Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the US, According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). 40 million Americans over the age of 18 are affected by anxiety — roughly 18 percent of the nation’s population. Of those 40 million people, almost 7 million of them suffer from GAD (General Anxiety Disorder), and 15 million suffer from social anxiety disorder. And women are twice as likely to suffer from anxiety disorders as men are.

Is cannabis the answer? Studies seem to suggest so. A study published in 2013 by a team of experts from NIH, the University of Calgary and Rockefeller University summarized the current body of research on cannabis and anxiety. Their findings? The most common use of cannabis is for relief of anxiety.

“Cannabis and its derivatives have profound effects on a wide variety of behavioral and neural functions, ranging from feeding and metabolism to pain and cognition. However, epidemiological studies have indicated that the most common self-reported reason for using cannabis is rooted in its ability to reduce feelings of stress, tension, and anxiety.”

Both THC and CBD have helpful effects on anxiety, depending on the strain. While high doses of sativa can lead to anxiety-like effects, indicas can create a body high, relaxing the muscles and acting as a sedative. CBD has been found to provide some of the best relief for anxiety sufferers. A study in 2011 found that CBD significantly improved social anxiety symptoms, as well as reduced anxiety associated with public speaking in patients with social phobia.

But choosing the right one is key to a user’s experience. For Panic Disorder: Stay away from high doses of THC, opt for CBD or very low doses of THC. For Social anxiety disorder (SAD), low doses of THC, CBD, or strains with diverse cannabinoid profiles. And for generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), indicas or indica-dominant hybrids, high CBD strains, low doses of THC.

An easy way to maintain the relief? Edibles. The effects of edibles last a lot longer than smoked or vaporized cannabis, because the body has to metabolize the food. This means the user won’t find themselves starting to feel anxiety effects again two hours after medicating.

Some brands, like Esoteric Edibles, create specific products to address a different symptoms. Their taffy, Chakra Chews, is infused with cannabis and terpenes to create specific experiences. For anxiety sufferers, two of their products are ideal: “Relax”, a grounding, soothing blend that induces body relaxation and calms the mind with THC, thereby helping users ease the panic that usually comes with socialized anxiety disorder and generalized anxiety disorder. For Panic disorder and GAD, “Love” is best, as it delivers 50mg of calming CBD, which has been shown in studies to significantly decrease anxiety. Researchers even validated patients’ subjective reports of the effects of CBD by performing brain scans showing cerebral blood flow patterns consistent with an anti-anxiety effect.

In another small study, where participants simulated public speaking, researchers found that heart rate and blood pressure remained low with the addition of CBD: “[CBD] significantly reduced anxiety, cognitive impairment, and discomfort in their speech performance,” whereas the placebo group experienced “higher anxiety, cognitive impairment, [and] discomfort.”

It may not be the entire answer to managing social and general anxiety, but cannabis appears to offer results, and an alternative to pharmaceuticals. If you reside in states with access to cannabis, it may be worth the trip, to see if CBD and THC are the answers for you.