Previous independent medical studies have demonstrated that CBD, or cannabidiol, has the same effect as anti-anxiety medication in animals.  The objective of this study, performed by Brazilian and Israeli researchers, was to determine if CBD has the same effect on humans.  According to the Mayo Clinic, “occasional anxiety is a normal part of life. However, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations. Often, anxiety disorders involve repeated episodes of sudden feelings of intense anxiety and fear or terror that reach a peak within minutes (panic attacks).”  The study evaluated the effects of varying doses of CBD and a placebo in 57 healthy adult male volunteers who performed a simulated public speaking test, a well-tested anxiety-inducing technique.

During the study, participants were administered 150mg, 300mg, 600mg CBD or a placebo. During each subject’s simulated public speaking, the subjects were asked how they felt on the Visual Analogue Mood Scale. Their systolic and diastolic blood pressure and heart rate were also taken six times during their speech.  The participants who ingested 300mg CBD demonstrated significantly reduced anxiety during their speeches, in comparison to, the placebo.  There were no significant differences on the Visual Analogue Mood Scale for subjects who received CBD at 150mg, 600mg and the placebo.

This study confirmed that CBD has the same effects as anti-anxiety medications in humans and animals. The next step will be to determine the optimal therapeutic dosage of CBD so that it can be used at a clinical level to help those who suffer from anxiety disorders.