As Vets Demand Cannabis for PTSD, Science Races to Unlock Its Secrets

[Hunter]

As Vets Demand Cannabis for PTSD, Science Races to Unlock Its Secrets

Front page of Scientific American today.

Of the two compounds, THC is a bit better understood. It binds to specific receptors on brain cells that help regulate mood, sleep patterns and pain perception. Scientists also believe it interacts with receptors in the brain’s emotional centers—the amygdala and hippocampus—to reduce anxiety, which may help explain Alonzo’s reaction to cannabis. THC research involving PTSD, although scant, has shown some promise.

The biggest thing in my experience is funding. Scientists can’t do research if they don’t get funded. National science organizations generally avoid funding legally questionable research because they don’t want to risk audits and other punitive measures. Hopefully Congress decides to enable more research in their spending bills.