A sweeping review from Australian researchers published in The Lancet Psychiatry has found little evidence that cannabis meaningfully reduces symptoms of anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, contradicting widespread patient use for these conditions.
What the research examined
The team analyzed dozens of controlled trials conducted between 1980 and 2025, examining both pharmaceutical cannabinoids and whole-plant cannabis across multiple diagnoses. According to the syndicated report by FOX19, one study author noted that marijuana did not appear to improve anorexia nervosa, bipolar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or schizophrenia. The authors rated much of the evidence as low or very low quality, citing wide variations in dose, product type and participant follow-up duration across studies. They called for larger and longer trials using consistent outcome measures. In cases where modest benefits appeared in narrow subgroups, the results were inconsistent and easily undermined by small changes in the analysis.
Gap between patient use and evidence
Use of cannabis is widespread in North America. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s CAMH Monitor (2025) reports that about 29% of Ontario adults used cannabis in the past year, and roughly 11.6% reported medical use in that same period. CNN Newsource reporting, syndicated by FOX19, notes that many medical users say they turn to cannabis specifically to manage mental-health symptoms, creating a significant gap between patient interest and weak trial evidence.
Health risks to consider
Public-health agencies emphasize that cannabis is not risk-free, especially when used heavily or started young. The CDC notes that cannabis use can trigger anxiety, paranoia and temporary psychosis, and is associated with a higher risk of long-term psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia, particularly for people who begin in adolescence or use high-THC products. The agency also points out that a noticeable minority of users develop cannabis use disorder, making it crucial to weigh potential harms against potential benefits.
This article is an AI-assisted summary. All facts and figures are drawn from the original report: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/anxiety-relief-up-in-smoke-new-pot-study-jolts-cincinnati/