Cannabis trial for veterans with PTSD produces mixed results

The first randomised placebo-controlled study trial of smoked cannabis for military veterans with PTSD has produced inconclusive results.

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania supplied US veterans with one of four cannabis-based products with varying THC and CBD content against a placebo with very low levels of both compounds.

The double-blind study saw participants randomly assigned one of the products over three weeks of either before re-randomising after a two-week ‘washout period’.

While the study found short-term use is associated with ‘significant improvements’ in symptoms, there was no marked difference between the high dose treatments and the placebo.

The research – which was published on 17 March – concludes ‘there is strong public interest’ for more data collection in light of ‘increasing use of medical cannabis among US military veterans to self-treat PTSD’.

The authors wrote: “The failure to differentiate treatment groups from placebo is likely attributable to the higher than average treatment response in the placebo condition and to the shorter than average duration of treatment.

“Additional well-controlled and adequately powered studies with cannabis suitable for FDA drug development are needed to determine whether smoked cannabis improves symptoms of PTSD.”