Anxiolytic (effect)

In the subjective-effect sense, "anxiolytic" describes an acute felt reduction in anxiety, worry, or sympathetic arousal after cannabis consumption — distinct from clinical/therapeutic anxiolysis (see Part 9). THC exhibits a biphasic, dose-dependent anxiety profile: low oral doses (~7.5 mg) reduced subjective stress responses to the Trier Social Stress Test, whereas 12.5 mg increased negative affect in the same paradigm (Childs et al. 2017 Drug Alcohol Depend). CBD shows more consistent anxiolytic effects in laboratory paradigms (Bergamaschi et al. 2011 J Clin Psychiatry; Zuardi et al. 2017 Front Pharmacol), without the inverted-U of THC. Terpenes linalool and β-caryophyllene have preclinical anxiolytic data (Russo 2011). Acute relief does not imply long-term anxiolysis; heavy or escalating use is associated with increased anxiety disorders (NASEM 2017). ⚠️ Dose-sensitive; effects can reverse above individual threshold. Cross-reference Part 9.