Not Clear Yet: Medical Cannabis And PTSD
My entrepreneurial and public service career has spanned almost 4 decades from my time in the US Air Force and then my career as a Fire Lieutenant for the past 20+ years. When people think of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), they often think of veterans but first responders also have a high number of cases due to the nature of the work we do. While our armed forces develop PTSD at a higher rate than others, PTSD is real and is a national crisis that we need to think about.
PTSD is a mental health condition that affects millions of Americans. The only ‘requirement’ for an individual to get PTSD is exposure to a traumatic event. 6% of the population is living with PTSD and 1 in 3 veterans suffer from this. PTSD is defined as; a debilitating stressor induced mental illness resulting from changes in the brain that developed from exposure to a life-threatening or traumatic event. Changes in the brain cause an inability to inhibit fear.
Individuals with PTSD experience fear and anxiety in both similar scenarios as the original event but also in completely different scenarios that trigger the brain to re-experience the original event. Re-experiencing trauma then puts the patient into a cycle of panic, fear and anxiety again which inevitably impacts the individual’s life and overall well being.
Prior to diagnosis and treatment, individuals with this mental health disorder often struggle to get through daily life and experience anxiety, depression and, at times, extreme traumatic memories. Treatment for many PTSD patients is therapy often alongside a cocktail of prescribed medications.
For decades, individuals with PTSD have recounted how cannabis has helped with some of the symptoms of PTSD. In the past decade, more research has been done on cannabis and PTSD and the results have shown great promise.
Can cannabis help treat PTSD?
Yes, in many cases. From observational studies and anecdotal evidence we know that cannabis, both CBD and THC, may help patients improve PTSD symptoms.
Research has shown that we have an internal system called the Endocannabinoid system which helps the regulation of mood, anxiety and extinction of fear learning. The endocannabinoid system uses cannabinoids to help balance and control emotions.
A legitimate and potential cause of PTSD is that the condition stems from a problem with one of our bodies’ own internal cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) called Anandamide. Anandamide is also known as the bliss molecule because it can help with positive emotions. External cannabinoids, in this case from cannabis, can help stimulate the same receptors as Anandamide resulting in fear and anxiety decreasing, mood lifting and relief from hyper-arousal and hyper-stimulation and intrusive memories.
Can CBD or CBD oil treat PTSD?
CBD and CBD oil can help with some of the symptoms of PTSD. CBD, without THC, can help by reducing anxiety, disrupt fear memories and help REM sleep. CBD works by interacting indirectly with the CB2, dopamine and serotonin receptors.
CBD doesn’t actually increase serotonin or dopamine. It is a regulator that helps your body use chemicals that are there more efficiently or break chemicals down more slowly. Through interaction with certain brain pleasure centers, in particular the area that stimulates anandamide, scientists believe that CBD helps with serotonin and dopamine production and regulation.
Can THC help treat PTSD?
Yes, THC can help treat symptoms of PTSD. Anandamide is an internal cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) that helps send signals throughout the brain and body. It’s also known as the bliss molecule. Anandamide affects areas of the brain that influence concentration, coordination, memory, pleasure and more.
While there may be side effects for cannabis and CBD and the formal medical cannabis research is still in its infancy, even though cannabis has been used as medicine for thousands of years. Most of the research has happened in the last 20 years.
While this is all great information, it’s not enough for doctors and regulators to trust in the benefits of cannabis. Researchers will need to continue working with cannabis and patients can help by looking into clinical trials for their conditions.
About the Author
Joe Griffiths spent his career in the US Air Force and then as a First Responder in the Fire Department. He has owned two different CBD companies and is considered one of the pioneers of CBD franchising. His national prominence led him to a leadership in a vertically integrated CBD company where he onboarded over 225 stores and helped that company achieve ranking in Entrepreneurs Franchise 500 and #1 in their industry. Today he speaks to Veterans and First Responders on entrepreneurship and how to grow in their careers after their service.







