Cannabis may have some beneficial effects on symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder

An analysis of a large dataset of medical cannabis users has indicates that many people with obsessive-compulsive disorder report that their symptoms are reduced after smoking the substance.

The preliminary study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, found that cannabis use was associated with reductions in compulsions, unwanted thoughts and anxiety, highlighting the need for additional clinical trials.

“While many studies have examined the acute effects of cannabis on other mental health conditions — such as anxiety, depression, PTSD, and psychosis — there has been almost no research on acute effects of cannabis on symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder (or OCD) in humans,” explained study author Carrie Cuttler, an assistant professor at Washington State University.