Yes, marijuana can cause issues with irritability, anger, and even violent behaviour. If you or someone close to you is becoming increasingly irritable or angry, it could be due to their cannabis use.
Marijuana is mistakenly characterised as harmless and portrayed as a drug that only relaxes the user.
However, scientific evidence is continuing to prove the exact opposite: that cannabis destroys the brain and leads to depression, anxiety, anger, and even incidents of violence (we cover some alarming studies further below). Over time, it can even lead to the development of a psychotic disorder such as bipolar disorder.
This is due to the effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active compound in cannabis, on areas of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, processing fear and anxiety, and controlling impulses. When these brain functions are disrupted, your tolerance to stress may decrease, and you may become more irritable or even exhibit aggressive behaviour.
This article focuses on exploring why marijuana can lead to anger issues from a neurobiological perspective, how it affects mental health, the link between cannabis use and violent behaviour, and how to manage feelings of anger due to cannabis use. We will also cover available treatment options if you begin to experience signs of dependency.
Keep reading to understand what marijuana does to your brain and how you can help yourself regain control.
Key Takeaways
Why Does Weed Cause Anger Issues?
Marijuana can cause anger issues because the active ingredient that gets you high, THC, directly affects the endocannabinoid system in your brain, and this system is responsible for your mood regulation, anxiety, and stress response.
Cannabis may also cause anger issues if you’ve developed cannabis use disorder (CUD) and are experiencing marijuana withdrawal or if you are in a high-stress state at the time of using (such as when you’re suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder).
In other words, weed can make chronic marijuana users angry if:
- You’ve chronically abused it, and it’s impaired your brain function
- If you’ve developed CUD and are experiencing cravings or withdrawals
- You are in a bad mood or are already stressed, since marijuana can often amplify your current state of being
While marijuana is often seen as a harmless drug that relaxes the user, scientific evidence is beginning to paint a darker picture. There is definitive evidence of THC’s degradation of the brain’s decision-making and self-regulation mechanisms, which leads to anger, hostility, and possibly violent outbursts.
According to a study by Smith, Jordan et al., published in The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry (2013), participants who regularly used cannabis showed significantly higher levels of aggression, hostility, and emotional outbursts compared to those who did not use the substance. These effects were especially pronounced during the first 7-14 days after stopping use.
If you’re a regular cannabis user, you’ve probably noticed that you get a bit anxious or moody when you’ve gone without marijuana for a long time. Over time, this “moodiness” can grow into anger or even violence.
How Does Marijuana Affect the Brain?
We want to cover a bit more on how marijuana affects the brains of cannabis users so you can see how it may lead to hostile behaviours.
Cannabis influences areas of the brain like the prefrontal cortex and amygdala, which are key regions involved in controlling emotions, making decisions, and managing impulses. They also control your response to perceived threats, also known as your “fight or flight” mechanism.
With regular cannabis use, these brain areas adapt by reducing their natural sensitivity and responsiveness. This leads to less effective impulse control and emotional regulation over time. So, you may suffer from more hostility because you perceive more things to be threats and from lack of impulse control.
It also affects the production and uptake of your feel-good chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. These chemicals are key to your feelings of pleasure and motivation.
When you take cannabis, you feel relaxed and “happy”, at least for a short time. This is due to the unnaturally large release of these feel-good chemicals. The problem is that, with chronic use, your brain becomes dependent on THC to feel good. When you don’t get it, you may experience cravings, irritability, mood swings, or emotional outbursts. People suffering from cannabis use disorder often experience cannabis withdrawal syndrome, a condition that includes withdrawal symptoms such as moodiness and emotional outbursts. We’ll cover more on this in the following section.
Next, let’s cover some of the negative impacts of smoking weed on your mental health to paint a clearer picture of what might be causing your feelings of anger.
The Effects of Marijuana on Your Mental Health
Prolonged use of marijuana can have a serious and often negative impact on your mental health, despite what society says about the drug.
Marijuana is portrayed as a “feel-good” drug that causes laughter, relaxation, and heightened creativity. And while it’s true that many people do feel this way when they take it, prolonged usage – even if it’s just recreational – can have serious negative implications for your mental health.
There is mounting evidence that marijuana causes mental illness. Findings suggest that chronic marijuana use has been linked to anxiety, depressive feelings, sleep disturbances, and even paranoia. You may even develop psychosis due to marijuana usage.
This is all due to what we mentioned before: THC disrupts the function of neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine (remember, these are your feel-good chemicals). The more your brain relies on THC to feel good, the worse you feel without it.
Some of the main negative effects of consuming cannabis include:
If you’ve noticed any of these symptoms, it may be a sign of a more serious drug abuse issue. And if you’ve tried to cut back and found yourself incapable of doing so, you may have developed dependence or even addiction. We recommend that you stop using marijuana immediately and speak to a mental health professional.
Did You Know?:
Cannabis is not only bad for your mental health. It impacts every facet of your physical health, from your brain regions to your heart and stomach. While it might have positive effects on chronic pain, the National Institute on Drug Abuse states that the long-term effects of marijuana include heart issues, gastrointestinal problems, and increased cancer risk, though further research is needed to draw deeper conclusions.
The Connection Between Marijuana Use and Violence
Although marijuana is commonly seen as a “mild” and “relaxing” psychoactive substance, it can provoke violent outbursts and impulsive behaviours, especially in individuals with unstable mental and emotional health.
