Cannabis is not an effective treatment for common mental health conditions, says review
International researchers find ‘very little evidence’ medical form of the drug can treat anxiety, anorexia and other disorders
TL;DR
- A large review found little evidence that cannabis is effective for treating common mental health conditions like anxiety, anorexia nervosa, psychotic disorders, PTSD, and opioid use disorder.
- The review analyzed 54 randomized controlled trials involving 2,477 participants.
- Some evidence suggests cannabinoids may help reduce dependence on cannabis, relieve Tourette syndrome symptoms, aid sleep for insomniacs, and reduce autistic traits, but this evidence quality is often low.
- There is insufficient evidence regarding cannabinoids for ADHD, bipolar disorder, OCD, and tobacco use disorder, and no evidence for depression.
- Researchers concluded that the routine use of cannabinoids for mental and substance use disorders is rarely justified due to scarce evidence.
- Some industry representatives and patients claim benefits for anxiety and PTSD, but experts suggest these claims may be overstated and the UK cannabis clinics operate as 'drug dealers for the middle class'.
- Experts advise that cannabis products should not be offered for many mental illnesses where no benefit was found, emphasizing the need for accurate patient information.