Marijuana could help treat drug addiction, mental health

A recent UBC study has found that marijuana could help some alcoholics and people addicted to opioids kick their habits.

“Research suggests that people may be using cannabis as an exit drug to reduce the use of substances that are potentially more harmful, such as opioid pain medication,” says the study’s lead investigator Zach Walsh, an associate professor of psychology at UBC’s Okanagan campus.

A systematic review on the medicinal marijuana use and mental health also found evidence that cannabis may help with symptoms of depression, PTSD, and social anxiety. The same review, however, concluded that cannabis may not be recommended for conditions such as bipolar disorder and psychosis.

Walsh and his team systematically reviewed all studies of medical cannabis and mental health, as well as reviews on non-medical cannabis use, making the review one the most comprehensive reports on this subject to date.

With the legalization of marijuana expected as early as next year in Canada, Walsh says it’s important to identify ways to help mental health professionals move beyond the stigma and better understand the risks and benefits of cannabis.

“There is not currently a lot of clear guidance on how mental health professionals can best work with people who are using cannabis for medical purposes,” he says. “With the end of prohibition, telling people to simply stop using may no longer be a feasible option and knowing how to consider cannabis in the treatment equation will become a necessity."

Walsh’s research was conducted with the aid of many experts around North America and was recently published in the journal of Clinical Psychology Review.