Why does this happen?
- Insomnia depletes your cognitive resources. You become more irritable and emotionally reactive and have a harder time controlling your responses.
- Depression can intensify your inner aggression, pushing you to express it outward.
- Anxiety makes your perception more vulnerable, so even neutral actions from others may seem threatening, triggering an aggressive reaction.
- The altered state of consciousness caused by THC impairs your ability to interpret events correctly and make rational decisions.
- Cannabis withdrawal syndrome develops when you've used marijuana for a long period of time and then you reduce your consumption. This can negatively affect your mood and put you at an increased risk of violent outbursts.
Altogether, these factors lower your self-control and significantly increase the risk of violent behaviour.
There is ample scientific evidence to support this. According to a study, A Review of Cases of Marijuana and Violence by Miller, Norman S., et al., published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, "Marijuana use causes violent behavior through increased aggressiveness, paranoia, and personality changes (more suspicious, aggressive, and angry)". It also goes on to say, "Recognize that high-potency marijuana is a predictable and preventable cause of tragic violent consequences."
The evidence is clear:
When combined with a vulnerable mental state, marijuana can intensify aggressive responses and even act as a catalyst for violent behaviour.
How to Manage Anger Issues Caused by Marijuana
The best ways to manage your anger issues or other mental health issues are a mixture of physical activity, relaxation, and better control over your intake of THC.
The good news is that just because you are feeling these negative emotions doesn’t mean you have to act on them. You can’t change how you feel, but you can change how you react.
If you’ve started to notice that after excessive cannabis use you become irritable, aggressive, or anxious and you lose control over your emotions more easily, here are several anger management methods that can help reduce anger and stabilise your mental state:
- Meditation: Slow breathing exercises in a calm environment can help restore emotional balance and reduce activity in your brain’s amygdala. This alone will help reduce the negative consequences of marijuana usage, especially by helping you control your emotional responses.
- Physical activity: Engaging in regular exercise helps your body eliminate excess stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline while also boosting endorphins, which will improve your overall mood.
- Reducing marijuana dosage or taking a break: Sudden mood swings are often linked to excessive cannabis intake and high THC levels. Taking a break from drug use can give your system time to reset and recover. If you’re incapable of doing this, it’s a sign you’ve developed cannabis use disorder.
- Cognitive restructuring techniques: Working on your thought patterns and how you interpret events can help you respond to triggers more calmly and avoid automatic outbursts of anger. We recommend cognitive behavioural therapy with a trained mental health specialist to help you change your negative thought patterns.
- Support from friends and family: We strongly encourage individuals who are experiencing mental health issues to seek support from their loved ones, especially when they are feeling angry. Talking openly with those close to you can ease internal tension and create a sense of emotional support. You don’t have to suffer alone.
- Sleep routine: High-quality sleep is essential for regulating mood. We recommend not smoking an hour before bedtime, going to bed at the same time every night, and staying away from caffeine past 12 pm each day to avoid the adverse effects heavy cannabis users experience with their sleep.
Treatments for Marijuana-Induced Mental Health Issues
Treatments for mental health issues due to cannabis usage range from talk therapies and support groups to more intense treatments like psychotherapy, medication, or even inpatient treatment at a treatment facility like ours.
If using marijuana makes you feel overwhelmed by intense anger, you may need professional treatment.
A few of the different treatment methods for marijuana addiction include:
Psychotherapy
Individual psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), can help you identify the triggers behind your anger and anxiety, track your automatic reactions, and replace them with healthier ones. This alone should reduce most symptoms, such as impulsive behaviours. Going through CBT will give you an unprecedented level of self-awareness. In simple terms, you’ll learn to recognise and stop negative thought patterns before they lead to an outburst of aggression (this should also lead to an improved general mood).
Group therapy or peer support meetings
Group therapy (or family therapy) can also be an effective treatment for problematic marijuana usage, especially because it can help you overcome feelings of isolation. You’ll realise that you’re not alone in facing this issue and that many other chronic users have successfully worked through it before you. You’ll also learn healthy coping mechanisms for your anger, which will help defuse your thoughts and improve your mood.
If you’re interested, look for a Marijuana Anonymous meeting in your local area.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
There are no FDA-approved medications for marijuana addiction specifically, but there are certain medications that can help manage the symptoms of CUD.
These include sleep medications and anxiety or depression medications like SSRIs. These medications will temporarily improve your symptoms, which will make life more manageable and give you more agency over healing your anger issues.
How The Cabin Chiang Mai Can Help People Suffering with Cannabis Use Disorder
If you’re suffering from severe mental health issues due to cannabis use, we know what you’re going through.
It can be incredibly frustrating when a drug hailed as a “relaxant” actually causes the exact opposite. It doesn’t help that it’s now available everywhere and decriminalised in many states and jurisdictions around the world.
Make no mistake, cannabis might not be as harmful or addictive as harder drugs, but it's a dangerous drug that damages your decision-making skills, emotional regulation, and overall mental health.
If you’re struggling, reach out to us. We can get you help no matter where you are in the world. There’s help in any location for any budget.
Here at the Cabin Chiang Mai, we have both inpatient and outpatient treatment programmes for marijuana abuse and other substance use disorders. Here, you can recover away from the triggers of home in the scenic mountains of northern Thailand.
At the very least, we can help point you to a mental health service provider in your local area.
