Cannabis and Cortisol: What the Science Actually Says

If you’ve ever reached for cannabis after a stressful day and wondered whether it’s actually helping your stress hormones or just distracting you from them, you’re asking the right question. Before we get into the research, take a look through our full range of cannabis strains in the UK, there’s plenty to explore once you understand what’s actually going on beneath the surface.

The Definition of Cortisol and Why We Need to Understand This

Cortisol is essentially your body’s main stress hormone and is made by your adrenal glands whenever you’re experiencing stress physically or psychologically. As mentioned previously, this is regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis which is a feedback loop of hormones between the brain and your adrenal glands. While it does have some good qualities such as regulating your metabolic processes, immune responses and overall response to stress; the issue comes about when your cortisol level becomes consistently elevated or fluctuates wildly.

The endocannabinoid system works with other systems of the body including the HPA axis. Specifically, CB1 and CB2 receptors can be found in several areas of the brain involved with producing cortisol, i.e., the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands. Therefore, using cannabis will also interact with the same mechanisms that produce cortisol.

THC — Not That Relaxed Feeling You Thought You Were Getting

At this point, things start getting confusing. THC stimulates CB1 receptors in your brain resulting in increased cortisol levels and this increase occurs rapidly. Increased cortisol was seen to occur approximately 15 minutes post-consumption of THC and remained elevated for roughly 75 minutes. Occasional use of THC could result in an opposite reaction to what you were trying to achieve, potentially presenting itself in the form of a racing heart or increased anxiety.

Frequency however significantly alters how THC affects cortisol levels. Research has indicated that frequent cannabis consumers (those who consume daily for at least one year) had a blunted response to stress-induced cortisol elevation when compared to those who do not regularly use cannabis. Essentially, frequent cannabis use can blunt the body’s natural response to stressors and thus reduce the amount of cortisol released during times of stress.

CBD — The Less Confusing Version

CBD decreases cortisol by activating the body’s own cannabinoid signaling. Data from human trials support these findings.

Interestingly enough, this effect isn’t entirely due to the chemical properties of CBD. A placebo-controlled study conducted in 2024 discovered that simply expecting to receive CBD, resulted in the same degree of decrease in cortisol.

THC and CBD Effect on Cortisol

Why People Do Not React the Same Way to Both Substances

There are three reasons why two people can react to the same product but experience vastly different reactions:

• Dose – research has shown that a lower dose of THC will likely reduce feelings of stress after exposure to a psychosocial stress test, whereas a larger dose will cause increased anxiety and/or negative emotions.
• Frequent use – tolerance will shape the way you respond to cortisol over the course of multiple weeks/months — not just during each individual session.
• Physiology – each person’s initial sensitivity to their HPA axis is unique to that individual. Therefore, products that provide the exact same effects can be experienced differently based on physiological differences.
• Ratio of cannabinoids – depending on the ratio of cannabinoids, a product that contains high amounts of THC will stimulate cortisol production in direct opposition to a product containing high amounts of CBD.

The Cannabis Stress Effect

It is also important to note that neither implies that cannabis is either a stress reliever or a stress producer – each is true based upon the cannabinoid type, amount taken, and frequency of use. Therefore if you are looking for consistent support against chronic stress with no increase in cortisol levels, most of the time the CBD based product will be a better choice. However, if you are interested in THC for its psychoactive properties, the most important thing to consider will be dose and frequency because THC can produce a variety of responses (relaxation/energizing) depending on the dose.

The key is choosing the right product for the effect you actually want. If you would like to keep up with THC products available in the UK, join our Telegram Cannabis Channel. We update it daily with new arrivals, restocks, and special promotions.