Experimental study on cannabis use and affect: Effects on reactivity to and recovery from negative stimuli

Abstract

Anxiety induces considerable costs to individuals necessitating investigation into underlying factors. Exaggerated responses to negative stimuli (i.e., reactivity) and diminished recovery from them are features of disordered mood that are increasingly being treated with cannabis, but its efficacy remains unclear. The current study thus examined how extended (i.e., 4 weeks) and acute (i.e., immediate) use of cannabis differing in cannabinoid content influences reactivity and recovery processes. In total, 499 individuals with at least mild anxiety (66% female, 68% White) engaged in 4 weeks of ad libitum use of either a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant product (n = 152), a cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant product (n = 163), a 1:1 ratio product (n = 140), or no product use (N = 44). Participants completed a baseline session where their affect and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after a rumination task and breathing recovery exercise. This same procedure occurred 4 weeks later at a mobile laboratory session before and after cannabis use. Using three-level mixed effect models, findings showed greater reactivity to but also stronger recovery after the rumination task for all three cannabis use conditions compared to the nonuse condition. Additionally, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol products elevated HR compared to CBD and nonuse, while CBD use did not change HR relative to nonuse. The findings showed reactivity and recovery differed for cannabis use versus nonuse conditions, suggesting important implications for cannabis use recommendations on mitigating anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03491384.

Figure 1.

Study flow diagram.

Figure 2.

NAIT flow diagram.

Figure 3.

CONSORT diagram

Figure 4.. Individual data across task timepoints for affect (A) and HR (B) at baseline session.

Note. Bold line is the average effect.

Figure 5.. Estimated affect across task timepoints by condition collapsing across baseline and first mobile lab sessions: A) differences in reactivity, and B) differences in recovery.

Note. A) THC+CBD and THC condition participants displayed significantly greater reactivity than non-use condition participants (differences compared to non-use condition=4.94 and 3.85, SEs=1.97 and 1.95, ps=0.01 and <0.05, respectively). B) CBD, THC, and THC+CBD condition participants had greater recovery than non-use condition participants (differences compared to non-use condition=5.71, 5.50, and 5.30, SEs=1.92, 1.94, and 1.96, ps<0.01, respectively).