Experimental Study on Cannabis Use and Affect

Effects on Reactivity to and Recovery From Negative Stimuli

Skrzynski, Carillon J.
Rosa, Luiza
Drake, Austin
Bryan, Angela D.
Bidwell, L. Cinnamon

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder
Institute of Cognitive Science, University of Colorado Boulder

Sarah Pedersen served as action editor.

Baseline negative affect induction task data used in this article have been published previously () but did not include cannabis condition comparisons nor data from the 4-week time point as in the present research. This work was supported by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA044131 to L. Cinnamon Bidwell). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not represent the opinion of National Institute on Drug Abuse and they played no role in the study design; the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; the writing of the report; or in the decision to submit the article for publication. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare. The University of Colorado Boulder Institutional Review Board approved all aspects of the study (Institutional Review Board 16-0767). The relevant data and analysis code are available on the Open Science Framework and can be found as the additional online materials (https://osf.io/ksc9n), and any other research materials are available by request to the corresponding author.

Carillon J. Skrzynski served as lead for data curation, formal analysis, visualization, and writing–original draft. Luiza Rosa served in a supporting role for visualization and writing–original draft. Austin Drake served in a supporting role for writing–original draft. Angela D. Bryan served in a supporting role for formal analysis and supervision. L. Cinnamon Bidwell served as lead for conceptualization and funding acquisition and contributed equally to supervision. Carillon J. Skrzynski, Luiza Rosa, Austin Drake, Angela D. Bryan, and L. Cinnamon Bidwell contributed equally to writing–review and editing.

Carillon J. Skrzynski, Department of Psychology and Neuroscience, University of Colorado Boulder, 1777 Exposition Drive, Boulder, CO 80301, United States [email protected]

Received February 27, 2024

revised April 28, 2025

Accepted May 20, 2025

Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Science 134(6):p 639-650, August 2025. | DOI: 10.1037/abn0001023

Anxiety induces considerable costs to individuals necessitating investigation into underlying factors. Exaggerated responses to negative stimuli (i.e., reactivity) and diminished recovery from them are features of disordered mood that are increasingly being treated with cannabis, but its efficacy remains unclear. The current study thus examined how extended (i.e., 4 weeks) and acute (i.e., immediate) use of cannabis differing in cannabinoid content influences reactivity and recovery processes. In total, 499 individuals with at least mild anxiety (66% female, 68% White) engaged in 4 weeks of ad libitum use of either a Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-dominant product (n = 152), a cannabidiol (CBD)-dominant product (n = 163), a 1:1 ratio product (n = 140), or no product use (N = 44). Participants completed a baseline session where their affect and heart rate (HR) were measured before and after a rumination task and breathing recovery exercise. This same procedure occurred 4 weeks later at a mobile laboratory session before and after cannabis use. Using three-level mixed effect models, findings showed greater reactivity to but also stronger recovery after the rumination task for all three cannabis use conditions compared to the nonuse condition. Additionally, Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol products elevated HR compared to CBD and nonuse, while CBD use did not change HR relative to nonuse. The findings showed reactivity and recovery differed for cannabis use versus nonuse conditions, suggesting important implications for cannabis use recommendations on mitigating anxiety.