CBD may help reduce short-term symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress without increasing alcohol use, according to a new clinical trial published in Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental.

Researchers at the University of Colorado examined 172 participants, most of them women with an average age of 30. Participants were either assigned THC-dominant cannabis, CBD-dominant cannabis, or no cannabis, and were followed over a four-week period.

Those who used CBD showed greater decreases in scores on the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale compared to those who used THC. The study also found that reductions in negative mood were most pronounced among participants reporting higher levels of perceived discrimination, suggesting that social stress plays a key role in how cannabis affects mental health outcomes.

No significant effects were observed on alcohol consumption, meaning CBD did not appear to raise the risk of disordered drinking. Researchers concluded that “CBD may be helpful in reducing negative emotional symptoms in the short term without increasing risk for disordered alcohol use, and perceived discrimination plays a significant role in this relationship.”

The full study can be found by clicking here.