Wayne State University Explores Cannabis as a Treatment for PTSD in Veterans
In a groundbreaking initiative, Wayne State University is delving into the potential of cannabis as a therapeutic option for veterans suffering from PTSD. The research, supported by state grants, seeks to offer new insights into this contentious yet promising area of study.
Leading the charge is Leslie Lundahl, a professor at Wayne State’s medical school. She helms the largest of three interconnected studies, which plans to involve 350 veterans. Participants will undergo a 12-week regimen of various cannabis treatments, with researchers continuing to monitor their progress for up to a year.
Lundahl highlights the knowledge gap that exists between the known risks and potential benefits of cannabis, stating, “We also know that many veterans already use it on their own to treat PTSD symptoms ‘like stress, anxiety, low mood, [and] poor sleep,’” she said. “What we don’t know is whether cannabis is actually effective.”
This initiative marks one of the first randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials specifically focusing on cannabis. Lundahl emphasizes the importance of this research, “Our research aims to provide the sort of high-quality clinical data to determine whether cannabis can be a safe and effective treatment option for veterans with PTSD,” she said.
The significance of this study is underscored by the limited effective treatments currently available for PTSD. Alarming statistics from 2022 reveal that the suicide rate among veterans is nearly twice that of the general population, with 170 Michigan veterans having succumbed to suicide that year.
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