05/11/2025
🚨 Using cannabis to manage anxiety or past trauma? New research shows it may actually make things worse.
A groundbreaking study from King’s College London has found that people who turn to cannabis to cope with anxiety, depression, or physical pain are more likely to develop paranoia, heavier use, and long-term mental health issues than those who use it recreationally.
Drawing on the Cannabis & Me survey—the largest of its kind—two companion studies revealed that users who began consuming cannabis to ease distress tended to take in far higher doses of THC, the psychoactive compound responsible for cannabis’s high. They also reported greater levels of paranoia and psychological distress.
In contrast, people who started using cannabis socially showed fewer mental health problems, suggesting that the reason for first use may shape its psychological impact.
The findings become even more concerning when childhood trauma enters the picture. Over half of the 3,389 participants reported early-life trauma, and these individuals showed stronger links between cannabis use, paranoia, and dependency. Researchers warn that using cannabis as a coping tool for emotional wounds may intensify rather than relieve distress.
These results raise important questions about cannabis legalization and mental health care. Experts urge better public education, trauma-informed support, and mental health screening to protect vulnerable users who may turn to cannabis for relief—but end up deepening their struggles.
🧠Source:
BMJ Mental Health (Aug 26, 2025) – “Are reasons for first using cannabis associated with subsequent cannabis consumption (standard THC units) and psychopathology?”
Psychological Medicine (Aug 8, 2025) – “The impact of childhood trauma and cannabis use on paranoia”
