Cannabis and Anxiety: a Biopsychosocial Model

The current paper presents a biopsychosocial model of cannabis use and anxiety that focuses explicitly on aspects of anxiety that may contribute to cannabis use and use-related problems among individuals with elevated anxiety. Elevated anxiety and anxiety disorders are common among individuals who use cannabis and those with cannabis use disorder (CUD). One possible explanation for this co-occurrence may be that symptoms associated with anxiety disorders (i.e., physiological arousal, subjective anxiety, and avoidance) may place anxious individuals at risk of using cannabis to cope with these symptoms. A review of the literature on the relationships between facets of anxiety and cannabis use and related problems partially supports the utility of this model and informs future directions for research and treatment in this area.