New review finds cannabis medicines offer minimal relief for most mental health disorders
TL;DR
A Lancet-published review of 54 randomized trials (1980–2025, 2,477 participants) found cannabis-based medicines provide little to no benefit for most mental health and substance-use disorders such as anxiety, psychotic disorders, PTSD and opioid-use disorder; some limited benefits were seen for cannabis-use disorder withdrawal, Tourette’s tic severity, and certain autistic traits or insomnia, but overall the evidence quality is low and more high-quality trials are needed as medical cannabis use expands.
- Cannabis shows little benefit for most mental disorders, data review finds Reuters
- Cannabis is not an effective treatment for common mental health conditions, says review The Guardian
- Scientists say marijuana doesn't ease anxiety or other mental health conditions 6abc Philadelphia
- Lancet paper released on medicinal cannabis effectiveness Australian Medical Association
- Medical cannabis does ‘more harm than good’ to mental health The Times
Want the full story? Read the original reporting
Read on Reuters