Study participants who used high-potency cannabis products were twice as likely to report anxiety disorders than those who consumed lower-potency products, suggests new research out of the U.K.
“Risks for cannabis use problems and anxiety disorders are higher among those reporting use of high-potency cannabis,” notes the study published this week in JAMA Psychiatry. This risk persists even after accounting for sociodemographic factors, adolescent mental health and frequency of cannabis use.
“We know that people who use cannabis are more likely to report mental health problems than those who don’t use cannabis, but we don’t fully understand how recent increases in the strength and potency of cannabis affects this,” explains lead author Dr. Lindsey Hines, a senior research associate from Bristol Medical School, according to Medical Net.