The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of cannabis, also called marijuana, on the health of Veterans who have been diagnosed with PTSD or are experiencing PTSD-like symptoms.

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Veterans 19-69 years old
• Have smoked cannabis in the past year
• Currently experiencing PTSD symptoms
• Living in Michigan

The main part of the study lasts 12 weeks. As part of this study, we will provide you with cannabis to smoke daily for 12 weeks at home.

Each week, we will deliver to you 1 week’s worth of cannabis to use at home using your usual or preferred method of smoking.  We ask that you do not use more than the 25 mg/day that we provide, although you can use less if you prefer. Cannabis that is not used must be returned to the study staff. The amount you use will be monitored by testing your saliva and blood for levels of cannabinoids on a regular basis.

Besides daily cannabis use, there are some additional in-lab and at-home activities involved in the study.

In-Lab Activities

• Initial Screening Visit: Before the study starts, we will conduct a thorough evaluation of your physical and mental health to determine whether you are a good candidate for the trial and ensure it is safe for you to take part in the study. This lasts about 6-8 hours.
• 2-Day Laboratory: There will also be a laboratory component before the trial begins where you will complete questionnaires, cognitive tasks, psychophysiological testing, and smoke cannabis to test your initial response to cannabis.
• Week 6 Health Check: Mid-way through the trial, we will ask you to come into the lab for a health check, which may include an EKG and a physical examination.
• 4 Follow-Up Visits: After the 12-week cannabis trial ends, we ask that you return to our lab for four post-treatment follow-up visits one-week post-treatment and 3-, 6-, and 9-months post-treatment. Each visit may be up to 6 hours long.

At-Home Activities

• Weekly Questionnaires: We’ll provide a secure internet link for you to answer questions about your mood, sleep, and general health.

• Daily Questionnaires: We will also ask you to complete two short online questionnaires daily for two weeks at the end of the 12-week treatment phase, and then twice per week for two weeks after that.

We can offer Uber rides for in-lab activities if necessary, including ADA-compliant rides. We may also screen you to see if you are eligible to take place in a supplemental brain imaging study that compensates an additional $680-770 if eligible.

Participants can receive up to $1,615 in compensation for their time.

There is no cost for you to participate in our research study.