A comprehensive review published in The Lancet Psychiatry has found no evidence that medicinal cannabis effectively treats anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder, even as prescriptions for these conditions surge worldwide.

The study—described as the largest-ever review of cannabinoid safety and efficacy across mental health conditions—arrives at a critical moment. In Australia alone, over 1 million cannabis prescriptions have been approved, with sales of cannabinoid medications tripling over the past four years. Much of this prescribing targets mental health conditions.

The disconnect is stark. "There is little, or no evidence base for many of the conditions for which it is being prescribed, such as anxiety, insomnia, or depression," said Dr. McMullen, President of the Australian Medical Association.

Now, before the cannabis advocates sharpen their pitchforks: This isn't a blanket dismissal of medicinal cannabis. The AMA explicitly recognizes its utility for specific conditions with established evidence—epilepsy, chemotherapy-induced nausea, and Multiple Sclerosis spasticity. These applications have rigorous research backing them.

But here's the uncomfortable truth the review exposes: medicinal cannabis is being prescribed for mental health conditions where proven, evidence-based treatments already exist. And in some cases, physicians report serious adverse outcomes when cannabis is used where it's contraindicated or requires careful supervision.

The timing matters. As governments worldwide liberalize medical cannabis access, the regulatory framework often lags behind. In Australia, the AMA is pushing for cannabis products to undergo the same rigorous safety, quality, and efficacy testing required of other medicines before entering the therapeutic register.

This isn't about ideology or the politics of drug policy. It's about matching treatments to evidence. When someone struggling with depression or PTSD seeks help, they deserve interventions that have been rigorously tested and proven effective—not treatments prescribed on hope, anecdote, or market demand.