The largest-ever review of the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids across a range of mental health conditions — found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A Lancet Psychiatry paper published this week — the largest-ever review of the safety and efficacy of cannabinoids across a range of mental health conditions — found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The study comes amid more than one million prescription approvals and a tripling of sales of cannabinoid medications (including both cannabidiol [CBD] and tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] products) in Australia over the past four years, often for the treatment of mental health and substance-use disorders.

AMA President Dr McMullen told media this week the study reinforces the need for more robust regulatory oversight and stronger prescribing safeguards.

“The AMA recognises medicinal cannabis can be useful for some patients with specific conditions supported by evidence, such as epilepsy, chemotherapy induced nausea, or muscle spasticity in Multiple Sclerosis,” Dr McMullen said. 

“However, there is little, or no evidence base for many of the conditions for which it is being prescribed, such as anxiety, insomnia, or depression.

“We are seeing the use of medicinal cannabis for conditions where it is contraindicated or where it’s use should be under strict and/or ongoing supervision, and our members are increasingly reporting serious adverse outcomes for patients. Medicinal cannabis should not displace proven, effective treatments, particularly in mental healthcare where evidence based therapies already exist.

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpsy/article/PIIS2215-0366(26)00015-5/fulltext

Quite surprised they found it isn’t effective for PTSD. It’s genuinely the only thing that can get me out of a tizzy and I don’t even like being high that much anymore

If it doesn’t work, then why is it so popular?

I was dealing with some ugly stuff, and it just left me feeling high and miserable at the same time.

Just a little bit (1/4 to 1/2 an indication or hybrid gummy) sure helps me sleep great though! But I never use it more than twice a week, moderation is key to everything.

Was this an AU study? The US DEA has banned all medical marijuana research in the United States that isn’t cleared ran and funded by only the DEA (and the alcohol lobbiests who pay their unofficial salaries). Naturally, any study out of the US is the escaping final breaths of a failed War On Drugs and isn’t worth the paper it’s printed on

maybe don’t treat a plant like a drug but understand that tens of thousands of different cannabinoids in varying combinations are a complex topic.

“BuT ITs tOO haRd. toO mUch daTA”

Huh that’s odd. It does help with my sleep, especially if my brains all wired up before I hit the bed. Few vape puffs and the forgetfulness makes it easy for me to cut off all the noise in my head.

I can’t comment if I have depression but I’m not going to lie when I say that it helps a lot when I’m occasionally feeling super down and need a bit of pick me up.

I don’t like marijuana personally but I’m skeptical. Define “treat”. I mean, it’s pretty intuitive that a drug that makes you more relaxed would counteract anxiety. It doesn’t treat the root cause, but do sedatives? Was it paired with psychotherapy? I would expect that any drug would be ineffective in treating anxiety or depression without psychotherapy. It’s just a bandaid to get you to a level of functioning where you can do therapy.

That’s why I would never smoke medicinal marijuana. I only smoke *recreational* marijuana, and it works great!

Yeah but they’ll just keep dishing out antidepressants like sweeties and ignore the people complaining about the side effects as per usual.