April 10th, 2015 – Several have indicated that cannabinoids, more specifically cannabidiol (CBD), has 
anti-anxiety effects and may help those with anxiety disorders. Many people rely on traditional pharmaceutical medication to treat their anxiety, though these options often have many negative side effects. Benzodiazepines are a common medication given to anxiety patients, and work by lowering brain activity to temporarily relieve anxiety. Traditional medication is far too risky for those with less severe cases of anxiety, and paired with the adverse effects on the body, the demand for safer treatment has become a pressing issue. A 2011 study conducted in Brazil entitled, Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder, indicates cannabidiol as the potential answer.
Anxiety disorders come in different forms; some of the more common cases are Social Anxiety Disorder, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. Anxiety disorder makes it increasingly difficult to function in society and corrupts a person’s quality of life. Approximately 18% of the United States population is affected by various anxiety disorders, many of who do not seek treatment. With the current treatments for anxiety disorders using around one-third of the U.S.’s mental health bill budget, it has become increasingly pressing to find alternatives for the treatment of anxiety.
Cannabidiol and Anxiety
Cannabidiol is a compound within cannabis and hemp with non-psychoactive properties, with tremendous medicinal value. CBD is gradually becoming recognized as a legitimate treatment for various conditions, including anxiety. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive counterpart of the cannabis plant, is noted for having anxiety inducing qualities, however CBD has demonstrated the opposite effects.
A study entitled: Neural basis of anxiolytic effects of cannabidiol (CBD) in generalized social anxiety disorder tested the supposed anxiolytic (anxiety reducing) effects of CBD in 10 patients with social anxiety disorder. Half the patients were given 400mg of CBD and the other were given placebo, and then they went through neuroimaging to monitor how the brain was being affected. After two sessions the results showed that CBD had an anti-anxiety effect on the area of the brain that regulates emotions, decreasing the overall anxiety of the patient.
The low psychoactivity of Cannabidiol makes it a preferred and safer alternative to the pharmaceutical drugs that may cause numerous negative reactions in the body such as drowsiness and medication hangover. Anxiety disorders consume millions of people’s lives diminishing their quality of life and racking up their health care fees. There is a great need for more study for the use of Cannabidiols as an anti-anxiety treatment so that more people can benefit from its medicinal value.
For additional studies/information on Cannabidiol and Anxiety and/or cannabidiol please see:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24923339
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21307846
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20829306
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20945065
http://www.adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics
http://www.helpguide.org/articles/anxiety/anxiety-medication.htm