Overview

• Researchers examined 1.73 million medical cannabis certifications issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Health from November 2017 through December 2023 to assess the impact of adding anxiety disorders.
• Anxiety disorders were introduced as a qualifying condition in July 2019, prompting a significant change in the program’s patient composition.
• By December 2023, anxiety represented 60% of certifications, while chronic pain and PTSD fell to 41% and 11%, respectively, with some patients citing multiple conditions.
• Investigators were unable to determine how many participants switched diagnoses or joined the program specifically for anxiety, revealing gaps in enrollment data.
• Experts highlight a lack of robust clinical evidence supporting cannabis as an effective treatment for anxiety and call for targeted studies and improved data collection.