Sound Bites Podcast: Episode 213 Hosted by: Melissa Joy Dobbins

Cannabis, Mental Health & Brain Health

Nearly twenty percent of adults (or 50 million) experienced a mental illness in 2019. One in four adults with a mental illness reports an unmet need for treatment, and this number has not declined since 2011. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in America, affecting 42.5 million U.S. adults, with major depression affecting 21 million U.S. adults. In addition, sleep is closely linked to mental and emotional health and has demonstrated connections to depression, anxiety, and other conditions.

Research into the potential benefits of cannabis therapy is ongoing and promising, with preliminary research suggesting benefits including improvements in pain, sleep, and anxiety disorders as well as various brain-related issues from headaches to inflammation to traumatic brain injuries.

Tune in to this episode to learn about:

- Definitions of cannabis, CBD, THC, terpenes, anandamide, endocannabinoid system

- Why the term "marijuana" is stigmatizing

- Why cannabis became illegal

- Barriers including stigma and access to cannabis/CBD

- Cannabis and pain management, the opioid crisis

- Cannabis and mental health: insomnia, anxiety, depression, PTSD, eating disorders, suicide

- Cannabis and brain health: aging, cognition, inflammation, dementia, Alzheimer's, headaches, concussions, traumatic brain injury, seizure disorder

- Cannabis vs. alcohol and the brain

About Melissa Joy Dobbins:

Melissa Joy Dobbins, MS, RDN, CDCES, is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified diabetes educator with more than 25 years of experience helping people enjoy their food with health in mind. As the host of the popular Sound Bites® Podcast, Melissa interviews experts on a variety of topics ranging from fad diets to farming, and empowers people to make their own well-informed food decisions based on facts, not fear. The podcast, launched in 2015, is consistently rated as a top nutrition podcast and offers free continuing education credits for select episodes for RDNs, DTRs, and CDCESs.

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