Your personality is what makes you different from everyone else. It is the way you act, think, behave, and how others see you. Genetics, environment, and trauma are among the factors that shape a person’s personality.
Personality generally consists of enduring traits that are commonly recognized and socially accepted. But sometimes, illnesses cause these personality traits to become extreme, inflexible, or even harmful. This is what we call a personality disorder.
The role cannabis plays in relation to personality disorders is complex, as it relates more to mental health than physical health. Personality disorders themselves are complex and unique, and they manifest differently. So managing it with cannabis requires joint and intentional efforts between patients, PCPs, and specialists to minimize risks and achieve optimal care.
A personality disorder is a mental health condition where a person displays rigid patterns of thoughts, actions, and behavior that affect interpersonal relationships. It affects how someone sees themselves, relates to others, and handles daily life. Today, the DSM-V categorizes 10 different personality disorders into three clusters:
People with personality disorders are more likely to have unstable, troubling, or distant relationships. They display extreme emotions that can make connecting with others hard. Personality traits like impulsivity, symptoms of perfectionism, or heightened anxiety can also make completing tasks or following rules challenging, causing conflicts, financial problems, or legal trouble.
Regulating emotions becomes chaotic, and patients may battle with low self-esteem or use substances to manage their feelings. Left untreated, this may lead to further isolation and often, social, work, or housing exclusion.
Medical cannabis may help manage symptoms of personality disorders. Symptoms, such as anxiety, stress, or sleep issues, are areas in which cannabis may offer relief. Certain cannabinoids, especially cannabidiol (CBD)-rich or dominant, cannabigerol (CBG), or balanced (tetrahydrocannabinol) THC:CBD ratios, can promote relaxation and reduce stress for some people by interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to regulate mood, stress, sleep, and maintain emotional balance.
The ECS works through tiny receptors—CB1 in the brain, nerves, and other organs, and CB2 in the immune cells throughout. THC binds directly to CB1 receptors in the brain, temporarily reducing stress and emotional intensity. For some, this can make intense feelings more manageable and help prevent impulsive reactions. CBD works more subtly, supporting the body’s own endocannabinoids and calming overactive, proinflammatory, and stress pathways, which can reduce anxiety, quiet racing thoughts, and improve sleep.
However, individual responses to cannabis vary, and what might work for one may be problematic for another, but with psychotherapy and sound medical guidance, cannabis in the form of hemp (high CBD or CBG, low-THC) may be beneficial to people with mental conditions like personality disorders.
READ: What Mental Illness Qualifies for Medical Marijuana?
Some controlled studies show that single doses of CBD (a non‑intoxicating cannabis compound) may reduce anxiety, depressive symptoms, and also alter mood positively. It also balances out the psychoactive effects of THC-induced anxiety.
Meanwhile, low-dose THC may do the same, easing anxiety and depression symptoms, but high doses can worsen or trigger these. Some small studies and data suggest THC-cannabis might help individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, such as nightmares or sleep disruption. Newer and larger studies are beginning to come out, showing these anxiety-relieving and sleep-improving benefits extending throughout the full 18-month study while increasing quality of life.
Lastly, research strongly suggests a THC dose-related risk, not benefit, for patients with psychosis or severe mental health conditions. Thankfully, CBD shows promise as an antipsychotic agent, but it cannot yet replace traditional medications.
In any case, people with mental health conditions, including personality disorders, should be intentional about seeking medical guidance, especially those who use cannabis regularly or start young. Cannabis use in childhood or adolescence is linked to triggering schizophrenia in susceptible populations, along with other risk factors.
A medical cannabis doctor begins by creating a safe environment where patients can be honest and transparent before proceeding to discuss the patient’s diagnosis and medical history. Because they understand cannabis can trigger people with mental health conditions, they review any psychiatric history, current and past medications, including cannabis. Depending on findings, they can assess the active clinical risk, risk of genetics through family history, and potential for misuse or dependency, bearing in mind that people with personality disorders can be impulsive.
Finally, they weigh potential therapeutic effects against risks. Based on this evaluation, medical marijuana doctors may provide guidance on safe use, dosing, and other guidelines, and coordinate care with psychologists or psychiatrists to ensure comprehensive support for patients with personality disorders.
Throughout the process, the doctor’s focus is not just on cannabis itself, but on understanding the person behind the use to offer a personalized patient-centered option.
You can apply for a medical marijuana card online for mental health support by:
If approved, your official card will arrive by mail or digitally. You can then purchase medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries and access varied products. State laws may differ a bit, so always use official portals or trusted telemedicine services such as Marijuana Doctors or Veriheal.
In low doses, medical cannabis may help improve mood from its interactions with the ECS, but high doses can also alter mood and cause emotional instability. CBD and CBG, on the other hand, have anxiolytic and antidepressant actions to a limited extent that may help with mood, and CBD possibly lends antipsychotic effects. Consult your doctor before use to help guide personalized plans.
People with personality disorders can use medical cannabis or hemp-derived products (preferred), but they are advised to apply caution, especially new or inexperienced users, and to follow strict guidelines from a licensed medical cannabis doctor.
Cannabinoids, CBD, CBG, or balanced THC:CBD ratios may help support anxiety or stress for some people. They possess therapeutic properties that help reduce tension and improve sleep, which can benefit patients with personality disorders.
You may qualify for a medical marijuana card with certain mental health diagnoses, but it depends on your state’s qualifying conditions and a doctor’s evaluation. Diagnoses, such as PTSD, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and anxiety, can qualify you for a medical marijuana card in many states. You can also qualify for a medical cannabis card if the doctor determines your condition is debilitating.
A medical marijuana doctor can recommend specific THC:CBD ratios, especially when it has to do with mental health disorders. This is because high doses of THC can trigger anxiety, psychotic effects, and negatively influence the mind, so you need their expertise to help strike a balance.
CBD-dominant products are generally safer than THC for personality disorder symptoms because of its non-intoxicating effects, which do not trigger anxiety, paranoia, or sudden mood swings — effects that are particularly risky for individuals with personality disorders. By increasing endocannabinoids and targeting serotonin and TRP receptors, CBD helps improve mood and potentiate antipsychotic signaling.
They generally can, but it largely depends on the severity of the condition, as well as the prescription medication in question and any potential interactions. Additionally, and equally importantly, patients should discuss their current medications, including antidepressants, antipsychotics, or mood stabilizers, with their cannabis doctor to help inform these decisions.
Yes, you can get a medical marijuana evaluation online through Veriheal for mental health concerns. Veriheal is a credible platform that helps you meet certified doctors who will guide you through using medical marijuana for various conditions, psychiatric ones included.
Absolutely, risks of triggering or worsening anxiety, causing panic attacks, dizziness, and increasing paranoia, psychosis, or impaired thinking can come with improper cannabis use.
Before using cannabis for mental health, patients should talk openly with their doctor. They should discuss their family history; diagnosis and symptoms; current medications (for possible interactions); the type of cannabis to start with, and any prior use; titration plans; and consumption method. Patients should be fully involved in understanding and making decisions about their care.
Written by Chiagozie Ekemezie
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