Antidepressant and Anxiolytic Effects of Medical Marijuana Use in Observational Studies

Front. Psychiatry, September 9, 2021| https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2021.729800

Commentary

The content of this study was an investigative study of the use of medical cannabis products as a treatment option for anxiety and depressive disorders, which are very prevalent, but their effects on symptoms are unknown.

Participants (368 cannabis users; 170 controls) were invited to complete an online survey assessing anxiety and depressive symptoms, cannabis product use, sleep, quality of life, and comorbid chronic pain, with additional follow-up surveys to be completed at 3-month intervals.

Results showed that medical marijuana use was associated with lower self-reported depression, but not anxiety, at baseline.

They also reported better sleep, quality of life, and less pain on average, and initiation of medical marijuana during the follow-up period was associated with a significant reduction in anxiety and depressive symptoms, effects not observed in the control group.