Cannabis is sometimes said to be a mood improver, but the evidence suggests that not only is this untrue, it may have the opposite effect (1-4).
Regular use over time is linked to an increased risk of low mood and anxiety. Relying on it can make it harder to develop other skills and coping strategies to regulate your mood. The combination can create a loop that is difficult to get out of (5).
Because cannabis can worsen mental health conditions, people with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, or psychosis are sometimes advised to avoid it all together (3,7).
Overall, if you’re concerned about how cannabis could be affecting your mood try taking a bit of time off from it and see how you feel. The difference might surprise you.
This post was made in collaboration with @camhnews.
Sources
- Down and High: Reflections Regarding Depression and Cannabis | Frontiers in Psychiatry | May 2021
- Association of Cannabis Legalization With Prevalence of Schizophrenia—Challenges of Attributing Biological Causality to Policy Change | JAMA Network Open | February 2025
- Cannabis use and mood disorders: a systematic review | Frontiers | April 2024
- New evidence suggests stronger link between teen cannabis use and psychotic disorders | CAMH | May 2024
- Cannabis and mental health | Government of Canada
- Cannabis and Mood Disorders | Current Addiction Reports | September 2019
- Associations between Cannabis Use, Cannabis Use Disorder and Mood Disorders: Longitudinal, Genetic, and Neurocognitive Evidence | Psychopharmacology | September 2022
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