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Medicinal cannabis may not help your anxiety or depression, study suggests

by Addy Bink - 03/17/26 2:28 PM ET

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(NEXSTAR) – Medical marijuana may not be effective in treating some of the conditions it is commonly prescribed for, a new study suggests.

The study, published in the Lancet Psychiatry journal on Monday, suggests that medical marijuana — including cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol products, better known as CBD and THC — isn’t effective for many mental health conditions.

Specifically, researchers said that, after analyzing 54 randomized controlled trials from around the world over the last 45 years, they found no evidence that medical cannabis is effective for treating bipolar disorder, ADHD, psychotic disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, or anorexia nervosa.

Dr. Jack Wilson of the University of Sydney’s The Matilda Centre, the lead author of the study, told CNN that there was also no evidence that medical marijuana helps with anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder — the three most common reasons it is prescribed.

“Some people may experience legitimate benefits, and that’s great,” Wilson explained to Reuters. “But when we look at the evidence as a whole, we just don’t see that the evidence is quite there for the routine use of these medicines.”

Medical marijuana may, however, prove helpful for those with autism, insomnia, Tourette’s syndrome, or cannabis use disorder or dependency. Still, Wilson said in a press release that the “overall quality of evidence for these other conditions … was low.”

In this April 20, 2016, file photo, a man smokes a marijuana joint at a party celebrating weed in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

It also may not work for people with other substance-abuse disorders. The study found that, in those with a cocaine-use disorder, medical marijuana increased cocaine cravings. It was also determined to produce no benefit in treating opioid or tobacco use disorders.

The evidence is better for other conditions, Wilson added. That includes “reducing seizures associated with some forms of epilepsy, spasticity among those with multiple sclerosis, and managing certain types of pain.” For those with autism, cannabis may “assist with a reduction in symptoms,” but because the condition can vary from person to person, Wilson said, “this finding should be treated with caution.”

The results of this study are similar to those of another published earlier this month. In that study, researchers determined there is insufficient evidence “to support the use of cannabis for the treatment of mental health conditions and demonstrates substantial risks of adverse effects.”

Researchers said they found “low-certainty evidence” that THC “may not improve symptoms” of PTSD, and “insufficient evidence” regarding the long-term effects of THC use for anxiety, depression, and ADHD. There was some evidence, though, that CBD “may reduce anxiety in patients with anxiety disorders.”

Outside of health benefits, yet another recent study analyzed marijuana laws throughout the U.S. and found an association between medical legalization and a decline in property crime. The same study suggested recreational marijuana legalization may reduce violent crime.

More than three dozen states have already legalized some form of medical marijuana. Meanwhile, the U.S. could see marijuana rescheduled this year. While that would not decriminalize it or make it legal for recreational use, the change would recognize the medical uses of cannabis and acknowledge it has less potential for abuse than some of the nation’s most dangerous drugs.

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