PTSD Symptoms? Here are Medical Cannabis Benefits

In 2009, New Mexico became the first state to explicitly authorize the use of medical cannabis for people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While there had been no studies of the effects of using cannabis for PTSD symptoms before this decision, there had been case reports that had shown some promise.

A team of researchers performed an analysis on a group of patients in the program. The findings were eventually released in 2014 in The Journal of Psychoactive Drugs. The purpose of the study was to report and statistically analyze psychometric data on PTSD symptoms collected during 80 psychiatric evaluations of patients applying to the New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program from 2009 to 2011.

As a result, a greater than 75% reduction in symptoms was reported when patients were using cannabis compared to when they were not using it. Symptoms were assessed using The Clinician-Administered Posttraumatic Scale for DSM-IV (CAPS) method.

While one study is hardly the end-all authority for knowledge, the results were incredibly encouraging for a program that was considered experimental at its launch. As marijuana adoption becomes more acceptable for medicinal uses, more studies evaluating the effectiveness of cannabis for PTSD are likely to come forward. That hasn't stopped thousands of PTSD patients worldwide from using cannabis to treat their symptoms effectively, echoing the results of the New Mexico study. 

Texas is one of these states where PTSD is considered a qualifying condition for medicinal marijuana use. If you are a Texas resident seeking treatment for your PTSD-related symptoms, Thrive Medical Cannabis can help you get on the path to healing. At Thrive, veterans qualify for a free initial consultation to determine their eligibility for treatment. Contact us today to learn more about medicinal cannabis benefits. Read here about how Rodrigo Madrid, an Iraq war veteran living in El Paso, has been able to beat back PTSD with the help of Thrive.