Somatostatin neurons drive bad cannabis trips

A Nature mouse study shows that high doses of a synthetic cannabinoid hyperactivate somatostatin‑secreting neurons in the central amygdala, triggering amplified freezing and anxiety responses to stressors; genetically silencing those neurons prevents the anxious behaviors. This links a specific cell type to why a pleasant cannabis experience can abruptly turn fearful, and suggests a downstream target for anxiety treatments. — Identifying a concrete neural pathway for drug‑triggered anxiety reframes public debate about cannabis safety (potency, setting) and points to possible new therapies for anxiety disorders.