Overview
- Researchers synthesized more than 2,500 studies from 2010 to 2025, prioritizing recent, larger trials and clinical guidelines.
- Clear benefits were confined to a few FDA‑approved cannabinoids for chemotherapy nausea and vomiting, HIV/AIDS‑related appetite loss, and certain pediatric seizure disorders.
- Evidence for popular uses such as chronic pain, anxiety, and insomnia was limited or inconclusive, with no support for easing acute pain and recommendations against first‑line use for most pain conditions.
- About 29% of medical cannabis users met criteria for cannabis use disorder, and adolescent use of high‑potency products was linked to higher rates of psychotic symptoms and generalized anxiety.
- Daily use—especially inhaled or high‑potency products—was associated with increased risks of coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke; authors urge screening for cardiovascular and psychotic risk and note the review was not a formal systematic review.