:10.1016/0376-8716(87)90079-2Buckner JD, Ecker AH, Dean KE.Solitary cannabis use frequency mediates the relationship between social anxiety and cannabis use and related problems.Am J Addict. 2016;25(2):99-104. doi:10.1111/ajad.12339Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addiction.Grotenhermen F, Müller-Vahl K.Medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabinoids.Crit Rev Plant Sci. 2016;35(5-6):378-405. doi:10.1080/07352689.2016.1265360Karila L, Roux P, Rolland B, et al.Acute and long-term effects of cannabis use: A review.Curr Pharmaceut Des. 2014;20(25):4112-4118. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990620Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Marijuana and youth: The impact of marijuana use on teen health and wellbeing.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder.N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Stoner SA.Effects of marijuana on mental health: Anxiety disorders. University of Washington and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.Single A, Bilevicius E, Ho V, et al.Cannabis use of social anxiety in young adulthood: A meta-analysis.Addict Behav. 2022;129:107275. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107275Buckner JD, Zvolensky MJ, Farris SG, Hogan J.Social anxiety and coping motives for cannabis use: The impact of experiential avoidance.Psychol Addict Behav. 2014;28(2):568-574. doi:10.1037/a0034545Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ.Evidence for use of cannabinoids in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD: A systematic review.Psychiatric Serv. 2021;72(4):429-436. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202000189National Social Anxiety Center.Is cannabis the new solution to social anxiety?Foltin RW, Brady JV, Fischman MW, Emurian CS, Dominitz J.Effects of smoked marijuana on social interaction in small groups.Drug Alcohol Depend. 1987;20(1):87-93. doi:10.1016/0376-8716(87)90079-2Buckner JD, Ecker AH, Dean KE.Solitary cannabis use frequency mediates the relationship between social anxiety and cannabis use and related problems.Am J Addict. 2016;25(2):99-104. doi:10.1111/ajad.12339Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addiction.Grotenhermen F, Müller-Vahl K.Medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabinoids.Crit Rev Plant Sci. 2016;35(5-6):378-405. doi:10.1080/07352689.2016.1265360Karila L, Roux P, Rolland B, et al.Acute and long-term effects of cannabis use: A review.Curr Pharmaceut Des. 2014;20(25):4112-4118. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990620Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Marijuana and youth: The impact of marijuana use on teen health and wellbeing.Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder.N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701

Stoner SA.Effects of marijuana on mental health: Anxiety disorders. University of Washington and Alcohol & Drug Abuse Institute.

Single A, Bilevicius E, Ho V, et al.Cannabis use of social anxiety in young adulthood: A meta-analysis.Addict Behav. 2022;129:107275. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2022.107275

Buckner JD, Zvolensky MJ, Farris SG, Hogan J.Social anxiety and coping motives for cannabis use: The impact of experiential avoidance.Psychol Addict Behav. 2014;28(2):568-574. doi:10.1037/a0034545

Stanciu CN, Brunette MF, Teja N, Budney AJ.Evidence for use of cannabinoids in mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and PTSD: A systematic review.Psychiatric Serv. 2021;72(4):429-436. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.202000189

National Social Anxiety Center.Is cannabis the new solution to social anxiety?

Foltin RW, Brady JV, Fischman MW, Emurian CS, Dominitz J.Effects of smoked marijuana on social interaction in small groups.Drug Alcohol Depend. 1987;20(1):87-93. doi:10.1016/0376-8716(87)90079-2

Buckner JD, Ecker AH, Dean KE.Solitary cannabis use frequency mediates the relationship between social anxiety and cannabis use and related problems.Am J Addict. 2016;25(2):99-104. doi:10.1111/ajad.12339

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Addiction.

Grotenhermen F, Müller-Vahl K.Medicinal uses of marijuana and cannabinoids.Crit Rev Plant Sci. 2016;35(5-6):378-405. doi:10.1080/07352689.2016.1265360

Karila L, Roux P, Rolland B, et al.Acute and long-term effects of cannabis use: A review.Curr Pharmaceut Des. 2014;20(25):4112-4118. doi:10.2174/13816128113199990620

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Marijuana and youth: The impact of marijuana use on teen health and wellbeing.

Leichsenring F, Leweke F.Social anxiety disorder.N Engl J Med. 2017;376:2255-2264. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp1614701

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