Whoops– it appears that medically assisted marijuana use may not be anywhere near as effective a treatment as hoped– at least not for common mental health problems of the sort it’s often used to treat.
As discussed recently on CNN:
Scientists say marijuana doesn’t ease anxiety or other mental health conditions
To quote the article, “We found no evidence any form of cannabis is effective in treating anxiety, depression or post-traumatic stress disorder, which are three of the leading reasons for which cannabis is prescribed.”
It gets worse. According to a lead investigator, “…Using marijuana also did not improve other mental health conditions such as anorexia nervosa; bipolar disorder; obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD; or psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia”
And that was even more true when the drug was smoked rather than taken orally.
This has to be disappointing for advocates of medical marijuana.
But somehow, I doubt it will have much effect on the practices of people who are already using it.
“I think it helps me,“ remarked one, with a shrug. “That’s really all I care about.”
How do we argue with that? So much for science.
Confirmation bias will play a role. If someone went into the experience expecting it to help, they’re likely to be reluctant to acknowledge that it probably hasn’t.
And cannabis is a drug that produces dependence, in the form of withdrawal symptoms — craving, anxiety, irritability, disrupted sleep, et al. The discomfort may not be severe, but it’s usually enough to motivate someone to continue use.
I’ve learned not to argue with chronic users. I know what the science says, and if asked, I can share that. But I never expect anyone to respond, “whoa, I didn’t know! thank God you told me!”, and then immediately quit smoking pot.
That just isn’t how human beings operate.
