Medical Marijuana After Traumatic Event 'Pevents PTSD Symptoms'

Providing trauma patients with medical marijuana shortly after the event could help prevent post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), researchers have said.

In a study on rats, scientists at the University of Haifa in Israel found that administering synthetic marijuana, or cannabinoids, helped to prevent PTSD symptoms caused by both the trauma and trauma reminders.

It is estimated that about 3% of the population will experience PTSD at some point in their lives, with combat soldiers, prisoners and victims of crime particularly at risk.

Researchers Nachshon Korem and Irit Akirav said: "The importance of this study is that it contributes to the understanding of the brain basis of the positive effect cannabis has on PTSD and thus supports the necessity to perform human trials to examine potential ways to prevent the development of PTSD and anxiety disorders in response to a traumatic event."