As more people become interested in alternative therapies for mental health, medicinal cannabis is becoming increasingly popular in Australia. According to a study by researchers at the University of Sydney, there has been a significant increase in prescriptions for medicinal cannabis since it was legalized in 2016. Anxiety is the second most common condition being treated with medicinal cannabis after chronic pain.

However, there is currently very little high-quality evidence to suggest that cannabis can effectively treat anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism. The study suggests that more funding is needed to better understand the efficacy of cannabis-based therapies for mental health conditions. Healthcare professionals also need better information on which medicinal cannabis products are best suited for specific conditions.

The Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics at the Brain and Mind Centre is working to fill this gap in research. The initiative has a broad range of pre-clinical and clinical researchers, allowing them to examine the issue from varied angles.

Through their work, the initiative hopes to produce high-quality evidence that supports or discourages current patterns of use. In conclusion, while there is growing interest in medicinal cannabis as an alternative therapy for mental health conditions, more research is needed to understand its efficacy and which products are best suited for specific conditions.

Initiatives like the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics are essential for filling gaps in research to improve patient outcomes.