New research questions the benefits of medicinal cannabinoids for treating anxiety or depression. A recent paper on the findings in The Lancet Psychiatry describes how the study, which takes the form of a meta-analysis, combines and analyzes data covering 3,000 people in 83 studies from 1980 to 2018. The analysis focuses on the effectiveness of cannabinoids in the treatment of six conditions in adults. "There is scarce evidence to suggest," write the authors, "that cannabinoids improve depressive disorders and symptoms, anxiety disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Tourette’s syndrome, post-traumatic stress disorder, or psychosis." The researchers found the evidence to be limited and of a low standard. They call for high quality studies to examine the various impacts of cannabinoids on people with mental health conditions. ‘Be aware of risks and monitor closely’ They conclude that, given the known risks of cannabinoids, the current evidence of their effectiveness does not […]