A study in mice offers a new explanation for why cannabis can sometimes cause anxiety rather than calm. The research suggests that cannabinoids act on a specific set of neurons in the brain's fear center, removing a natural brake that normally keeps their activity in check. This effect was especially clear when the animals were under stress.
When the researchers deliberately shut down those same neurons, the anxiety-like behavior triggered by cannabinoids dropped sharply. That points to this cell population as a key mediator of the drug's anxiogenic effect, at least in mice.
The findings are limited to animal models, so it remains unclear whether the same mechanism operates in humans. Still, the study gives researchers a more precise target for investigating cannabis-induced anxiety and potential ways to block it.