How does pot affect depression, bipolar

Studies that have looked closely at whether marijuana use is associated with major depression suggest, in general, that any such association is either weak or nonexistent. Remember, too, that association does not prove causality -- meaning in this case that it is at least as likely that depressed people use pot, as that pot causes depression.

Indeed, studies that have attempted to clarify what causes what generally do not find that pot causes depression, even when used regularly. On the other hand, a number of studies do associate regular marijuana use with depression and anxiety in both adolescents and young adults.

Although there have been recent studies in animals suggesting that compounds that affect cannabinoid receptors in the brain may offer promise for the treatment of depression, I couldn't find any studies suggesting that regular marijuana use was associated with less depression. So I think we'd have to say that on the whole, marijuana is best avoided if one is concerned about -- or struggling with -- depression.

Interestingly, evidence is stronger that regular marijuana use is a risk factor for young people to develop psychosis (defined as loss of touch with reality, i.e. insanity). It also appears to increase the risk for mania, a disastrous state that frequently includes psychotic symptoms. Marijuana is also famous for giving a minority of people panic attacks. These attacks are so miserable that they usually end a person's marijuana use.

On the plus side, marijuana (or more technically cannabis) appears to be beneficial for nausea and a number of chronic pain conditions -- and has a medical indication for these uses in several states.

There is no hard-and-fast definition of chronic use, but most professionals would probably set the line somewhere in the neighborhood of daily use.

Cannabis dependence is more exactly defined and includes 1) developing tolerance so that over time more drug is needed to get the same effect; 2) withdrawal symptoms occur when the drug is discontinued (this has been demonstrated to occur with marijuana when used heavily); 3) using more or for longer periods than intended; 4) unsuccessful attempts to cut down on use; 5) a pattern of life centered around obtaining and using the drug; 6) the abandonment of important occupational or social facets of life to use the drug; and 7) continued use despite knowledge of significant problems caused by the drug.

More than whether use is chronic, the presence of these signs and symptoms of dependence clearly signal that one's marijuana use has become problematic.