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Anxiety disorders are the most prominent mental health conditions in the United States, affecting an estimated 31.1% of U.S. adults at some point in their lives. CBD is an increasingly popular method for managing anxiety symptoms.
Keep reading to learn about the relationship between CBD and anxiety, including research into benefits, how to use, risks and safety, and CBD products to try for different anxiety symptoms.
Is CBD legal?The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the legal definition of marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. This made some hemp-derived CBD products with less than 0.3% THC federally legal. However, CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC still fall under the legal definition of marijuana, making them federally illegal but legal under some state laws. Be sure to check state laws, especially when traveling. Also, keep in mind that the FDA has not approved nonprescription CBD products, and some products may be inaccurately labeled.
As part of our editorial process, we regularly check the products in our articles to ensure we only recommend ones from companies with reputable practices. Part of this process is removing products that no longer meet our rigorous vetting standards and replacing them with alternatives we think our readers will love.
Medical News Today chooses products that meet the following criteria:
Ingredients: MNT chooses products containing safe and high quality, clearly labeled ingredients. They should also confirm they are free from pesticides, heavy metals, and mold.
Dosage: MNT chooses products that must clearly state the CBD dosage and THC content.
Serving size: MNT selects products in which manufacturers recommend a dosage and how to take it.
Third-party labs: MNT chooses products that must undergo third-party testing for contaminants by an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory.
Available certificate of analysis: MNT chooses companies that demonstrate transparency and share a product’s certificate of analysis (COA) after receiving its third-party lab results.
There are several important considerations when shopping for CBD, such as:
COA: People should only buy products from companies with an accessible and current COA. Some companies may display the COA on their shopping page, whereas others may require a person to scan a QR code.
Third-party testing: Some companies send their CBD products to third parties for laboratory tests. This ensures that the products contain the type and amount of CBD the company advertises.
Type of CBD: Companies can legally sell full- or broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate. Full-spectrum CBD contains up to 0.3% THC, whereas broad-spectrum and CBD isolate contain trace or no amounts of THC.
CBD strength: People new to CBD may wish to start at a lower strength of CBD. Everyone should always start with the lowest possible dose of a product and gradually increase it as necessary.
The growing legalization of medical cannabis in the U.S. has prompted many scientists to study the various therapeutic uses of cannabis and CBD, including in the treatment of anxiety disorders.
Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric conditions. The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) estimates that 19.1% of adults in the U.S. experienced an anxiety disorder in the past year, and more women experience anxiety than men.
In a recent 2020 study, researchers evaluated CBD’s effects on 397 adults living in New Zealand. The study participants received medical CBD prescriptions for various ailments, including non-cancer pain, cancer-related symptoms, neurological symptoms, and mental health symptoms.
All groups reported improvements in their overall quality of life after 3 weeks of CBD treatment. The individuals who received CBD treatment for anxiety or depression reportedly experienced improvements in their ability to perform daily functions and reduce pain and anxiety or depression symptoms.
70% of study participants reported some level of satisfaction with CBD treatment, ranging from good to excellent. Only 9.9% of participants experienced adverse side effects, such as sedation and vivid dreams. A smaller portion of the study population (0.8%) reported worsening symptoms.
Most study participants received one 25-milligram capsule of CBD once a day (mg/d). A few participants received 50 or 75 mg/d. One individual with a history of trauma and schizoaffective disorder received up to 175 mg/d.
After the first 2 months of CBD treatment, 78.1–79.2% of participants reported improvements in anxiety symptoms. However, 15.3–19.5% of participants developed worse symptoms after CBD treatment.
The authors of one 2020 article reviewed eight studies investigating CBD’s role in treating various anxiety disorders.
The authors found evidence to support the use of CBD as an effective monotherapy or complementary therapy for treating generalized anxiety, SAD, and PTSD.
However, the studies showed considerable variation in CBD doses, ranging from 6-400 mg per dose. This variation highlights the need for more high quality, large-scale clinical trials to help establish standardized dosing and clinical usage guidelines for CBD therapy.
CBD resources
Visit our dedicated hub for more research-backed information and in-depth resources on CBD.
The administration method determines how quickly cannabinoids begin taking effect.
The effects of orally administered CBD, such as oils, edibles (such as gummies), or capsules, generally begin working within 30 minutes to 2 hours. Smoking or vaping CBD oil or cannabis buds results in more immediate effects.
People can use oral CBD products to relieve anxiety throughout the day. It may help to take these products in the morning with some food.
Smoking or vaping CBD oil can provide immediate relaxation that may help people during especially stressful events, such as giving a speech.
CBD is relatively safe and well-tolerated by most people.
The authors of a 2017 review confirmed that people could tolerate CBD well, even at doses as high as 1,500 mg/day. However, the data on the long-term safety of CBD is limited.
There are some side effects associated with CBD. These include:
Before taking CBD products, individuals should consult with their doctor.
CBD is not suitable for pregnant or breastfeeding people. There is also a risk with certain medications and supplements, such as blood thinners and liver medication. It’s important to check with a healthcare professional before taking any CBD.
People should note that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate CBD for treating anxiety or other mental health conditions. People should use their best judgment when purchasing CBD products. Only buy products from reputable manufacturers and distributors.
CBD can also interact with other medications, sometimes in ways that can lead to adverse health effects. It is important to always talk with a healthcare professional before using CBD to make sure it will not cause any negative effects when taking it alongside medication.
reaching out to friends, family, and support groups
keeping a journal
Does CBD calm the nervous system?
Yes, according to research published in 2020, there is evidence that CBD affects the nervous system, resulting in a decrease in anxiety symptoms. However, people should not use CBD instead of anxiety medication unless a healthcare professional recommends doing so.
An ever-growing body of research suggests that CBD may help relieve anxiety, the most common mental health disorder.
However, the FDA does not regulate CBD for treating anxiety. This means the quality and dosage of CBD can vary widely between products and manufacturers.
Various products are available for people who want to use CBD to treat anxiety, including tinctures, gummies, lotions, and patches.
People who currently use prescription medication or supplements may want to consult a doctor before using CBD.
Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We avoid using tertiary references. We link primary sources — including studies, scientific references, and statistics — within each article and also list them in the resources section at the bottom of our articles. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.
Hsu W-C, et al. (2019). Back massage intervention for improving health and sleep quality among intensive care unit patients. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30942526/
