Childhood maltreatment, often referred to as Adverse Childhood Experiences or complex post-traumatic stress disorder, typically arises from repeated trauma during childhood, including abuse, neglect, or violence, and acts as a risk factor for substance use disorders in adulthood. Comprehending the mechanisms and factors that make individuals vulnerable or resilient to these outcomes after exposure is vital for improving intervention strategies.
The April 2023 edition of Molecular Psychiatry described how extensive brain alterations due to childhood maltreatment imply that changes in corticolimbic interactions, possibly affected by endocannabinoid signaling, influence emotion regulation processes. The corticolimbic region of the brain is crucial for the development and management of emotion and anxiety. Each individual possesses distinct endocannabinoid levels that align with the levels of a neurotransmitter called anandamide, which acts centrally as an endocannabinoid.
There is substantial evidence suggesting that a reduction in endocannabinoid function could lead to a decreased pain threshold and alterations in digestion, mood, and sleep patterns. Additionally, there is strong evidence indicating that Clinical Endocannabinoid Deficiency (CED) is associated with conditions such as migraine, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), as well as substance abuse disorders.
If there are reduced levels of naturally occurring endocannabinoids in our bodies, studies indicate that consuming whole plant or full spectrum herbal cannabis supplements could be advantageous. Ongoing research is investigating the potential of plant-based cannabinoids and synthetic cannabis in restoring equilibrium.
More research is needed.
In 2021, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) was awarded a $12.9M grant from Michigan to expand cannabis research for Veterans with PTSD. And in November 2024, after 3 years of appeals MAPS won approval to proceed to Phase II studies determine the effectiveness of an smoked cannabis for veterans with PTSD.
According to Allision Coker, Ph.D., Director of Cannabis Research at MAPS, despite the growing acceptance and use of cannabis among PTSD patients, there is still a shortage of high-quality, controlled data regarding the safety and effectiveness of cannabis that mirrors real-world usage. To address this evidence gap, MAPS developed phase II studies to investigate the 'real-world' use of inhaled cannabis, aiming to understand its potential benefits and risks in treating PTSD.
Informing patients, healthcare providers, and adult-use consumers is essential when incorporating cannabis into treatment plans for managing PTSD, pain, and other serious health conditions. However, regulatory barriers have historically hindered or prevented significant research on the safety and effectiveness of cannabis products commonly used in regulated markets.
Due to the lack of high-quality data on cannabis, most of the information accessible to patients and regulators is based on prohibition, emphasizing potential risks while neglecting potential benefits.
Within the United States, millions of Americans are smoking or vaporizing cannabis to manage or treat their symptoms.
Eliminating obstacles to research is essential for overcoming persistent challenges in cannabis studies, thereby supporting future research on PTSD and other conditions related to endocannabinoid deficiency.
References
Resilience to substance use disorder following childhood maltreatment: association with peripheral biomarkers of endocannabinoid function and neural indices of emotion regulation
The Brain’s Cannabinoid System Protects Against Addiction Following Childhood Maltreatment
MAPS Research Cannabis PTSD and Veterans
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