Is Cannabis Good for Depression and Anxiety? What the Science Actually Says.

Millions of Americans use cannabis to manage anxiety and depression. Perceived risk is at an all-time low. And yet — the clinical evidence tells a very different story than the cultural narrative.

In this episode, clinical psychologist and addiction scientist Dr. Suzette Glasner breaks down three recent studies that every person using cannabis for mental health, every parent, and every clinician should know about. You can watch the full episode here:

A 2026 study followed nearly half a million adolescents and found that individuals who used cannabis had more than double the risk of developing psychosis and bipolar disorder — with cannabis use preceding the diagnosis by almost two years. A Lancet Psychiatry review published the same year found no convincing evidence that cannabis effectively treats anxiety, depression, or PTSD — the conditions Americans most commonly say they use it for. And the potency problem: the cannabis on dispensary shelves today — flower at 15-20%+ THC, concentrates up to 90%. This matters because it directly impacts the risk of psychiatric and medical complications.

Dr. Glasner also covers the conditions cannabis is FDA-approved to treat and why the answer surprises most people.

In this episode:

* Why perceived risk of cannabis has hit historic lows — and why that matters

* What cannabis is actually FDA-approved to treat vs. what people use it for

* The JAMA adolescent study: 463,000 teens followed over time

* The Lancet review: examining evidence for cannabis as mental health treatment

* Why potency matters

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