23.9 C
Warsaw
Saturday, August 30, 2025
spot_imgspot_img

Top 5 This Week

spot_img

Related Posts

Federally-funded study shows marijuana helps veterans with PTSD experience less symptoms when they use marijuana – MEDCAN24

New federally funded research on the relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder and cannabis use in military veterans finds that marijuana is associated with milder PTSD symptoms and reduced negative affect—the tendency to experience frequent or intense negative emotions.

This study was published in September’s issue of Psychiatry research. It examined survey responses by 74 newly discharged veterans, who self-reported marijuana usage during the past month. It highlights “the link between cannabis use and PTSD symptoms, as well as negative side effects the next day” in its report.

Both wearable technology as well subjective questionnaires are used to collect the data.

The 10 authors of the paper represent institutions across the U.S.

The findings are expected to inform veterans on the best way to manage their symptoms. Authors wrote that previous research had shown that marijuana use is “a common psychoactive drug among U.S. Veterans, and has been used to treat both PTSD symptoms and negative emotions.”

Researchers wrote in their article that they “want to give a nuanced explanation of how changes in negative affect can influence cannabis consumption when PTSD symptoms fluctuate on a daily basis, and vice-versa.”

The researchers said, “Results could offer valuable insight into the dynamics of interplay between PTSD cannabis use and affect regulation informing future intervention targeting effect regulation.”

The new study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, follows a separate report published earlier this year that found medical marijuana—especially non-flower formulations—”represent a cost-effective adjunctive therapy for moderate PTSD under various reimbursement scenarios.”

This research determined that, based on certain assumptions regarding the cost and efficacy of medical cannabis in treating PTSD it is worthwhile for healthcare providers to cover marijuana as well as other treatments.

Late last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a landmark clinical trial meant to evaluate the efficacy of smoked medical marijuana to treat PTSD in military veterans.

MAPS (Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies) organizers describe Phase 2 as a “randomized, controlled study” of 320 Veterans who suffer from severe PTSD but have used cannabis in the past.

A recent study on military veterans attending psychedelic retreats revealed that psilocybin, ayahuasca, and symbiotics both improved mental health. This included reduction in symptoms such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, as well as improvements to sleep and quality of life.

This report was published in Brain and Behavior and describes it as the “first study that investigates psychedelic resorts as holistic therapies for veterans’ mental well-being alongside community reintegration.”

The report stated that “Psilocybin- and ayahuasca-based retreats improved the mental health of veterans, their quality of life and their ability to cope with PTSD, anxiety and depression. They also helped them sleep better, recover from concussions and reintegrate into civilian society after deployment.” It added that these retreats could provide a framework for treating veterans by addressing issues such as psychological wellbeing, community factors and reintegration back into civilian life.

There has been increasing pressure at state and federal level to allow veterans who suffer from PTSD easier access to psychedelics.

According to the head of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the VA’s efforts in promoting research on psychedelic therapy are “particularly gratifying”. He cited studies that showed promising results early with substances such as MDMA for the treatment of mental disorders.

VA Secretary Doug Collins said the department does “some of the best research work and very specific research work,” noting that he recently visited a VA facility in New York City “discussing MDMA therapies, which have been phenomenal in working with those with [post-traumatic stress disorder] and traumatic brain injuries—these other issues that we have.”

Collins’s visit to the psychedelics research center came about a month after the VA secretary met with a military veteran who’s become an advocate for psilocybin access to discuss the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine for the veteran community.

Collins also briefly raised the issue in a Cabinet meeting with President Donald Trump in April.

The secretary also disclosed in April that he had an “eye-opening” talk with U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about the therapeutic potential of psychedelic medicine. Collins has said that, when Congress is considering access to psychedelic medicine for veterans outside VA services, he would be open to vouchers from the government covering the cost of the therapy.

Kennedy said last month that his agency is “absolutely committed” to expanding research on the benefits of psychedelic therapy and, alongside of the head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is aiming to provide legal access to such substances for military veterans “within 12 months.”

During a recent Senate committee hearing, Collins separately reiterated his commitment to exploring the efficacy of psychedelic therapy to address serious mental health conditions that commonly afflict military veterans.

Meanwhile in May, bipartisan congressional lawmakers asked the VA head to meet with them to discuss ways to provide access to psychedelic medicine for military veterans.

In a letter sent to Collins, Reps. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Jack Bergman (R-MI)—co-chairs of the Congressional Psychedelic Advancing Therapies (PATH) Caucus—said they were “encouraged by your recent remarks about the importance of pursuing research into psychedelic treatments and other alternative treatments to improve Veterans’ care.”

Correa and Bergman separately introduced a bill in April to provide $30 million in funding annually to establish psychedelics-focused “centers for excellence” at VA facilities, where veterans could receive novel treatment involving substances like psilocybin, MDMA and ibogaine.

Bergman has also expressed optimism about the prospects of advancing psychedelics reform under Trump, arguing that the administration’s efforts to cut spending and the federal workforce will give agencies “spines” to tackle such complex issues.

In December, VA separately announced that it’s providing $1.5 million in funding to study the efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans with PTSD and alcohol use disorder (AUD).

MEDCAN24 could not exist without readers’ support. Consider a Patreon subscription if our marijuana advocacy journalism is what you use to keep informed.

Popular Articles