HealthDay (7/11, Gotkine) reported a study suggests that “adding anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis in Pennsylvania was associated with an increase in certifications.” The researchers “examined whether Pennsylvania adding anxiety disorders as a qualifying condition to obtain medical cannabis in July 2019 was associated with changes in the distribution of qualifying conditions and the total number of certifications.” They observed “there was a rapid increase in the number of certifications issued per month, from about 11,000 certifications in June 2019 to 30,000 in December 2023, which were mostly related to increases in certifications for anxiety.” Researchers noted that “after the addition of anxiety, 60.26 percent of certifications were for anxiety, while 41.47 and 10.97 percent of certifications were for chronic pain and PTSD, respectively.” The study was discussed in research letter published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Related Links:
— “Adding Anxiety as Qualifier for Medical Cannabis Increases Number of Certifications,”Elana Gotkine
, Elana Gotkine/i>, July 11, 2025