Fort Myers, FL: The consumption of state-authorized medical cannabis products is associated with significant decreases in daily anxiety levels, according to longitudinal data published in the journal Nature: Scientific Reports.
Investigators affiliated with Florida Gulf Coast University assessed cannabis’ efficacy in a cohort of 416 patients with a history of anxiety. Participants’ anxiety levels were initially assessed at baseline. Daily shifts in anxiety levels were assessed for the following 45 days. On some days, subjects consumed state-licensed medical cannabis products. At other times, subjects engaged in meditation and other activities to moderate their anxiety.
Patients reported the greatest mitigation in their anxiety on the days they consumed cannabis.
The study’s authors concluded: “Results showed that across all 45 days and participants, MC [medical cannabis] use was the biggest factor in alleviating anxiety. … Investigating how participants administered their MC revealed no effect of route of administration on anxiety relief. … Future work should help paint a clearer picture of how initiating and maintaining MC use helps individuals deal with daily anxiety levels.”
In a previous study of state-registered medical cannabis patients, over 90 percent of respondents said that cannabis helped to relieve their anxiety. Survey data consistently reports that consumers are most likely to use cannabis for purposes of mitigating pain and anxiety.
Full text of the study, “Associations of cannabis use, other substances, and lifestyle choices on anxiety in medical cannabis patients across 45 days,” appears in Nature: Scientific Reports.