Evidence lacking on benefits of cannabis for mental health, evidence of harms stronger

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2026-03-10 02:00

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There remains a lack of evidence on whether cannabis can help people with mental health conditions, according to a review by international scientists who say future research must fill these gaps as cannabis use becomes more widespread and socially acceptable. The team looked at the available evidence to assess the use of cannabis for a variety of mental health conditions such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, ADHD, psychosis, and more. They say that, along with the lack of evidence of effectiveness to treat these conditions, using cannabis also comes with known risks, including worsening mania symptoms and ability to cope with life among bipolar patients, and an increase in psychotic symptoms among patients with psychotic disorders. They also report that around a third of people who use cannabis develop a cannabis use disorder, when use starts to interfere with everyday life. There is not currently enough evidence to support the use of cannabis for the treatment of mental health conditions, and use should be discouraged among young people and those with conditions such as biploar or psychosis, the authors conclude.