Study Suggests CBD-Dominant Cannabis Is Better Than THC For Anxiety Disorder That Affects 301M People

Did you know that in 2019 at least 301 million people around the globe were affected by some type of anxiety? This makes anxiety the world's most common mental disorder, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

As the pace of modern life takes its toll, what can be done to alleviate this situation? While so many people are unable to change certain aspects of their lives, a new study showed that cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive compound found in the cannabis plant, can help ease anxiety symptoms and offer some hope. 

The University of Colorado Boulder published a study in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research that suggests that cannabis-based products high in CBD help with anxiety better than THC-dominant products, without the potential side effects. 

"We need more data before we can say conclusively that there are long-term, beneficial effects, but the short-term effects were very clear: CBD was associated with tension and anxiety relief with limited harm," said senior author Cinnamon Bidwell, associate professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience and the Institute of Cognitive Science.

Study Highlights 

• The study analyzed 300 participants with anxiety, out of which 42 were not cannabis users, and 258 had tired at some point. 
• The larger group was asked to use one of the three flower products: a THC-dominant product (24% THC and 1% CBD); a CBD-dominant product (1% THC, 24% CBD); or one with 12% CBD and 12% THC. 
• Over four weeks, participants used marijuana products as much and as frequently as they wanted, whereas on average that was three times per week. Researchers would drive a mobile laboratory to each participant's home and test them before and directly after smoking marijuana. 
• At the end of the research period, all four groups experienced decreased anxiety, but those that had more improvement belonged to the group using CAD-dominant products. 
• Participants using CAD-dominant cannabis products didn't feel symptoms of impairment and felt less tense right after smoking. 

"Our study suggests that CBD products may be able to relieve anxiety in the moment for adults who use them, and possibly longer-term, in a way that is meaningful and doesn't necessarily produce the same risks or harms of THC or prescription medications," Bidwell concluded. "We need more data before we can make conclusive recommendations, but this is promising news."

Continue reading on The University of Colorado Boulder.

See Also: 65% Of Americans Say They’d Use Medical Marijuana Under A Clinician For Anxiety, Pain And Sleep

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Photo: Courtesy of GRAS GRÜN via Unsplash