Study Finds Medicinal Cannabis Ineffective for Mental Health

A landmark paper published in The Lancet Psychiatry, the largest-ever review of cannabinoid safety and efficacy, found no evidence that medicinal cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The study, led by Jack Wilson at the University of Sydney's The Matilda Centre, analyzed 54 randomized controlled trials over 45 years. This comes amid a surge in medicinal cannabis prescriptions in Australia, the United States, and Canada, often for mental health issues. The research suggests that routine use of medicinal cannabis could worsen mental health outcomes and delay effective treatments. While some limited, low-quality evidence suggested potential benefits for conditions like insomnia, autism, and Tourette's syndrome, and for cannabis use disorder, it was found to increase cocaine cravings in individuals with cocaine-use disorder. Major medical bodies, including the Australian Medical Association, Pharmacy Guild of Australia, and American Medical Association, have raised concerns about unregulated growth in prescribing. The Australia===Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia is reviewing regulatory oversight, and this study provides crucial evidence for evidence-based decision-making.