Throughout the last decade, we’ve seen many studies reveal that cannabis holds the potential to aid in the treatment of anxiety disorders.

Small quantities of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) or large amounts of cannabidiol (CBD) appear effective.¹With that in mind, some have questioned whether or not cannabis may be used in specific forms of anxiety, such as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).Admittedly, research concerning this topic is thin. However, recent studies have shined a light on cannabis’s potential. Throughout this article, we’ll take a deeper look at OCD and cannabis’s potential in treating it.

What is OCD?

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is marked by two specific traits:²

• Obsessions - Uncontrollable, recurring thoughts

• Compulsions - Behaviours repeated over and over

While you may stereotypically think of people with OCD as overly clean, it’s a much more complicated type of anxiety. These obsessions can appear in several manners, resulting in varying compulsive conduct.For example, an individual with OCD may struggle with sexual obsessions and, in turn, find themselves in situations of sexual harassment.

Of course, such extreme cases are rare. In most individuals, compulsions will appear as:

• Constantly checking on things (i.e., if the door is locked)

• Cleaning and handwashing more than normal

• Keeping things in an orderly fashion

• Uncontrollable counting Compulsions as such will only appear when an obsessive thought, such as the following, occurs:

• Aggressive thoughts (towards oneself or others)

• The anxiety of contamination or germs

• Feeling uncomfortable when things aren’t symmetrical

• Undesired forbidden (or taboo) thoughts involving harm, religion, or sex as mentioned, obsessive thoughts will lead to compulsive behaviours. And while people with OCD can recognize these patterns, they can be challenging to break.

How is OCD Traditionally Treated?

If you’ve received an OCD diagnosis, you’ve likely been given some combination of medication and psychotherapy. Combined, these treatments can help ease obsessive thoughts while teaching a person how to overcome compulsive behaviour. Currently, the most common type of medication for OCD is serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SRIs). While this medication is effective, it can take up to 8 to 12 weeks for results to be noticeable. Large doses are required for proper treatment, which can result in serious side effects.³In terms of counselling, cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) tends to be most effective for OCD - primarily when used alongside medication. CBT will identify what triggers compulsive behaviour while teaching you methods for overcoming obsessive thoughts.4For most people, this combination of treatments can be highly effective in reducing symptoms. However, it is not a cure as there currently isn’t one available. Therefore, such treatments require long-term medical attention.

Due to this, some are looking towards natural alternatives as a means of helping to reduce OCD symptoms. And cannabis has been one of the most discussed of these.

Cannabis for OCD: Does it Help?

Currently, cannabis and mental health research has looked toward general anxiety disorders (GAD) or social anxiety disorders (SAD).While symptoms between these conditions and OCD are similar in some regards, they’re also very different. Therefore, comparing anxiety research isn’t a conclusive way of observing whether cannabis can help with OCD. However, it is worth noting that cannabis has shown great potential in treating anxiety. More specifically, low doses of THC and high doses of CBD seem to help relax the brain and body. This can be observed in a study performed by the University of Illinois at Chicago, where it was reported that low-dose THC helped to relieve specific stresses, such as jitters of a public-speaking task.5In a 2015 review, CBD was concluded to have potential therapeutic effects in all forms of anxiety disorders. Most notably, SAD.6

But What Does the Research Say?

One recent study has shed light on cannabis’s effects on those struggling with OCD. Published by Frontiers in Psychiatry in 2020, the study pinpoints that the endocannabinoid system (ECS) plays a significant role in the “pathophysiology of OCD.”7For those who don’t know, the ECS is a regulatory system within each of us that’s responsible for many day-to-day functions, including mood and sleep. When we consume cannabis, it directly influences our ECS - causing many of the effects we associate with the plant.From the 2020 study, it was concluded that cannabis’s influence on the ECS had a positive effect on patients observed. In the words of the authors: “Here we present the case of a 22-year-old male patient, who suffered from severe OCD since childhood and significantly improved after treatment with medical cannabis with markedly reduced OCD and depression resulting in a considerable improvement of quality of life.”However, the study openly notes that there can be no conclusions about which cannabinoids helped in the OCD treatment. With that in mind, another (and smaller) 2020 study looked at 14 adults with OCD and gave them varying concentrations of THC and CBD. This was done to determine which of these two cannabinoids may have a more significant effect.8Admittedly, this study was inconclusive, unable to find significant changes in OCD symptoms after consuming varying levels of THC and CBD. Finally, another study found that those with OCD

were more likely to use (or be dependent on) cannabis than other groups of individuals, including those with just anxiety and depression.9To some degree, this suggests cannabis may help those with OCD; therefore, more of this population consumes it. However, such statements were not the conclusion of this study.

How to Use Cannabis for OCD

While the research concerning cannabis and OCD isn’t conclusive, some may still be open to trying it. While rare, cannabis does have harmful interactions with certain substances. If you struggle with OCD and are currently receiving medical treatment, we highly recommend speaking to your doctor before trying cannabis.If you receive the okay, we recommend starting with low doses of cannabis to start. This may mean buying a flower with a low-THC percentage (between 1% to 10%) or smoking a small amount at a time.Simultaneously, it may be in your interest to take a CBD product alongside this. CBD can help counter the psychoactive effects of THC and further relaxation.Final WordMore research is necessary to understand how cannabis affects OCD. However, from our studies, it seems to hold a lot of potentials.With that said, there’s no harm in trying cannabis for OCD. But if you find that cannabis is worsening your symptoms or not working, we recommend dropping it altogether.Furthermore, you should always seek a medical professional’s advice before using cannabis for OCD.