Researchers at Washington State University have made new insights about the short-term benefits of cannabis in patients suffering from OCD. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, also known as OCD, is a condition that causes obsessive rituals, which people do in an attempt to control their intrusive thoughts or fears. Patients in the study reported nearly a 50% decrease in the severity of symptoms 4 hours after smoking cannabis. The data from this study was collected from an application that required participants who self-identified as having OCD to report the effects of cannabis use. However, it should be noted that this form of measurement is limited for two reasons: firstly, the application was self-reported and is therefore susceptible to bias, and secondly, there was no placebo group to control for the expectations that participants had going into it. It is important to acknowledge these limitations in the analysis of the results, but it is still an interesting study. This study alludes to the idea that higher doses of cannabis with higher concentrations of CBD are more effective at alleviating OCD symptoms. This is especially relevant given the debates surrounding the legalization of marijuana. CBD could be a path worth exploring further in the future in terms of alleviating other mental health symptoms. Some studies have already started looking into the potential impacts of cannabis on PTSD symptoms, headaches, and overall mental health.
Sources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/10/201020081733.htm&sa=D&ust=1605482361001000&usg=AFQjCNGbDVqPVSUV2ODeSzSeYCm8VS2Oig