Wayne State seeks veterans to participate in cannabis treatment study

Sarah Atwood, The Detroit News on Dec 31, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Wayne State University is seeking veterans with post traumatic stress disorder to participate in a study testing the impacts of cannabis use to treat the disorder.

During the clinical trials, veterans will participate in a 12-week treatment program testing varying levels of THC and CBD, two primary compounds found in cannabis, the university said in a press release earlier this month. Researchers will evaluate how these treatments affect mood, mental health, and overall well-being in participating veterans.

University researchers will run two studies as part of the research program titled "Warrior C.A.R.E.": one to examine the use of cannabis for treating PTSD and suicidality in veterans, and the other to examine the use of cannabis, along with therapy, for treating PTSD and suicidality in veterans.

"This study represents a critical step in addressing the mental health challenges facing veterans," said one of the project's lead investigators, Dr. Leslie Lundahl. "By using rigorous scientific methods, we aim to understand whether cannabis can play a safe and effective role in improving veterans’ lives."

More than 6,400 U.S. military veterans died by suicide in 2022, the university said, and accounts for 15% of all adult suicide deaths.

Wayne State was awarded three grants totaling $30 million from the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency for its research.

The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, which was approved by Michigan voters in November 2018, allowed for grants like the ones Wayne State received to study the potential medical effects of cannabis, said David Harns, public relations manager for the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency.

The law established the Marijuana Regulation Fund and directed the Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency to allocate $40 million to support FDA-approved clinical trials focused on researching the efficacy of marijuana in treating medical conditions affecting U.S. armed services veterans and in addressing veteran suicide prevention, Harns said via email.

These grants were awarded through a Request for Proposals process and he said Wayne State University was selected because of its research capacity, academic expertise, and ability to conduct clinical trials that meet federal standards.

"(This research has) potential to generate credible, evidence-based data on whether cannabis may offer therapeutic benefits for veterans experiencing conditions such as chronic pain, post-traumatic stress, or other service-related health challenges," Harns said. "By funding FDA-approved studies, the state aims to contribute meaningful findings that can inform medical practice, public policy, and future treatment options for veterans."

The Wayne State research team has now obtained all required federal, state, and local approvals for the first two grants and recruitment is now officially open, the university said in a release earlier this month.

Requirements for participants include: veteran status, ages 19-69, have smoked cannabis in the last year, experienced PTSD symptoms, and are willing to complete the screening process that includes clinical interviews, blood draws and saliva samples.

Veterans interested in participating in the study are asked to fill out a form on the research program's webpage and can call (313) 473-7733 with any questions.

________