Marijuana and PTSD studied in Okanagan

KELOWNA – Can marijuana help people who have experienced trauma?

We may find out soon.  A first of its kind marijuana study will be conducted in the Okanagan.

UBC Okanagan is teaming up with Tilray, a Health Canada licensed producer, to conduct a clinical trial to evaluate the therapeutic benefits of medical marijuana as treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD.

According to UBC, chronic PTSD symptoms include  flashbacks, anxiety, depression, anger, irritability and changes in sleep and appetite.

The clinical trial will gather evidence about the safety and effectiveness of different cannabis strain combinations to manage those symptoms resulting from trauma experienced by veterans, first responders, and sexual assault survivors.

“Even with current treatments, many patients continue to struggle with the debilitating effects of PTSD,” says UBC Associate Professor Zach Walsh and principal investigator for the study.

“There is promising preclinical and anecdotal evidence supporting the potential of medical cannabis to alleviate PTSD symptoms, particularly among veterans. We have an ethical responsibility to examine all possible treatment options to ease their suffering, ” says Walsh.

If approved, the UBC-Tilray study will be one of the first in the world to run a large-scale clinical trial examining medical cannabis as treatment for the mental health disorder.