Is Cannabis Actually Helpful for Mental Health?
From being decriminalized to legalized to even prescribed for certain health conditions, cannabis has become increasingly mainstream. As a psychiatrist, I used to find out that a patient was using cannabis while taking their health history, when I asked if they used any substances. Now I often find out when patients casually mention it; I don't even need to ask.
The reasons for using it vary from recreation to self-treatment for health issues, such as mental health symptoms. Unfortunately for those using cannabis for mental health issues, any benefits they experience end up being short-term. In the long-term, their symptoms seem to get worse.
Why Some People Turn to Cannabis for Mental Health
When it comes to those using cannabis for health reasons, people often tell me they turned to cannabis to help them sleep, unwind after a stressful day, or deal with feeling on edge. There are lots of reasons someone may feel on edge, including if they’re anxious, getting poor sleep, have an underlying mood disorder like depression, have symptoms related to trauma, or are experiencing burnout.
Does Cannabis Actually Improve Mental Health?
Unfortunately, the attempts to use cannabis to help with mental health issues may be misguided.
It’s important to note that studying mental health and cannabis use can be a little like a chicken-and-egg situation. Even when researchers study people longitudinally (over time) and before symptoms of mental health conditions start, it’s hard to know whether cannabis use contributes to the development of mental health conditions; whether psychological, social, or genetic factors related to the condition lead a person to start using cannabis; or if it’s a bit of both.
Either way, the research does seem to suggest that cannabis use does not do much to make the symptoms better, even if they began before a person started using it.
If Cannabis Doesn’t Help Mental Health, What Does?
If you’ve been turning to cannabis for mental health issues, you may feel worse at first when you stop. This isn’t because cannabis is helping with your condition, but because you may experience withdrawal. You may notice mood changes, sleep disturbances, restlessness, headaches, as well as cravings.
If you want to stop using cannabis, consider reaching out to your primary care doctor or mental health provider for guidance. If you have been using cannabis to help you — whether to relax or to manage mental health symptoms — it may be challenging to stop without having other coping skills or medication to rely on.
Many mild to moderate symptoms of mental health conditions can be well-managed with lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, or healthy sleep habits; psychotherapy (talk therapy); or both. For more serious conditions, getting evidence-based medication from a doctor may be needed.
Important: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not Everyday Health.
- Leung J et al. Prevalence and self-reported reasons of cannabis use for medical purposes in USA and Canada. Psychopharmacology. January 2022.
- Ciesluk B et al. Cannabis use in the UK: a quantitative comparison of individual differences in medical and recreational users. Frontiers in Psychology. January 2024.
- Lowe E et al. Cannabis use in the UK: a quantitative comparison of individual differences in medical and recreational users. European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience. February 2019.
Allison Young, MD
Author
Allison Young, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist providing services via telehealth throughout New York and Florida.
In addition to her private practice, Dr. Young serves as an a...