A six-month, randomized clinical trial studying the effects of cannabidiol (CBD) on menstrual-related symptoms by Canopy Growth Corp.’s scientific research team yielded positive results. This study was conducted in collaboration with Dr. Jessica G. Irons and Morgan L. Ferretti at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. Nearly 75% of reproductive-aged menstruating individuals report experiencing unpleasant menstrual-related symptoms, ranging from cramping and bloating to back pain and shifts in mood including irritability and stress. This study marks the first exploration of the effects of cannabinoids for symptom management.
Over the course of six months, 40 participants who experienced moderate to severe menstrual-related symptoms were randomized to receive 160 milligrams or 320 milligrams of CBD in divided doses twice daily for five days each month beginning the first day they experienced symptoms. Results showed significantly reduced menstrual-related symptoms over the six months relative to a one-month baseline, and the higher dose was also effective in significantly reducing irritability and stress over the same period. The data collected from this study is the first of its kind to demonstrate the efficacy of cannabis-based therapies to treat symptoms experienced by individuals, including those related to menstruation.
“Our findings showed that CBD improves a variety of physical and psychological symptoms associated with menstruation and can be consumed in a targeted way around an individual’s menstrual cycle,” shared Dr. Marcel O. Bonn-Miller, Canopy Growth’s vice president, human & animal research. “Studies have shown that individuals report using cannabis to help manage their menstrual-related symptoms — however no study had been conducted that examined the efficacy of cannabinoids in this area.”
Future research may be conducted to uncover the effectiveness of CBD at managing symptoms during and individual’s reproductive phases of life and beyond, as Canopy Growth continues exploring promising, yet under-explored applications of cannabis.
Canopy is proud to offer consumers in Canada and the United States a wide range of CBD product offerings, from brands like Tweed, Spectrum Therapeutics and Martha Stewart CBD (availability varies by region).
Canopy Growth is a diversified cannabis and cannabinoid-based consumer product company driven by a passion to improve lives, end prohibition and strengthen communities by unleashing the full potential of cannabis. Leveraging consumer insights and innovation, it offers product varieties in high-quality dried flower, oil, softgel capsule, infused beverage, edible and topical formats, as well as vaporizer devices by Canopy Growth and Storz & Bickel.