(HealthDay News) — Adding anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis in Pennsylvania was associated with an increase in certifications, according to a research letter published online July 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Coleman Drake, PhD, from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, and colleagues examined whether Pennsylvania adding anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis in July 2019 was associated with changes in the distribution of qualifying conditions and the total number of certifications.

A total of 1,730,600 certifications were issued between November 2017 and December 2023, and of these, 1,593,790 were issued after anxiety disorders were added as a qualifying condition. The researchers found that throughout this period, there was a rapid increase in the number of certifications issued per month, from about 11,000 certifications in June 2019 to 30,000 in December 2023, which were mostly related to increases in certifications for anxiety.

Before anxiety was added, 67.07 and 15.84% of certifications had chronic pain and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as qualifying conditions, respectively. After the addition of anxiety, 60.26% of certifications were for anxiety, while 41.47 and 10.97% of certifications were for chronic pain and PTSD, respectively.

“Adding anxiety to the program may inadvertently signal to patients that cannabis is effective for treating it, despite the lack of evidence, which is concerning,” Drake said in a statement. “At the same time, cannabis may improve some health outcomes, relative to alternative treatments, depending on the individual and their circumstances.”

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)