Studies on Cannabis for Anxiety and PTSD: A New Webinar from Healer
The latest Healer webinar provided a research update and analysis on recent studies that treated anxiety and PTSD symptoms with cannabis.
This two-hour webinar, hosted by Dustin Sulak, DO, co-founder of Healer, on February 7th, 2024, gave an in-depth analysis of several studies published within the last six months that used cannabis to treat symptoms of anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Healer webinars, Dr. Sulak explained, were started in 2018 to help filter through the large number of cannabis studies being published. The recent increase in studies on cannabis for anxiety and PTSD, plus Dr. Sulak’s own experience treating patients with these conditions, prompted the focus of well-received webinar.
The first studies Dr. Sulak reviewed were on cannabis for treating anxiety. For each of the studies presented, he discussed the setup, effects of the type of cannabis or the cannabinoids used, results, and limitations, focusing in particular on duration of symptom relief, drug substitution for the first-time cannabis users, and major takeaways from each study.
Dr. Sulak then explained how he viewed some overlap between the roots of anxiety and PTSD. The two studies on cannabis and PTSD presented in the webinar were small and hard to draw huge conclusions from, Dr. Sulak explained, though the statistically significant results highlighted a need for more research in this area. In addition to the details of the studies’ set ups and limitations, he discussed the effect of use frequency on symptoms and notable baseline comparisons.
Also addressed in the webinar was the mechanism of action for cannabigerol (CBG) when used for treating anxiety, including dosing and cautions. Dr. Sulak also provided his own treatment recommendations for people with anxiety disorders and PTSD based on results from his own practice.
The end of the webinar was dedicated to addressing questions from attendees. Topics included substituting CBG for CBD, CBG replacing 5HTP, and how to consume medical cannabis safely around children and other sensitive groups.
Find more information on upcoming Healer.com webinars here.
From Warzone to Wellness: How Medical Cannabis Is Helping Veterans Find Healing and Community
April 24th 2023After serving their country, where do veterans find support once they’re home? Even after a tour of duty ends, the battle may be just beginning. Wounds, both visible and unseen, can make returning to civilian life a new struggle, especially with limited treatment options. However, as Canadian veteran, founder of Marijuana for Trauma, and cannabis advocate Fabian Henry explains, veterans need not struggle alone. After finding relief in cannabis to treat his own PTSD, Henry set out to help ensure no other veterans feel desperate and abandoned. Using his own path to healing as an example, Henry pushed back against the stigma around cannabis and encourages it as a therapy. In this interview, he shares how he brings veterans together into the difficult but beneficial process of holistic healing with cannabis as a catalyst.
What Can We Do for Our Veterans?
December 23rd 2021Welcome to our final 2021 edition of Cannabis Patient Care. We are closing out this year with our annual issue focused on veterans. Veterans play a special role in our society—sacrificing their safety, time, and often mental health to keep our country safe. We owe them more than a debt of gratitude and I think that point was made extremely well by Cherissa Jackson in the "Advocate Focus" piece on page 24. She suggested that we all say more than thank you to our veterans and instead ask what we can do for them. How can we help? The veterans in my life are very tough people who are reluctant to ask for help, but moving forward I will try to keep Jackson’s thought in mind and go beyond a thank you with as many veterans as I can—starting with this very issue of Cannabis Patient Care!
