Cannabis-Infused Tea Increased Happiness Scores in Human Study
- The study found that drinking cannabis-infused tea before bed increased happiness scores among adults, with higher concentrations of cannabis leading to greater improvements.
- Thirty adults aged 20 to 59 participated, divided into three groups receiving tea with 3%, 5%, or 7% cannabis leaf concentration, consumed once daily for seven days.
- The 7% cannabis tea showed the largest increase in happiness, improving life satisfaction, self-esteem, emotional regulation, confidence, empathy, and family security, with no adverse effects reported.
- Researchers highlighted the need for longer and more controlled studies to confirm the findings, as the pilot study had limitations like small sample size, short duration, lack of a control group, and presence of other ingredients in the tea.
Drinking cannabis-infused tea before bed was associated with increased happiness scores among adults participating in a human study published by the Journal of Health Science and Medical Research.
Researchers from Rajamangala University of Technology Isan in Thailand recruited 30 adults between the ages of 20 and 59 who were interested in cannabis-based health care. Participants were divided into three groups of 10, receiving tea containing cannabis leaves at concentrations of 3%, 5% or 7% by weight.
Each participant received seven 0.75-gram tea bags and was instructed to steep one bag in 250 milliliters of hot water. The tea was consumed once daily, approximately 30 minutes before bedtime, for seven consecutive days.
Happiness was assessed before and after the study using the short-form Thai Mental Health Index, a 15-question evaluation covering mental state, mental capacity, mental quality and supporting factors such as family relationships and personal security.
Average happiness scores increased in all three groups. Scores rose from 29.7 to 31.2 among participants receiving the 3% formulation, from 31.4 to 35 among those receiving the 5% formulation and from 31 to 41.1 among those receiving the 7% formulation.
The 7% cannabis tea produced the largest improvement and was associated with higher scores across all four mental health domains. Researchers reported improvements involving life satisfaction, self-esteem, emotional regulation, confidence, empathy and feelings of security within the family.
The 7% formulation also received the highest overall acceptance rating based on its appearance, smell, consistency and taste. None of the participants reported adverse reactions during the one-week study.
Researchers said the findings support further investigation into cannabis-infused tea as a potential method of promoting happiness and well-being. They recommended longer-term studies to examine its effectiveness and safety.
The results remain preliminary. The study included only 10 participants in each group, lasted one week and did not include a placebo or non-cannabis control group. The tea also contained peppermint and stevia, meaning the study could not determine whether cannabis alone was responsible for the reported improvements.