A pivotal Health Ministry committee is set to evaluate the effectiveness of medical cannabis in treating Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), a decision that has sent shockwaves through the patient community. For the approximately 20,000 Israelis who depend on cannabis to manage their PTSD symptoms - representing 15% of the country's medical cannabis users - the stakes couldn't be higher.
"When you decide to prescribe a substance that has dangerous potential, you have to be careful," warns Prof. Eyal Fruchter, who heads the post-trauma treatment coalition. His stark position has left many patients fearful about losing access to what they consider an essential lifeline. In even stronger terms, he previously declared that "medical cannabis is a seal of approval for the drugging and poisoning of an entire generation of Israelis."
These words hit hard for those who have found relief through cannabis after struggling with conventional treatments. While the Health Ministry currently signals no immediate plans to remove PTSD from approved conditions, the uncertainty weighs heavily on patients already dealing with trauma.
The divide between patient experiences and medical evidence creates a challenging dynamic for healthcare providers. "Every psychiatrist today meets patients who say that for them cannabis is a lifesaver," explains a senior psychiatrist who requested anonymity. "We see their relief, their improved function, their better sleep. But we also need solid research to back these personal experiences."
The human complexity of the situation is captured by Dr. Dedi Segal, owner of medical cannabis producer Panaxia. "Patients vote with their feet," he notes, acknowledging that while cannabis might not resolve trauma directly, its role in helping people cope shouldn't be dismissed. "That is also very important," he emphasizes, highlighting the real-world impact on patients' daily lives.
For Israel's cannabis industry, which includes over 40 companies and generates billions of shekels annually, the review carries significant implications. But beyond the financial stakes, there's a deeper concern about patient welfare and access to care.
The committee, led by Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, head of mental health services at the Health Ministry, faces the challenging task of balancing patient needs with medical evidence. Their conclusions, expected within two to three months, could reshape how Israel approaches PTSD treatment.
The situation reflects a broader dilemma in mental health care: how to reconcile patient experiences with the demand for scientific validation. As one psychiatrist noted, "It is very difficult for doctors to recommend such a drug, and on the other hand, it is difficult to find a doctor who will say that cannabis is bad and dangerous because they don't know that either."
For now, thousands of Israeli PTSD patients wait anxiously, hoping their voices and experiences will be heard alongside the clinical data. As regional conflicts continue to increase PTSD cases, the committee's decision will have far-reaching implications for both current and future patients seeking relief from trauma.
The review comes at a poignant time for Israel, once a global pioneer in cannabis research through groundbreaking work by scientists like Prof. Raphael Mechoulam.
As the country grapples with this decision, the outcome could have real consequences for those who depend on it most.
JPost contributed to this article.
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