Can cannabis help with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?

With wars still raging around the world, many people live in fear and uncertainty. These experiences can lead to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). While therapy and medication can help, they don’t work for everyone. That’s why more people are exploring alternatives—like cannabis. Once mainly known as a recreational drug, cannabis is now being taken more seriously as a possible treatment. In this article, we explore whether cannabis could help people with PTSD and what science has to say about it.

What is PTSD and how is it treated?

PTSD can develop after experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event. It is characterized by flashbacks, nightmares, trouble sleeping, hyperarousal and avoidance of places, people, or situations reminding of the trauma¹. Around 3.9% of the global population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives². However, the rates are much higher among those exposed to violent conflict or war (15.3%)². PTSD is typically treated with a combination of psychotherapy and prescription medication. Unfortunately 40-50% of individuals don’t respond to current treatments³.

Can cannabis be a treatment option for PTSD?

In recent years, cannabis-based medicinal products have gained attention as a potential new treatment for PTSD. The focus is on the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which plays a role in regulating stress, emotional memory, and the processing of fear—all important factors in PTSD. Compounds in cannabis, particularly THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol), interact with this system, which has led researchers to wonder whether these substances might ease PTSD symptoms⁴.

What does research say about cannabis & PTSD?

So far, research on cannabis for PTSD is still limited. A recent meta-analysis, which included only ten studies, showed mixed results: about half of the studies reported therapeutic benefits, while the other half found no effect or even a worsening of symptoms⁵. The most promising results were seen in improved sleep and fewer nightmares.

What about real-world data?

There is growing interest in using Real-World Data (RWD)—information gathered from actual clinical practice, such as electronic health records or patient surveys⁶. One recent study followed 269 people diagnosed with PTSD for up to 18 months⁷. Participants reported improvements in PTSD symptoms, anxiety, sleep, and quality of life. However, it is important to note that 74% of the participants were already using cannabis when the study began, which may have influenced the results.

So what can we conclude about cannabis & PTSD?

At this time, there is no strong scientific evidence supporting cannabis as a reliable treatment for PTSD. Most studies so far have focused on male military personnel and veterans, making it also unclear whether the findings apply to women or people who have experienced other types of trauma. Additionally, many of the studies are observational, meaning they cannot show whether cannabis is more effective than a placebo or standard treatments. More high-quality research—including well-designed clinical trials and real-world data—are needed to determine whether cannabis is a safe and effective long-term treatment option for PTSD.

References

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4. Hill, M., Campolongo, P., Yehuda, R. et al. Integrating Endocannabinoid Signaling and Cannabinoids into the Biology and Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder. Neuropsychopharmacol. 43, 80–102 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2017.162
5. Rodas, J. D., George, T. P., & Hassan, A. N. (2024). A systematic review of the clinical effects of cannabis and cannabinoids in posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and symptom clusters. The Journal of clinical psychiatry, 85(1), 51827.
6. Real-World Evidence—What Is It and What Can It Tell Us? The New England Journal of Medicine, Dec. 6, 2016
7. Datta, A., Erridge, S., Warner-Levy, J., Clarke, E., McLachlan, K., Coomber, R., … Sodergren, M. H. (2025). UK medical cannabis registry: an updated clinical outcomes analysis of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 25(5), 599–607. https://doi.org/10.1080/14737175.2025.2490539
8. ∆-9-THC (THC): delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol; CBD: cannabidiol.
9. Other relevant, topical, cannabinoids include ∆-8-THC which is derived from CBD through chemical industrial process.
10. WHO. ICD-10. Intoxication is a transient condition that follows the administration of a psychoactive substance and results in disturbances in the level of consciousness, cognition, perception, judgement, or behaviour, or other psycho-physiological functions and responses.
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