Cannabis, PTSD and Finding Calm When Nothing Else Worked

For years, conversations around cannabis and mental health have been dominated by skepticism, outdated assumptions, and a medical system that often defaults to blaming cannabis use for symptoms rather than listening to patients. As someone who lives in this world every day, both personally and professionally, I want to talk about what the research is actually showing and how that aligns with real lived experience.

Recently, a growing number of studies have examined the relationship between cannabis use and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the most compelling studies comes from the UK Medical Cannabis Registry, which followed patients diagnosed with PTSD for up to 18 months, allowing researchers to track not just short-term relief, but long-term changes in symptoms, anxiety, sleep, and overall quality of life over time. See the full data report here.

This really matters because PTSD is not just about flashbacks or nightmares. PTSD often shows up as chronic anxiety, obsessive thoughts, nervous system overload, difficulty sleeping, emotional dysregulation, and a constant sense of being “on edge” all the time. These are symptoms many people quietly live with for years without realizing they fall under the PTSD umbrella, myself included.

Other observational studies and systematic reviews have shown similar findings. People using cannabis have reported reductions in symptom severity, along with improvements in mood regulation, better sleep patterns, and the ability to function better on a day-to-day basis. Cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in how we respond to stress, how we process emotions, and fear extinction. In simple terms, cannabis may help calm an overactive nervous system that is stuck in survival mode or a trauma loop.

This is not abstract to me. In fact, this has been a struggle for as long as I can remember. For most of my life, I have struggled with some form of anxiety and OCD. I didn’t have language for PTSD at the time, but I lived with constant mental noise, overwhelm, and an internal storm that never fully shut off. Over the years, I was prescribed antidepressants, anti-anxiety medications, and OCD medications. What I got in return were side effects that often felt worse than the symptoms themselves.

I gained weight in excess of 60 pounds. I felt disconnected from myself. I dealt with fatigue so severe that I was randomly napping during the day and felt like I had zero will to even brush my hair or get dressed. I mean, I did do those things, but I did them with minimal effort. I was the epitome of “letting myself go.” I even dealt with chemical dependency when my OCD prescription ran out once. Rage during medication changes. And sometimes, I felt like a zombie, where certain medications created an overall sense of numbness.

None of this was normal. And it certainly wasn’t helping me. It created a cycle where I was depending on man-made drugs while suffering more at the hands of doctors who let me slip through the system and didn’t believe the risks outweighed the benefits of their prescribed poisons of choice.

Cannabis changed that for me.

When I’m overwhelmed, I don’t look at a medicine cabinet hoping a pill will fix it. I’m not waiting for something to “kick in” an hour later. I smoke. Even a few puffs is often enough to calm the storm inside when my thoughts and emotions are spiraling out of control. The shift is noticeable and fast. My body relaxes. My breathing slows. The intensity drops to a manageable level. And the best thing about it? I’m still sober. I can fully function. And my side effects are at a flat zero.

For anxiety specifically, I personally do not gravitate toward edibles. They take longer to activate, feel heavier in the body, and can be unpredictable. For many people, edibles can actually increase anxiety if the dose is too high or if they aren’t prepared for how long the effects last. When you smoke or take a dab, the delivery is almost immediate. Within 5 to 10 minutes, most people know where they stand. The effects are shorter-lived, easier to control, and easier to stop if you’ve had enough. That distinction matters, especially for people dealing with anxiety or trauma.

Within six months of opening Grateful Headz, I stopped taking anxiety medication altogether. I also wasn’t interested in continuing to treat anything with a pill if I could treat it with God’s given plant. That wasn’t a decision made lightly, and it’s not advice for anyone else. It’s simply my own personal experience. Cannabis gave me something pharmaceuticals never did: relief without taking away my sense of self.

What frustrates me is how often cannabis is still blamed for unrelated symptoms. I’ve personally had doctors try to attribute GERD and stomach ulcers to cannabis use, despite the fact that cannabis was the only thing that relieved my nausea and stomach pain. I’ve seen this pattern repeatedly with customers as well. Anxiety blamed on cannabis. Stomach issues blamed on cannabis. Emotional symptoms blamed on cannabis. It becomes a catch-all explanation that shuts down real conversation.

I’ve even been told recently by a therapist that treating PTSD or anxiety isn’t recommended if someone uses cannabis because they aren’t “sober” or “clear-headed.” That belief is outdated and not supported by emerging research or real-world outcomes. Many consumers report that cannabis actually allows them to be more present, more regulated, and more capable of engaging in their lives.

I’m not here to tell anyone to stop taking prescribed medication or to replace medical care with cannabis. There is a clear line between education and medical advice, and I respect that line. What I can do is share what the research is showing and what has helped me personally.

This plant has helped people sleep again. It has helped people breathe through panic instead of being consumed by it. It has helped people find calm in bodies that forgot what calm felt like. And for many of us, that matters more than outdated narratives ever will.

Disclaimer:
This content is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects personal experience alongside publicly available research. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be considered medical advice. Individual experiences with cannabis may vary. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional regarding medical decisions or treatment options.