Marijuana Could Treat PTSD

Nov. 4, 2009 — According to a new study published by the Journal of Neuroscience, a synthetic drug that acts similarly to THC can prevent stress-induced enhancement of fear memories in rats, revealing that THC could potentially help treat PTSD.

Dude, Where’s my Trauma? Marijuana Could Treat PTSD
Posted by Maia Szalavitz

Many millions have been made in Hollywood by lampooning the acute effects of marijuana on memory—but Israeli researchers suggest that they might one day be harnessed to prevent or treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). And today’s election results bringing medical marijuana dispensaries to yet another state suggest that day might be sooner than ever.

A new study—published in the Journal of Neuroscience—found that a synthetic drug that acts like one of the active components in marijuana (THC) can prevent stress-induced enhancement of fear memories in rats. PTSD is basically a syndrome in which fear-filled memories intrude on daily life and sleep—so preventing stress from strengthening memories of fear could potentially prevent or treat it.

Read the full story at Times.com.