post traumatic stress disorder Archives

Study: Cannabinoids May Prevent Depressive and PTSD-Like Symptoms Following Severe Stress

February 21, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Cannabinoids may prevent both depressive and PTSD-like symptoms following exposure to severe stress, according to a new study being published by the journal Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry.

“Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a debilitating condition highly comorbid with depression”, begins the abstract of the study, which was also published by the U.S. National Institute of Health. “The endocannabinoid (eCB) system and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) are suggestively involved in both disorders.” For the study, researchers “examined whether cannabinoids can prevent the long-term depressive-like symptoms induced by exposure to the shock and situational reminders (SRs) model of PTSD.”

Researchers administered a compound meant to mimic the effects of natural cannabinoids in rats two hours after a severe shock. “Cannabinoids prevented the shock/SRs-induced alterations in social recognition memory, locomotion, passive coping, anxiety-like behavior, anhedonia, fear retrieval, fear extinction and startle response as well as the decrease in BDNF levels in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex (PFC)”, states the study. “Furthermore, significant correlations were found between depressive-like behaviors and BDNF levels in the brain.”

Legislation Allowing Medical Cannabis for PTSD and Chronic Pain Approved by New Hampshire Legislature

May 11, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A measure allowing medical cannabis for post traumatic stress disorder and chronic pain has been approved by New Hampshire’s Senate.

The legislation has already been approved by the state’s House of Representatives; it will soon be sent to Governor Chris Sununu for consideration.

The proposed law would allow those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain to become legal medical cannabis patients by adding the conditions to the state’s medical cannabis program. Those with PTSD or chronic pain would first need to receive a recommendation from a physician, and register with the state, before they can legally purchase, possess and use cannabis for medical purposes; this is the case with all other qualifying medical conditions.

Medical Cannabis for PTSD Bill Passed by New York Assembly

May 3, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation to expand New York’s medical cannabis program has been given approval by New York’s Assembly.

Assembly Bill 7006, sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 36 Assemblymembers (30 Democrats and 6 Republicans), has received approval from the full Assembly. It will now be sent to the Senate, where passage would send it to Governor Andrew Cuomo for consideration.

The proposed law would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to New York’s list of qualifying medical cannabis conditions. This would allow those with the condition to legally purchase, possess and use cannabis and cannabis products, given they receive a recommendation from a physician and register with the state.

New York Committee Votes Unanimously to Allow Medical Marijuana for PTSD

April 26, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A key legislative committee in New York has voted to add post traumatic stress disorder to the state’s list of qualifying medical marijuana conditions.

Assembly Bill 7006 was passed yesterday by the Assembly Health Committee with a unanimous 26 to 0 vote. The proposal is sponsored by a bipartisan coalition of 36 Assemblymembers (30 Democrats and 6 Republicans). The measure must now be passed by a second committee before it can be scheduled for a vote by the full Assembly.

Both Assembly Bill 7006 and its companion legislation Senate Bill 5629 would allow those with PTSD to legally purchase, possess and use cannabis and cannabis medicines if they receive a recommendation from a physician and become registered with the state as a medical cannabis patient.

Legislation to Legalize Medical Marijuana Passed by Full West Virginia Senate

March 29, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Medical marijuana would be legal under a bill approved today by West Virginia’s full Senate.

Substitute Senate Bill 386 was passed through its third and final reading today with a 28 to 6 vote, sending it to the House of Representatives. Passage in the House would send it to Governor Jim Justice for consideration.

The proposed legislation would legalize medical marijuana possession and use for those with a qualifying condition who receive a doctor recommendation. The West Virginia Medical Cannabis Commission would be created to oversee a regulated and licensed system of cannabis cultivation centers and dispensaries. Dispensaries would be authorized to distribute cannabis and cannabis products to qualifying patients.

Nebraska Judiciary Committee Votes to Legalize Medical Marijuana

March 18, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Nebraska’s Judiciary Committee has passed legislation to legalize medical marijuana.

Legislative Bill 622 was passed by the Judiciary Committee with a 6 to 1 vote, with Senator Stebe Halloran casting the sole “No” vote. The measure allows those with a qualifying condition to possess and use marijuana medicines if they receive a recommendation from a physician and become licensed with the state. A system of regulated marijuana dispensaries would be authorized.

Qualifying conditions would include opioid addiction, AIDS, epilepsy, glaucoma, Crohn’s disease, Tourette’s syndrome, hepatitis C, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, Lyme disease, spinal cord injury or disease, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and anxiety.

Colorado Senate Committee Votes to Allow those with PTSD and Acute Stress Disorder to Use Medical Cannabis

February 1, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

A Colorado Senate committee has given unanimous approval to legislation that would add two ailments to the list of qualifying medical cannabis conditions.

Senate Bill 17, which passed the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee with a 5 to 0 vote, now heads towards a vote by the full Senate. It would add post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and acute stress disorder as conditions that qualify an individual to possess, use and purchase medical cannabis; they of course would first need to receive a recommendation from a physician.

Acute stress disorder, which is much less talked about than PTSD, is “characterized by the development of severe anxiety, dissociative, and other symptoms that occurs within one month after exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor (e.g., witnessing a death or serious accident)“, according to PsychCentral.com. “As a response to the traumatic event, the individual develops dissociative symptoms.”

New Jersey Governor Signs Bill Adding PTSD as Qualifying Medical Cannabis Condition

September 14, 2016September 14, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has signed into law Assembly Bill 457 to allow those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to use medical cannabis. The signing comes roughly a month and a half after the measure was given approval by the state’s legislature with a combined 85 to 22 vote.

Under the new law – which took effect immediately after Christie’s signature – those with PTSD are allowed to legally purchase, possess and use cannabis for medical purposes, given they receive a recommendation from a physician and become registered with the state.

Study: Cannabinoids Offer Therapeutic Benefits for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

August 25, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Yet another study has found that cannabinoids may treat or at least greatly benefit those with post traumatic stress disorder (and may prevent it if administered shortly after a traumatic event). The new study was published in the journal Behavioural Pharmacology, and published online by the National Institute of Health.

“There is substantial evidence from studies in humans and animal models for a role of the endocannabinoid system in the control of emotional states”, says the study’s abstract. It states that preliminary studies in humans “suggest that treatment with cannabinoids may decrease PTSD symptoms including sleep quality, frequency of nightmares, and hyperarousal.”

Petition Calling on New Jersey Governor to Sign Medical Cannabis PTSD Bill Gets 11,000 Signatures in 5 Days

August 17, 2016August 17, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

A petition calling on New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to sign Assembly Bill 457 into law has received over 11,000 signatures in just five days. Assembly Bill 457 would allow those with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to legally purchase, possess and use cannabis to help treat their ailment.

The proposal was given approval by the state’s legislature on August 1st, with a 29 to 9 in the Senate and a 56 to 13 vote in the Assembly. The measure now sits on the desk of Governor Chris Christie, who has the option of signing it into law, allowing it to become law without his signature, or vetoing it.

“We are calling Governor Christie to quickly sign it into law, allowing those suffering from the ailment to use a medicine that research has continually shown is beneficial”, the petition states.