On its “All Things Considered” program and in its “Shots” blog, NPR (12/24, Hamilton) reported on “growing evidence that pot can affect brain circuits involved in” post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). According to Andrew Holmes, a researcher at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, experiments using animals indicate that “tetrahydrocannabinol [THC], the chemical that gives marijuana its feel-good qualities, acts on a system in the brain that is ‘critical for fear and anxiety modulation.’” However, Holmes “and other brain scientists caution that marijuana has serious drawbacks as a potential treatment for PTSD.” The effects of THC are not lasting, and marijuana has side effects including impairment of motor skills and short-term memory loss.
Related Links:
— “Could Pot Help Veterans With PTSD? Brain Scientists Say Maybe, “Jon Hamilton, NPR, December 24, 2013.