PTSD: Hope, Healing, and What the Science Really Says

Written By Tyler Haberle

Why This Matters

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can be life-altering. For many, symptoms like intrusive memories, hyperarousal, and sleepless nights make daily life exhausting. While trauma-focused therapy remains the gold standard treatment, growing numbers of patients are turning to medical cannabis as a potential source of relief — especially when traditional approaches fall short.

PTSD in Daily Life

PTSD may develop after trauma such as accidents, assault, combat, or natural disasters. It doesn’t affect everyone the same way, but common symptoms include:

  • Flashbacks and nightmares that make it hard to feel safe

  • Avoidance of reminders of the trauma

  • Mood and thought changes — feeling numb, hopeless, or cut off from others

  • Hyperarousal — poor sleep, irritability, being “on edge”

These symptoms can last for years without support and are often paired with depression, anxiety, or substance use.

Traditional Treatments

Therapies like Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) are backed by decades of research and help many people reclaim their lives. Certain medications, such as SSRIs, may help with mood and anxiety, though their benefits for core PTSD symptoms are limited.

Where Cannabis (Marijuana) Fits In

Here’s where things get interesting:

  • Patient reports: Many people with PTSD describe cannabis as a tool for easing anxiety, calming intrusive thoughts, and improving sleep.

  • Research evidence: Studies have shown that cannabis may reduce particular clusters of PTSD symptoms, such as nightmares, hyperarousal, and insomnia. Registry data from the UK and other countries suggest improvements in overall well-being and quality of life.

  • Mixed findings: Some systematic reviews show inconsistent outcomes, and cannabis is not yet considered a first-line treatment by major guidelines  . But importantly, newer research is more nuanced — pointing toward cannabinoids as potentially valuable adjunctive therapies rather than dismissing them outright.

The Takeaway

While trauma-focused psychotherapy remains the backbone of PTSD treatment, medical cannabis may offer real benefits for some patients — especially for sleep, anxiety, and symptom intensity. The science is still catching up, but patients are already reporting relief. If you’re struggling with PTSD and curious about cannabis, it’s worth an open, evidence-based conversation with a knowledgeable provider.

👉 At Haven Health, we stay current on the latest research and work with patients to explore whether medical cannabis is an appropriate option. Schedule a consultation today to learn more.

References

  1. Schnurr PP, Hamblen JL, Wolf J, et al. (2024). The Management of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Acute Stress Disorder: Synopsis of the 2023 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Defense Clinical Practice Guideline. Annals of Internal Medicine, 177(3), 363–374. doi:10.7326/M23-2757.

  2. Rothbaum BO, Watkins LE. (2025). An Update on Psychotherapy for the Treatment of PTSD. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 182(5), 424–437. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.20250110.

  3. Zoellner LA, Schulz PM, Campbell-Law L, et al. (2025). Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in Adults. American Psychological Association.

  4. Rodas JD, George TP, Hassan AN. (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), 23r14862. doi:10.4088/JCP.23r14862.

  5. Black N, Stockings E, Campbell G, et al. (2019). Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Mental Disorders and Symptoms of Mental Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. The Lancet Psychiatry, 6(12), 995–1010. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(19)30401-8.

  6. American Psychiatric Association. (2022). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. APA Publishing.

  7. Steenkamp MM, Litz BT, Hoge CW, Marmar CR. (2015). Psychotherapy for Military-Related PTSD: A Review of Randomized Clinical Trials. JAMA, 314(5), 489–500. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.8370.

  8. LaFrance EM, Glodosky NC, Bonn-Miller M, Cuttler C. (2020). Short and Long-Term Effects of Cannabis on Symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Journal of Affective Disorders, 274, 298–304. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2020.05.132.

  9. Datta A, Erridge S, Warner-Levy J, et al. (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. doi:10.1080/14737175.2025.2490539.

  10. Pillai M, Erridge S, Bapir L, et al. (2022). Assessment of Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Analysis From the UK Medical Cannabis Registry. Expert Review of Neurotherapeutics, 22(11–12), 1009–1018. doi:10.1080/14737175.2022.2155139.

Tyler Haberle