FDA Pushes More Research on Using Cannabis to Treat PTSD

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is the government agency that promotes public safety through government oversight and regulation. This week, the agency signed off on allowing a clinical trial into whether marijuana could treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans. For many, the move comes as a surprise because the agency had been blocking the study since 2021 after raising objections about allowing individuals to inhale high-potency cannabis, claiming it would be dangerous to the health of the subjects and pose an unjustifiable risk.

The decision to allow researchers to continue their study after stalling the project for years is a shock to many inside and outside of the medical cannabis industry. However, as medical and recreational marijuana use grows and more people look to self-medicate, the federal government must take a more active role in helping researchers study the pros and cons of cannabis science.

FDA Advances Clinical Trial Looking to Study Medical Marijuana for PTSD

Since 2021, the clinical trial sponsored by the nonprofit organization Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies seeking to study whether marijuana can treat post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans has been stuck in limbo. The federal agency signaled the research would not get the green light because smoking or inhaling marijuana could jeopardize the safety of study participants and present an unjustifiable health risk.

For three years, the study sat on the shelf. Suddenly, the FDA reversed course, approving the clinical study and paving the way for researchers to explore potential connections between cannabis and improved outcomes for veterans diagnosed with PTSD. Why the shift in course? The answer seems unclear after a spokesperson for the FDA said that she could not provide details on what led to the eventual approval. She indicates that the FDA “recognizes that there is a great need for additional treatment options for mental health conditions such as PTSD.”

What is clear is that after three years of negotiations, the team at the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies hopes that this decision opens the door to others looking at studying the benefits of medical marijuana treatments for those who have PTSD and other medical and mental health conditions.

However, approval is not free. It comes with specific stipulations, including one requirement that states study participants must have prior experience inhaling cannabis. One of the points of contention between the FDA and researchers was allowing study participants to inhale high-potency cannabis. Researchers refused to change the study design to allow for other methods of ingestion because they wanted their trial to mimic how veterans consume cannabis in their daily lives.

A Shift in Federal Thinking?

From the war on drugs to the reluctance of the federal government to embrace the cannabis legalization movement, federal agencies have been more focused on policing drugs than studying them. Although public perception and acceptance of marijuana are at an all-time high, lawmakers have failed to keep up with the changing times. However, the changing conversation surrounding marijuana prompted the Biden administration to rethink cannabis policy. Not only did President Joe Biden announce mass pardons for simple federal marijuana possession convictions, but the Health and Human Services Department recommended reclassifying marijuana from a Schedule I controlled substance to a lower tier, Schedule III substance.

The founder and president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies suggests that the suppression of cannabis research was a symptom of the drug war. By not acknowledging the potential for good, you can continue to criminalize and demonize drugs and drug culture. Yet, there is a growing body of evidence that shows marijuana may have substantial health benefits for numerous mental and physical ailments and conditions. Federal agencies under the Biden administration seem to be catching on and embracing research and study efforts that don’t just demonize cannabis but truly explore its potential to provide therapeutic relief.

Marijuana and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder is a mental health condition that manifests following a traumatic or terrifying event. Those diagnosed with PTSD can have significant mental health challenges such as difficulty concentrating, irritability, changes in mood and behavior, and engaging in reckless or destructive behavior. Individuals may also experience nightmares, flashbacks, and other distressing mental health concerns. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that as many as 23 percent of all veterans using VA care, at some point, experience PTSD in their lives.

Previous research has shown that cannabis may help reduce the symptoms of PTSD and increase quality of life. Other studies, one on a small scale, showed that marijuana was not effective at reducing PTSD symptoms when compared to a placebo. Current research may be inadequate to determine the effectiveness of marijuana for treating the symptoms associated with a PTSD diagnosis, primarily because studies conducted at the state level may not be relying on government-sanctioned marijuana supplies, which are exceedingly complex and expensive to gain access to.

Many view the move by the FDA to allow a large-scale cannabis study as a step in the right direction that would uncover more information about the potential use of cannabis as a viable treatment option for combating the symptoms of this potentially debilitating condition. Medicinal and recreational cannabis has become significantly more widespread, meaning many people, including veterans, are turning to the drug to self-medicate. More research into marijuana and PTSD could help foster better discussions between patients and doctors.

What the MAPS Study Says

The MAPS study, funded by a $12.9 million grant from Michigan’s cannabis agency, seeks to understand better how marijuana impacts mental health and could be the tipping point that shows the federal government that approval of these types of studies is essential for public health and safety. It may also help other federal agencies to recognize the value of medical marijuana as a valid treatment option for veterans.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs does not allow VA doctors to encourage or enable veterans to seek a medical marijuana card. Still, they do not ban them from discussing cannabis use with patients either.