What does research say about medical cannabis and PTSD?

Statistically speaking, you know someone with PTSD. According to the American Psychiatric Association, one in 11 people will be diagnosed with PTSD in their lifetime, and women are twice as likely to develop PTSD than their male counterparts.

As our awareness around PTSD and trauma expands in society, more and more treatment options are coming to light and becoming available to those who are struggling with symptoms.

Although using cannabis for PTSD symptoms isn’t new at all, as more and more states legalize in some capacity (and more and more countries), the availability of this holistic healing option is growing.

According to Dr. Ife Abiola, who is a Medical Doctor and cannabis science expert who has worked in the regulated industry in Canada since 2016, not only is cannabis shown to improve PTSD symptoms drastically, it has also been well-researched in this area.

What do the symptoms of PTSD look like?

The symptoms of PTSD can vary by individual, but most common representations of symptoms include:

·      Flashbacks

·      Nightmares, difficulty sleeping

·      Intense fear

·      Avoidance

·      Guilt, worry, depression

·      Hyperarousal

·      Severe emotional distress

·      Negative feelings towards people/places

·      Hopelessness

·      Difficulty maintaining relationships

·      Irritability

·      Self-destructive behaviour (addiction, eating disorders, etc)

·      Trouble concentrating

·      Panic attacks, anxiety

What does the research say about PTSD and medical cannabis?

“Cannabis treatments for PTSD are fairly well researched with many studies being added per year, however the optimal dosage of cannabis is something that is still being refined,” says Dr. Abiola. “Cannabis has been looked at in the medical field in detail for PTSD since 2013.”

The Clinician-Administered Post-Traumatic Scale (CAPS), is a clinical assessment conducted to measure the symptoms of PTSD. A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Drugs in 2014 showed that patients with PTSD who were using cannabis showed a reduction greater than 75% in CAPS symptom scores compared to the patients that were not using it.

Another study, published in 2017 in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, showed a lot of promising research on how cannabis, and THC specifically, can positively impact PTSD symptoms such as flashbacks.

Speaking specifically to this study, Dr. Abiola states, “Cannabis works on PTSD symptoms through modulating cannabinoid receptors located in the hippocampus which is used for memory (including negative ones). This area of the brain has receptors for THC which is the main cannabinoid that is shown to have a positive impact on PTSD.”

How does cannabis work with PTSD symptoms?

When we talk about using cannabis to treat PSTD symptoms, this is not a blanket statement. We need to isolate each symptom individually and isolate specific cannabinoids within cannabis to treat each individual symptom.

“THC has been shown to reduce the CAPS score significantly, with small amounts of edible THC such as 5mg twice a day improving the symptoms dramatically,” explains Dr. Abiola. “However, the ideal depends on who the patient is, the other medications they are taking, and factors such as age, body size, and experience with cannabis.”

For example, moderate amounts of THC can be a successful treatment for nightmares, since THC prevents the REM state of sleep, which is the stage at which you dream. Use of THC can prevent dreaming (or nightmares) completely or shorten the duration of dreams.

Another common symptom of PTSD is anxiety or flashbacks, which can be decreased with fast-acting and lower doses of THC.

“Cannabis can treat the symptoms of PTSD, which can be graded on the CAPS scale but be mindful that it's not a cure,” says Dr. Abiola. “It can be used to manage symptoms of hyperarousal, disordered sleep due to nightmares, and others.”

What do you need to be aware of when it comes to PTSD and cannabis?

“Cannabis has side effects with medications and can cause distress and even psychological issues in people who are predisposed to psychosis or schizophrenia,” cautions Dr. Abiola. “Also, cannabis can come from unreliable sources so it's important to get product that is appropriately screened for quality, accurately dosed, and without adulterants.”

In totality, overall symptoms of PTSD can be reduced with cannabis (as mentioned in the above research studies), but treatment plans should be individualized. This is where the role of medical cannabis clinics and doctors versed in cannabis is still very important, despite the rise of recreational dispensaries.