Cannabidiol for Anxiety

A 2011 study found that 600mg of cannabidiol (CBD) significantly decreased anxiety in people with social anxiety disorder compared to placebo. The CBD was given to participants 1.5 hours prior to public speaking. It is thought that CBD affects serotonin receptors. High doses of CBD may worsen anxiety while lower doses may reduce anxiety. CBD may cause digestive or other side effects.

Bergamaschi MM, Queiroz RH, Chagas MH, de Oliveira DC, De Martinis BS, Kapczinski F, Quevedo J, Roesler R, Schröder N, Nardi AE, Martín-Santos R, Hallak JE, Zuardi AW, Crippa JA. Cannabidiol reduces the anxiety induced by simulated public speaking in treatment-naïve social phobia patients. Neuropsychopharmacology. 2011 May;36(6):1219-26. doi: 10.1038/npp.2011.6. Epub 2011 Feb 9. PMID: 21307846; PMCID: PMC3079847.