Observational studyJournal of affective disorders2025
Acute and chronic effects of medicinal cannabis use on anxiety and depression in a prospective cohort of patients new to cannabis.
Observational study in Journal of affective disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
8 citing papers in PubMed.
- Effects of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol and cannabidiol on cognitive outcomes following acute use of cannabis for chronic pain.Psychopharmacology · 2026Article
- Beyond the Diagnostic Binary: A Translational Use of the Research Domain Criteria to Improve the Measurement of Anxiety in the Context of Cannabis Use.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Association between cannabis use and major depressive disorder: a population-based cross-sectional study.Journal of cannabis research · 2026Article
- The prevalence of cannabis use pre-versus post-cannabis legalization in Canada by mental health status: findings from national repeat cross-sectional surveys.Lancet regional health. Americas · 2026Article
- Cannabinoid Therapies in Less-Common Disorders: Clinical Evidence and Formulation Strategies.Diseases (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Medicinal Plants for Major Depressive Disorder.Brain sciences · 2026Review
- Cannabis use among Canadian veterans: associations with the use of other substances, chronic pain conditions, mental disorders, suicide behaviours, and help-seeking.Journal of cannabis research · 2026Article
- Interplay between the HPA axis and inflammation as mechanisms therapeutic targets ofFrontiers in pharmacology · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionMedicinal cannabis has mixed evidence for treating anxiety and depression, yet patients frequently use it as a treatment. This observational study evaluated the effects of medicinal cannabis initiation in adults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression over a 6-month period.
methodsAdults with clinically significant anxiety and/or depression initiating medicinal cannabis use in Maryland, USA completed ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and longitudinal follow-up evaluations. Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) assessments were completed at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after medicinal cannabis initiation. EMA measures were completed at baseline and daily for 8 weeks after cannabis initiation with measures collected before each cannabis use and at time of expected peak effect. Changes in anxiety and depression were evaluated using linear mixed effect models.
resultsSignificant decreases from baseline in anxiety and depression were observed, with mean scores dropping below clinically significant levels within three months of initiation. EMA data indicated that most participants selected THC-dominant cannabis and acute reductions in anxiety, depression, and perceived driving ability along with increased ratings of feeling "high". Acute effects were dose-dependent: 10-15 mg of oral THC and at least 3 puffs of vaporized cannabis yielded the most robust reductions in anxiety and depression.
conclusionsInitiation of THC-dominant medicinal cannabis was associated with acute reductions in anxiety and depression, and sustained reductions in overall symptom severity over a 6-month period. Controlled clinical trials are needed to further investigate the efficacy and safety of medicinal cannabis for acute anxiety and depression symptom management.
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