Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .
Cannabidiol Reduces the Anxiety Induced by Simulated Public Speaking in Treatment-Naïve Social Phobia Patients
Generalized Social Anxiety Disorder ( SAD ) is one of the most common anxiety conditions with impairment in social life . Cannabidiol ( CBD ) , one major non-psychotomimetic compound of the cannabis sativa plant , has shown anxiolytic effects both in humans and in animals . This preliminary study aim ed to compare the effects of a simulation public speaking test ( SPST ) on healthy control ( HC ) patients and treatment-naïve SAD patients who received a single dose of CBD or placebo .  A total of 24 never-treated patients with SAD were allocated to receive either CBD ( 600 mg ; n=12 ) or placebo ( placebo ; n=12 ) in a double-blind r and omized design 1 h and a half before the test . The same number of HC ( n=12 ) performed the SPST without receiving any medication . Each volunteer participated in only one experimental session in a double-blind procedure . Subjective ratings on the Visual Analogue Mood Scale ( VAMS ) and Negative Self-Statement scale ( SSPS-N ) and physiological measures ( blood pressure , heart rate , and skin conductance ) were measured at six different time points during the SPST . The results were su bmi tted to a repeated- measures analysis of variance . Pretreatment with CBD significantly reduced anxiety , cognitive impairment and discomfort in their speech performance , and significantly decreased alert in their anticipatory speech . The placebo group presented higher anxiety , cognitive impairment , discomfort , and alert levels when compared with the control group as assessed with the VAMS . The SSPS-N scores evidence d significant increases during the testing of placebo group that was almost abolished in the CBD group . No significant differences were observed between CBD and HC in SSPS-N scores or in the cognitive impairment , discomfort , and alert factors of VAMS . The increase in anxiety induced by the SPST on subjects with SAD was reduced with the use of CBD , result ing in a similar response as the HC
Most trials showed improvement in symptoms associated with cannabinoids but these associations did not reach statistical significance in all trials .
There was an increased risk of short-term AEs with cannabinoids , including serious AEs .
Common AEs included dizziness , dry mouth , nausea , fatigue , somnolence , euphoria , vomiting , disorientation , drowsiness , confusion , loss of balance , and hallucination .
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE There was moderate- quality evidence to support the use of cannabinoids for the treatment of chronic pain and spasticity .
There was low- quality evidence suggesting that cannabinoids were associated with improvements in nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy , weight gain in HIV infection , sleep disorders , and Tourette syndrome .
Cannabinoids were associated with an increased risk of short-term AEs
IMPORTANCE Cannabis and cannabinoid drugs are widely used to treat disease or alleviate symptoms , but their efficacy for specific indications is not clear .
OBJECTIVE To conduct a systematic review of the benefits and adverse events ( AEs ) of cannabinoids .