PTSD Article
Federal Study Finds Cannabis Beneficial for PTSD Treatment
Source:
https://www.vfw.org/
Article Summary:
The article discusses recent findings from the first FDA-regulated study on smoked cannabis as a potential treatment for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) among veterans. Published in PLOS ONE on March 17, the study, conducted by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), explored various ratios of THC and CBD in smoked cannabis blends. Results indicated improvements in PTSD symptoms among participants using blends with 9 percent THC concentration, with additional benefits noted in samples containing 11 percent CBD or 8 percent THC combined with CBD. Lead author Dr. Marcel O. Bonn-Miller highlighted the study’s significance as the first randomized, placebo-controlled trial of its kind, underscoring the need for larger trials to establish effective THC doses and mitigate risks of cannabis dependence in PTSD treatment. The study builds upon a previous MAPS investigation from December 2020, which compared PTSD symptom severity and diagnostic criteria between cannabis users and non-users over a year. Findings from this earlier study suggested that cannabis users experienced greater symptom reduction and were more likely to no longer meet PTSD diagnostic criteria compared to non-users. Co-author Mallory Loflin emphasized the potential short-term benefits of cannabis use for veterans managing PTSD symptoms, noting minimal side effects or symptom exacerbation. Despite increasing legalization of cannabis across U.S. states, its use remains restricted for veterans by the Department of Defense and VA, while the VFW supports further federally funded research into medicinal cannabis for veterans with service-related chronic pain.