Michigan’s Wayne State University recently officially began studies delving into cannabis as a potential therapy for veterans with PTSD and depression.

While veterans make up only 8% of  the USA’s adult population, they represent 15% of all adult suicide deaths.

The use of medical cannabis by veterans with  post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related conditions is nothing new. In this 2023 study, 91% of respondents reported medical cannabis helped them to experience a greater quality of life and 21% indicated they were using fewer opioids as a result of their medical cannabis use.

But it still seems consensus in the scientific community as to the efficacy of cannabis in PTSD management is yet to be achieved.

In another step to move towards that, Wayne State University was awarded three grants totalling $19.5 million in total from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency; funded through the  state’s Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program. The funding was to support the study of potential therapeutic effects of cannabis use among veterans, aiming to determine whether it can improve quality of life and reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression.

Participating are engaging in a 12-week treatment program testing varying levels of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol); gauging how the treatments affect mood, mental health and overall well-being.

” This study represents a critical step in addressing the mental health challenges facing veterans,” said Dr. Leslie Lundahl, one of the lead principal investigators of the studies. “By using rigorous scientific methods, we aim to understand whether cannabis can play a safe and effective role in improving veterans’ lives.”

Further information about the studies can be found on WarriorCare.net

PTSD can be triggered by violent personal assaults, natural or human-caused disasters, accidents, combat, and other forms of violence. PTSD doesn’t just affect veterans – it can affect anyone, so the results of the study will have wider application.

According to the National Center for PTSD, around  6% of the U.S. population will have PTSD at some point in their lives, but many will recover. Approximately 5% of adults in the U.S. have PTSD in any given year. Women (8%) are much more likely than men (4%) to have PTSD.

“This is in part due to the types of traumatic events that women are more likely to experience—such as sexual assault—compared to men,” says the Center.