Military veterans with PTSD are using cannabis for symptom relief, but controlled evidence is scarce
A growing number of veterans with PTSD use cannabis to cope with symptoms, and small studies suggest benefits for sleep and nightmares, but large controlled trials are needed.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Researchers reviewed 11 articles on cannabis use by military veterans who met diagnostic criteria for PTSD. Cross-sectional studies found that veterans with more severe PTSD symptoms reported greater motivation to use cannabis for coping, particularly those with difficulty regulating emotions or tolerating stress.
Four small studies suggested cannabinoid use was associated with improvements in overall PTSD symptoms or specific symptoms like insomnia and nightmares. The pharmacologic rationale was documented: cannabinoids activate endogenous receptors involved in pleasure and memory processes, which overlap with the three core PTSD symptom clusters (re-experiencing, avoidance/numbing, and hyperarousal).
However, the authors emphasized that the evidence base consisted entirely of small, mostly uncontrolled studies, and large well-designed trials were needed before cannabis could be recommended as a treatment approach.
Key Numbers
11 articles reviewed. Four small studies suggested symptom improvements. Three core PTSD symptom clusters identified as potentially modulated by cannabinoids. Veterans with more severe PTSD showed greater cannabis use motivation.
How They Did This
Literature review of 11 articles identified through structured search, examining cannabis and cannabinoid use by military veterans meeting standard PTSD diagnostic criteria.
Why This Research Matters
Veterans with PTSD represent one of the largest populations using cannabis therapeutically, yet the evidence supporting this use remains preliminary. Understanding their experiences and outcomes is essential for developing evidence-based treatment guidelines.
The Bigger Picture
The mismatch between widespread cannabis use by veterans with PTSD and the lack of rigorous evidence creates a clinical dilemma. Veterans are self-medicating in large numbers, but clinicians lack the data to advise them on safety, efficacy, or optimal use patterns.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Only 11 articles met inclusion criteria, and most were small and uncontrolled. The review could not determine whether cannabis use improves PTSD outcomes or whether veterans with certain symptom profiles are simply more likely to self-medicate. Publication bias may favor positive results.
Questions This Raises
- ?Do specific cannabinoid formulations work better for PTSD than others?
- ?Does cannabis use for PTSD improve or worsen long-term outcomes?
- ?Can cannabis complement evidence-based PTSD treatments like prolonged exposure or EMDR?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 11 articles reviewed; 4 small studies suggested symptom benefits
- Evidence Grade:
- Review of mostly small, uncontrolled studies. The evidence base was described as insufficient for clinical recommendations.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2015. Several controlled trials of cannabis for PTSD have been initiated since.
- Original Title:
- Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.
- Published In:
- American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 72(15), 1279-84 (2015)
- Authors:
- Betthauser, Kevin, Pilz, Jeffrey, Vollmer, Laura E
- Database ID:
- RTHC-00920
Evidence Hierarchy
Summarizes existing research on a topic.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis help with PTSD?
Small studies suggest some veterans experience improvements in sleep, nightmares, and overall coping when using cannabis. But as of this 2015 review, no large controlled trials had confirmed these benefits, and cannabis is not an evidence-based PTSD treatment.
Why do veterans with PTSD use cannabis?
Research found that veterans with more severe symptoms, especially difficulty regulating emotions and tolerating stress, were more motivated to use cannabis for coping. Cannabinoids interact with brain systems involved in memory and emotional processing.
Read More on RethinkTHC
- anxiety-leaving-house-weed-withdrawal-agoraphobia
- anxiety-response-technique-weed-withdrawal
- anxiety-toolkit-weed-withdrawal
- anxiety-worse-after-quitting-weed
- breathing-exercises-weed-withdrawal-anxiety
- cannabis-induced-anxiety
- does-weed-help-anxiety
- grounding-techniques-weed-withdrawal
- health-anxiety-weed-withdrawal
- manage-anxiety-without-weed
- quitting-weed-anxiety-disorder
- quitting-weed-anxiety-medication-ssri
- self-medicating-anxiety-with-weed
- therapy-quitting-weed-anxiety
- weed-and-anxiety
- weed-biphasic-effect-anxiety
- weed-generalized-anxiety-disorder
- weed-panic-attacks
- weed-paranoia
- weed-social-anxiety
- weed-tolerance-anxiety-stopped-working
- weed-withdrawal-anxiety
- weed-withdrawal-panic-attacks-night
- weed-withdrawal-work-anxiety
- withdrawal-anxiety-vs-real-anxiety
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-00920APA
Betthauser, Kevin; Pilz, Jeffrey; Vollmer, Laura E. (2015). Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.. American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 72(15), 1279-84. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp140523
MLA
Betthauser, Kevin, et al. "Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with posttraumatic stress disorder.." American journal of health-system pharmacy : AJHP : official journal of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists, 2015. https://doi.org/10.2146/ajhp140523
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Use and effects of cannabinoids in military veterans with po..." RTHC-00920. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/betthauser-2015-use-and-effects-of
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.