New observational data published in the Medical Cannabis and Cannabinoids journal has found medical cannabis products to be effective in improving symptoms related to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A team of researchers with the University of Florida at Gainesville studied the effects of cannabis on 15 patients that had been diagnosed with PTSD. Each patient in the study had prior authorization from a physician to use medical cannabis. Patients were assessed at the beginning of the study as well as at 30 days and at 70 days. Researchers reported improvements in symptoms after using cannabis, including improvements in sleep quality and mental health in addition to patients reporting fewer nightmares.
“Our primary findings were that individuals with PTSD reported improvements in overall PTSD symptom severity 30 and 70 days after initiating MMJ [medical marijuana]. Post hoc analyses revealed that most participants experienced a significant improvement in PTSD severity by the 30-day time-point and that these improvements were maintained through day 70. In addition to improvements in overall PTSD symptom severity, participants reported improvements in sleep quality and duration, as well as reduced nightmare frequency. Moreover, they reported reductions in negative affect and improvements in overall well-being. These findings suggest that MMJ use may be associated with clinical benefits in people with PTSD,” concluded the authors of the study.
Researchers at the University of South Florida are set to begin a clinical trial that will also study the efficacy of medical cannabis in treating PTSD symptoms. As part of the trial, veterans will receive a dose of medical cannabis and undergo therapy sessions for five weeks, with the focus of the study being veteran’s mental health. The university received a $13 million grant from the state of Michigan to conduct the study
“Previous studies have shown that marijuana might help improve some of the symptoms associated with PTSD, helping reduce the symptoms, the nightmares, and the other things that kind of go along with it,” said Dr. Mark Kindy from the University of South Florida.
In July, the U.S. House of Representatives approved amendments, including an addition that would allow doctors with U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to recommend medical cannabis for veterans. The amendment was proposed to be added to the 2024 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations bill. Opposition to the amendment stated VA doctors could legally be put at risk for recommending medical cannabis. Currently, VA providers are allowed to discuss cannabis use with veterans, but VA clinicians are not allowed to recommend or cover medical cannabis.
“I rise in support of a bipartisan amendment and it’s to do something simple—give veterans access to every possible tool when it comes to the wounds of war of which I am innately familiar,” said Rep. Brian Mast, who introduced the measure. “The amendment is quite simple. It allows VA doctors in states with legal medical cannabis programs to discuss cannabis as a treatment option with their patients.”
A survey conducted by a pair of researchers from the University of North Texas and the University of Illinois found more veterans are using cannabis as the attitudes surrounding cannabis continue to change across the country, with the survey estimating 1 in 10 veterans has used cannabis within the past year. Using data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health from over 16,000 veterans aged 18 and older, there was a 56 percent increase in cannabis use from 2013 to 2019, and nearly one in 10 veterans (9.79%) reporting past-year cannabis use. The researchers also found older veterans, those aged 35 years or older, were more likely to report cannabis use than veterans aged 18-25.
