The Science of Cannabis: Does It Help or Hurt With Anxiety? Is It Addictive? What's the Safest Way To Use It? | Dr. Riley Kirk

Hearing a voice can change everything. So AT and T wants everyone to gift their voice to loved ones this holiday season because that conversation is a chance to say something they'll hear forever. AT and T, connecting changes everything. This is the 10% happier podcast. I'm Dan Harris. Hey. Hey. How we doing, everybody? As somebody who's had anxiety since sentience, I am both intrigued by and very scared of cannabis. As you'll hear me say in this interview, my first panic attacks ever were when smoking weed as a teenager. And yet, there appears to be some evidence that there are cannabis products that can really help with anxiety. So, I was really excited when my team suggested today's guest, Doctor. Riley Kirk, who is sometimes described as a radical scientist because she not only studies cannabis but also uses it herself. This interview is kind of an everything you wanted to know about cannabis but were afraid to ask type deal. We're gonna dive into the science of whether it helps with chronic pain, sleep, inflammation, seizures, productivity, creativity, and of course, anxiety. We're gonna talk about the risks of addiction and schizophrenia and panic. We're also gonna talk about how exactly cannabis works in your body, which is fascinating. Before we dive in, just a little bit more on my guest. Doctor Kirk earned her PhD in pharmaceutical sciences with a focus on natural product chemistry. And she's written a new book. It's called Reefer Wellness, a takeoff on the movie I used to watch when I was a teenager, Reefer Madness. Today's episode, I should say, comes with a custom guided meditation guided by my friend and favorite Canadian weirdo, Jeff Warren. Suffice it to say, this meditation is sobriety optional. It's called, Not Your Grandma's Body Scan. You should check that out. You can access all of our guided meditations if you sign up over at danharris.com. Membership also gets you access to our weekly live meditation and q and a sessions, which we do every Tuesday at four eastern. Jeff and I will be live tomorrow, Tuesday, December 9. Okay. We'll get started with doctor Riley Kirk, the radical scientist, right after this. You know, AT and T believes hearing a voice can change everything. And if you love podcasts, you get that. The power of hearing somebody speak is unmatched. It's why we save those voice mails from our loved ones. They mean something. For me, when I need a a one on one holiday boost, I know who to call. My friend Joseph Goldstein, my meditation teacher. This is a guy who is just every time I got a problem, I can call him up and he talks me off the ledge and gives me practical and profound advice. AT and T knows the holidays are the perfect time to do just that. Share your voice. If it's been a while since you've called somebody who matters, now is the time …