People who frequently use cannabis may begin the day with higher levels of cortisol than those who do not use it, according to research from Oregon State University. The finding points to a possible connection between regular cannabis use and changes in the body's normal daily stress rhythm.
The study, conducted by Oregon State University scientists, was published in the journal Cannabis.
Stress is one of the main reasons people report using cannabis, and it is also associated with problematic patterns of use. Although cannabis can provide temporary relief from stress, the researchers say frequent use over time could potentially interfere with the biological systems that regulate the stress response.
Led by Anita Cservenka of the OSU College of Liberal Arts, the research is among the relatively few studies to investigate how frequent cannabis use relates to the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, the major neuroendocrine system responsible for coordinating the body's response to stress.
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