Degenerate simply means having the same energy. The word is borrowed from mathematics, where it describes, for example, a quadratic equation whose two roots are equal to each other. For example, in an atom, the 2p orbitals are 3-fold degenerate. Valence electrons are not always degenerate with each other.
One of the main reasons people use marijuana is to reduce anxiety and cope with stress, and there is a theory out there that people who use marijuana might have a deficiency of their own marijuana-like chemicals in their brain, Patel told VICE News.
Anxiety and paranoia can be extremely unpleasant side effects of marijuana. Some people even experience full-blown panic attacks whenever they give cannabis a try. Not fun. This can be a tremendous obstacle for people looking to medicate with cannabis, and many avoid the herb altogether because of it.