Ever since the cautionary film Reefer Madness came out to condemn marijuana as a demonizing drug back in 1936, the societal view of cannabis use has been that it could cause people to lose their minds or worsen existing mental conditions. Despite the increasing number of states and countries that have voted to legalize medical or recreational cannabis use, the mental health stigma has been hard to shake off.
But, a new study recently conducted by a team of Canadian and U.S. researchers hints that cannabis may actually be beneficial for users with a number of mental conditions. In the report, which was published in the academic journal Clinical Psychology Review, showcases evidence that cannabis can potentially help people with depression, social anxiety, and PTSD.
Findings also showed that cannabis may not be the best option for those suffering from bipolar order, which showed to come with more negative side effects than the positive ones that were found in treating the other mental conditions. The study also supported the growing claim that marijuana is beneficial to overcoming opiate addiction as well, a glaring issue that is loosely tied with mental health issues.
“We are really excited about the potential substitution effect,” said Zach Walsh, the author of the study and an associate professor of psychology at the University of British Columbia. “If people use cannabis as a replacement for opioid medications, or to get off of opioids or cut back, we could see some pretty dramatic public health benefits. The level of opioid overdoses is so high right now.”
Due to marijuana's federal drug classification in the United States, much of the research currently taking place has been funded by cannabis producers in Canada. For instance, Walsh is currently leading a clinical trial on the benefits of cannabis that is being funded by the medical cannabis producer Tilray. Many scientists think that expanding research capabilities will help shed the stigma of cannabis and lead to even better studies.
Though more extensive research is needed to support the findings of this recent study, Walsh and his research team have unearthed some very promising results. By proving that cannabis may actually benefit a number of mental disorders, these researchers are helping to break the long-standing stigma that cannabis has a negative effect on mental health.
