Can Medical Cannabis Help With Anxiety Disorders? A Systematic Review of 57 Studies

This review examined 57 studies on medicinal cannabis for diagnosed anxiety disorders. Among the 13 highest-quality studies, 9 (70%) reported improvements in conditions including generalized anxiety disorder, social anxiety disorder, and PTSD. Four high-quality studies found negative results for OCD, trichotillomania, test anxiety, and social anxiety disorder. Over 90% of all studies, including lower-quality ones, reported positive outcomes for both CBD and THC-based preparations.

Systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and PsycInfo databases (searched October-December 2023). Included peer-reviewed studies on adults 18+ with diagnosed anxiety disorders. Excluded case series, case studies, reviews, and recreational cannabis studies. Used MASTER and QualSyst tools to assess bias risk.

Anxiety disorder diagnoses are rising, and many people seek alternatives to standard medications. This review is one of the few that focuses exclusively on diagnosed anxiety disorders rather than general anxiety symptoms, providing a clearer picture of where cannabis-based treatments show the most promise.

The generally positive findings are tempered by widespread methodological issues. More than half of all studies failed to adequately document cannabis form or dosage, making it difficult to determine which products, at what doses, produce the best outcomes for specific anxiety disorders.

High risk of bias across studies (mean score 62.9/100). Over half of studies had inadequate reporting of cannabis form and dosage. Database search limited to October-December 2023. Heterogeneity in study designs makes direct comparisons difficult.