Weed 'rarely justified' to treat anxiety, depression, study says
New York Post • • health
Key Points:
- A comprehensive review of 54 randomized controlled trials found little evidence that medical marijuana effectively treats mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, ADHD, OCD, anorexia nervosa, or psychotic disorders.
- The study highlighted that medical cannabis may actually worsen cravings in people with cocaine-use disorder and cautioned against its routine use without robust medical or counseling support.
- Some potential benefits were noted for treating cannabis-use disorder, autism spectrum disorder symptoms, insomnia, and Tourette’s syndrome, though the quality of evidence for these conditions remains low.
- Despite established benefits of medicinal cannabis for epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and certain types of pain, the researchers concluded that evidence supporting its use for mental health disorders is insufficient and may pose risks
