Effects of Cannabinoids on Emotional States and Alcohol Use Among Underrepresented Groups: Moderation by Perceived Discrimination.
Renée Martin-Willett, Carillon J. Skrzynski, Angela D Bryan, L Cinnamon Bidwell
Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental September 1, 2025 DOI: 10.1002/hup.70016 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Randomized controlled trial Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 172 |
| Population | Participants who identify with a racial, ethnic, gender, or sexual identity that is underrepresented in research |
| Interventions | Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) Cannabidiol (CBD) |
| Duration | 4-week intervention |
| Topics | Anxiety Cannabis CBD |
| Keywords | Alcohol Perceived discrimination |
| Registration | NCT03491384 |
| Key findings | CBD use led to greater decreases in negative mood symptoms than THC use, especially at average and high levels of perceived discrimination, with no significant effects on alcohol use. |
Abstract
This study examined the effects of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) on negative mood and drinking behaviors, and whether those effects were moderated by levels of perceived discrimination among participants who identify with a racial, ethnic, gender, or sexual identity that is underrepresented in research. Participants were either not using cannabis, using cannabis with THC, or using cannabis with CBD and were assessed at baseline, 2 weeks, and 4-weeks following ad libitum use of a legal market cannabis product that was randomly assigned to them. Primary outcomes included scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress (DASS) Scale and number of drinking days. Moderation analyses used the Perceived Discrimination Scale (PDS). 172 participants who were 62% female and mean age = 30.2 were included (not using cannabis = 20, using cannabis = 152; of those, THC = 96, CBD = 56). There were significant changes in DASS scores over time, with participants using CBD experiencing greater decreases in symptoms versus participants using THC. There was also a marginal conditionXtimeXPDS interaction that was significant when the condition not using cannabis was removed from the analysis. In this case, participants in the CBD and THC conditions shared a general linear trend of decreasing DASS total scores over time, but only at average (mean) and high (+1 SD) levels of PDS scores. There were no significant effects on alcohol-related outcomes. CBD may be helpful in reducing negative emotional symptoms in the short term without increasing risk for disordered alcohol use, and perceived discrimination plays a significant role in this relationship. Clinicaltrials. gov (NCT03491384; Registration Date 2018-02-28); Open Science Framework.
Comparable studies
Other randomized controlled trials on cannabis for anxiety, most cited first.
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Cannabidiol inhibits THC-elicited paranoid symptoms and hippocampal-dependent memory impairment Journal of Psychopharmacology October 5, 2012
- Acute and Extended Anxiolytic Effects of Cannabidiol in Cannabis Flower: A Quasi-Experimental ad libitum Use Study Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research January 22, 2024
- Baseline affective symptomatology moderates acute subjective effects of high potency THC and CBD cannabis concentrates. Experimental and Clinical Psychopharmacology December 2023
- Potential Utility of Cannabidiol in Stress-Related Disorders. Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research April 2023
- Endocannabinoid System and Exogenous Cannabinoids in Depression and Anxiety: A Review Brain Science February 1, 2023
and 2 more in the library