FDA APPROVES CANNABIS STUDY FOR VETERAN PTSD TREATMENT


By akirschbaum
Cannabis for PTSD treatment and a flag.

A long-delayed research trial is finally approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to determine whether smoking marijuana can help Veterans with PTSD. Since 2021, the FDA has prohibited the trial, which is supported by the nonprofit organization Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Among other concerns, the agency had argued that permitting anyone to smoke high-potency cannabis for PTSD was harmful to their health.

The FDA also took issue with the study's "self-titration" dosing approach as a way to cope with PTSD, which permits Veterans to smoke up to a daily limit of cannabis to alleviate their symptoms. According to MAPS, the FDA has approved the trial. It is important to know that the FDA no longer opposes smoking or allowing Veterans to select the amount they want to consume.

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Use of High-Potency Cannabis for PTSD Study

The approval, which comes after three years of discussions with the FDA, gives millions of Veterans hope for future studies on cannabis treatment for PTSD. In jurisdictions where legal medicinal or recreational adult use of cannabis is permitted, the FDA will also approve the study to employ a THC potency that corresponds to commercially available cannabis.

The EPA requested that study participants should have "prior experience" using cannabis, among other requirements. They did not want to alter the study design to conform to the FDA's old views on marijuana research. This is according to Allison Coker, head of cannabis research at MAPS. The purpose of the research is to replicate the manner and dosage of cannabis delivery that Veterans could experience in their daily lives.

According to Coker, the FDA was hesitant to permit the majority of cannabis consumers to smoke or vape. However, the effects of smoking or vaping occur nearly immediately, which is crucial for those who suffer from PTSD. The drugs that are available in places where marijuana is legal are far more potent than those that the federal government has only recently allowed to be used in research.

Concerns on Cannabis Use Among Veterans

According to a recent survey, Veterans who report using marijuana in the previous year have grown over the past ten years. It can be a cause of concern since only a few of them get it from medical sources.

Assistant Professor R. Andrew Yockey and Assistant Professor Rachel Hoopsick examined national trends in marijuana use among U.S. Veterans between 2013 and 2019. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health provided the researchers with the data they used. They polled 16,350 Veterans aged 18 and over about their experiences with different substances.

According to the survey's findings, self-reported medical marijuana use among Veterans did not rise at a comparable rate. This indicates that while marijuana usage among Veterans is on the rise, it is recreational marijuana rather than medical marijuana.

A number of Veterans use marijuana, frequently seeking it out for therapeutic reasons. However, the growing number of those who use cannabis for recreation is a huge concern. It is something that the VA should know since Veterans tend to have more physical and mental health issues, which is why they seek cannabis.

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What is the Future of Cannabis Use for Veterans?

Inhaled cannabis may help reduce PTSD symptoms, according to a previous MAPS pilot trial. However, the results were not statistically significant when compared to a placebo. The forthcoming research will make use of higher-potency cannabis products that are comparable to those that are sold commercially in California and other states.

Using a mobile app, participants can record their experiences, giving researchers vital information for their upcoming research. The safety and effectiveness of using cannabis for PTSD will be assessed at sites in California and other places.

The increased recognition of cannabis as a medical medication and treatment alternative for Veterans could be what they need in the findings of the study. Under FDA supervision, the trial is anticipated to start shortly once final preparations are completed.

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