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.
While most studies prove that medical marijuana can help anxiety, some doctors and anti-drug advocates believe it can make anxiety worse. A common compound found in cannabis, THC, is linked to feelings of paranoia and anxiety, because it activates the amygdala area of the brain, which is responsible for fear.