Frequent cannabis users wake up with their “stress hormone” already elevated
Frequent cannabis users may wake up with unusually high levels of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting their daily stress rhythms could be disrupted. Researchers say the finding raises questions about whether using cannabis for stress relief might, over time, interfere with the very system that helps the body handle stress.
Research from Oregon State University suggests that frequent cannabis users may have elevated cortisol levels upon waking, potentially disrupting their body's natural stress response. The study, published in the journal Cannabis, found no difference in the cortisol awakening response (CAR) between cannabis users and nonusers, but noted that frequent users already had higher cortisol levels at the start of the day.
CAR is a measure of the body's cortisol response to waking, typically peaking around 30 minutes after a person awakens. While the research does not establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship between cannabis use and higher cortisol levels, the findings suggest that cortisol levels upon waking may serve as a neurobiological marker of problematic cannabis use.
The study highlights the complexity of the relationship between cannabis use and the body's stress system, and recommends further investigation to understand potential feedback cycles between disrupted stress systems and cannabis use.
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