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Avail Cannabis launches new study for treating PTSD

Avail Cannabis is applying for ethics approval for an observational study that aims to identify the optimal cannabinoid profile and therapeutic dose of medical cannabis oil for military veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Avail Cannabis is a network of cannabis medical clinics in Orillia and Barrie, Ont. Starting Aug. 28, it launched its first six recruitment centres in North Bay Pharmacy locations and is looking to launch more locations in late September after ethics approval of the study.

“After months of planning between multiple organizations, we are thrilled to finally be opening our first of six recruitment centres which are all situated within a few Canadian Forces Bases throughout Ontario and one in Winnipeg, Manitoba,” said Justin Whitehall, clinic director of Avail Cannabis. 

Whitehall said he hopes the findings of the study can be foundational to developing an educational course for pharmacists that aims to better support military veterans. =

Keeping public health guidelines for the COVID-19 pandemic, patients will be participating in the study remotely through telephone or online.

The study hopes to be published in the Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health and present results at the Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research forum in Halifax in 2021. Further military veteran-focused studies are also planned for the future.