Federal Research Reveals Complex Relationship Between PTSD, Cannabis Use, and Emotional Well-Being in Veterans

A new federally funded study provides insights into daily patterns of cannabis use among veterans with PTSD.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects nearly 30% of recently discharged veterans, making it one of the most pressing mental health challenges facing our veteran community. A new study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), highlights the complex relationships between PTSD symptoms, negative emotions, and cannabis use among veterans.

The study, published in Psychiatry Research, followed 74 recently discharged veterans with elevated PTSD symptoms over three months, collecting AM/PM assessment data through a smartphone app called MAVERICK. Measures included the PCL-5 short form for PTSD symptoms, the PANAS negative affect subscale, and self-reported hours high from cannabis use (Davis, et al. 2025). Dynamic structural equation modeling (DSEM) captured within-person, cross-lagged, and same-day correlations.

Veterans reported fewer PTSD symptoms and less negative emotions on days they used cannabis. This same-day link indicates that cannabis might offer temporary relief from distressing symptoms, which could explain why many veterans use cannabis as a coping strategy.

The research identified a concerning bidirectional relationship: elevated PTSD symptoms led to increased negative emotions the next day, and heightened negative emotions predicted more severe PTSD symptoms the following day. This creates a self-perpetuating cycle that may complicate recovery.

While cannabis appeared to provide same-day relief, the researchers emphasize this doesn't necessarily indicate long-term therapeutic benefit. In fact, they note that previous longitudinal studies have shown cannabis use can predict worsening PTSD symptoms over months, even when it provides short-term relief (Metrik, et al., 2022).

Implications for Clinicians Working with Veterans

This federal government-funded research offers several insights for clinicians working with veterans.

Understanding Patient Motivations: Veterans may be using cannabis because they experience genuine, observable relief from symptoms on the days they use it. This isn't simply "drug-seeking behavior" but may reflect a rational response to distressing symptoms.

Addressing the Emotional Cycle: The bidirectional relationship between PTSD symptoms and negative emotions suggests that interventions targeting emotional regulation skills could help break this cycle and potentially reduce reliance on cannabis.

Comprehensive Treatment Approaches: Rather than focusing solely on cannabis use, treatment plans might benefit from addressing both PTSD symptoms and emotional regulation simultaneously.

Implications for Veterans and Families

For veterans and their families, this research provides important considerations.

Validation of Experiences: Many veterans report that cannabis helps with their symptoms, and this study provides scientific validation that this relief is real and measurable.

Understanding Limitations: While cannabis may provide temporary relief, the research suggests it may not address the underlying cycle of PTSD symptoms and negative emotions that maintain the condition.

Importance of Professional Support: The study highlights the complexity of PTSD and suggests that comprehensive treatment approaches may be more effective than relying solely on cannabis.

The Significance of Federal Funding

It's noteworthy that this research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a federal agency. This represents a shift in federal research priorities, moving beyond viewing cannabis purely through a lens of abuse potential to investigating its actual effects on mental health conditions.

Cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance, placing it in the same category as heroin and LSD. This classification asserts that cannabis has "no accepted medical use" and a "high potential for abuse." This scheduling has historically created significant barriers to research, requiring researchers to navigate complex regulatory hurdles, obtain special licenses, and often use lower-quality cannabis from limited federal sources.

Despite these challenges, federal agencies like NIDA are increasingly funding cannabis research, recognizing the urgent need for evidence-based understanding of cannabis effects on conditions like PTSD. However, the current scheduling continues to limit the scope and speed of research that could inform clinical practice and policy decisions.

The necessity to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III has become increasingly apparent to researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Schedule III classification would acknowledge cannabis's medical potential while maintaining appropriate regulatory oversight. This rescheduling would remove many research barriers, allowing for more comprehensive studies using diverse cannabis products that better reflect what patients actually use.

The federal funding allows researchers to:

• Conduct rigorous, scientifically sound studies

• Use standardized measures and sophisticated analysis methods

• Follow participants over extended periods

• Publish findings in peer-reviewed journals

Bottom Line

This important federal research reveals that while cannabis may provide same-day relief from PTSD symptoms and negative emotions, the underlying cycle between these symptoms persists. This suggests that comprehensive treatment approaches addressing both PTSD symptoms and emotional regulation may be more effective than relying on cannabis alone.

The fact that this research was funded by the federal government through NIDA signals growing recognition that understanding cannabis effects on mental health requires rigorous scientific investigation rather than assumptions. As more federally-funded research emerges, we'll continue to develop a clearer picture of how cannabis fits into mental health treatment for our veteran community.

For healthcare professionals interested in learning more about cannabis research and its clinical implications, PTCannabisInfo offers evidence-based educational resources and training programs. Our courses are designed to help clinicians stay current with the latest research and provide informed guidance to their patients.

References

Davis, J. P., et al. (2025). Daily associations between posttraumatic stress disorder, cannabis use, and negative affect among veterans. Psychiatry Research, 351, 116626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116626 (Funded by National Institute on Drug Abuse grant R21DA051802)

Metrik, J., et al. (2022). Cannabis use and posttraumatic stress disorder: prospective evidence from a longitudinal study of veterans. Psychological Medicine, 52(3), 446–456. https://doi.org/10.1017/S003329172000197X