Frequent Cannabis Users Had More Anxiety but Were Not More Likely to Take Prescription Medications
Among 195 Colorado cannabis users, frequent use (15+ days/month) was associated with higher anxiety odds, yet use of FDA-approved anxiolytics did not differ between use groups.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Frequent cannabis use was associated with higher anxiety likelihood (AOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.01-1.12) but not depression on validated scales. Use of FDA-approved anxiolytic or antidepressant medications did not differ significantly across non-use, infrequent, and frequent cannabis groups (20% vs. 18.2% vs. 21.1% for anxiolytics). Urinary cannabinoid levels were not associated with symptom severity.
Key Numbers
195 participants. Frequent use (15+ days/month): AOR 1.06 for anxiety. No association with depression. Anxiolytic use: 20% non-users, 18.2% infrequent, 21.1% frequent (NS). Antidepressant: 14%, 9.1%, 11.4% (NS). Urinary cannabinoids not associated with symptom severity.
How They Did This
Secondary analysis of a cross-sectional sleep and cannabis study. 195 participants completed HADS, BAI, BDI-II, and self-reported cannabis use. Urinary THC metabolites validated exposure. Regression models adjusted for demographics and clinical variables.
Why This Research Matters
The finding that frequent cannabis users have elevated anxiety but similar rates of medication use suggests some may be substituting cannabis for evidence-based treatments, which has implications for clinical screening and referral.
The Bigger Picture
This study adds to a complex picture where cannabis users report using for anxiety yet show more anxiety symptoms, and the lack of correlation between urinary THC levels and symptom severity suggests the relationship is not straightforward.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Cross-sectional design. Secondary analysis. Small sample (195). Cannabis users from Colorado may differ from other populations. Self-reported frequency and medication use. Cannot determine directionality.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are frequent cannabis users self-medicating anxiety or is cannabis contributing to it?
- ?Would systematic screening for untreated anxiety among cannabis users improve outcomes?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Validated measures with urinary biomarker confirmation, but small cross-sectional secondary analysis limits to moderate.
- Study Age:
- Secondary analysis of a Colorado cannabis cohort study.
- Original Title:
- Frequency of cannabis use and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a cross-sectional analysis of the Colorado cannabis users health cohort.
- Published In:
- Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 78 (2025)
- Authors:
- Steeger, Christine M(2), Tandukar, Poojashree, Hoth, Karin F, Aloia, Mark, Wamboldt, Fred, Castaldi, Peter, Sharma, Sunita, Lorenzon, Nancy, Crotty Alexander, Laura E, Klawitter, Jost, Sempio, Cristina, Kinney, Gregory L, Althoff, Meghan D, Kruse, Gina R, Bowler, Russell P
- Database ID:
- RTHC-07720
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does frequent cannabis use increase anxiety?
Frequent users in this study had higher odds of anxiety on validated scales, but the cross-sectional design cannot determine if cannabis causes anxiety or if anxious people use more cannabis.
Are cannabis users avoiding prescription medications?
Rates of anxiolytic and antidepressant use were similar regardless of cannabis use frequency, suggesting frequent cannabis users are not systematically avoiding prescription treatments.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-07720APA
Steeger, Christine M; Tandukar, Poojashree; Hoth, Karin F; Aloia, Mark; Wamboldt, Fred; Castaldi, Peter; Sharma, Sunita; Lorenzon, Nancy; Crotty Alexander, Laura E; Klawitter, Jost; Sempio, Cristina; Kinney, Gregory L; Althoff, Meghan D; Kruse, Gina R; Bowler, Russell P. (2025). Frequency of cannabis use and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a cross-sectional analysis of the Colorado cannabis users health cohort.. Journal of cannabis research, 7(1), 78. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00327-2
MLA
Steeger, Christine M, et al. "Frequency of cannabis use and symptoms of anxiety and depression: a cross-sectional analysis of the Colorado cannabis users health cohort.." Journal of cannabis research, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1186/s42238-025-00327-2
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Frequency of cannabis use and symptoms of anxiety and depres..." RTHC-07720. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/steeger-2025-frequency-of-cannabis-use
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.