The wayward Prince, now a permanent resident of California, talked about his positive experiences with cannabis in dealing with trauma
In a development that is unsurprising to anyone who is both familiar with the amazing properties of medical cannabis, including to help cope with PTSD, as well as the still unfurling British Royal soap opera that is Prince Harry, the “Spare” revealed in an online interview on Saturday that cannabis use (as well as psychadelics) helped him deal with trauma. This is not the first time he has been open about cannabis use.
The Duke of Sussex spoke to Dr. Gabor Mate, a trauma expert and cannabis advocate this weekend on a livestream interview. He described it as “the cleaning of a windscreen, cleaning of the windshield, the removal of life’s filters.” He also said that cannabis brought him a “sense of relaxation, release, comfort, a lightness that I managed to hold on to for a period of time.”
The Therapeutic Use of Cannabis For PTSD
Beyond Prince Harry, the scientific community is starting, albeit far too slowly, to accept the medicinal use of cannabis for treating PTSD, which affects about 9% of any general population. In the United States, this is almost becoming a go-to drug, particularly for veterans. In other places, notably Germany, the treatment for post traumatic stress disorder, which is characterized by flashbacks to traumatic events, nightmares and irritability, is still under review. Indeed many in the psychiatric community remain highly opposed to cannabis treatment for this kind of condition. Even the UK is slowly moving towards accepting cannabis for a limited number of ailments, although so far PTSD and trauma survival is not one of them.
That is likely to continue to change as medical cannabis becomes more accepted for a wider range of disabilities and symptoms than muscle spasticity and chronic pain.
In fact, a study published last year found that PTSD patients were more than 2.5 times more likely to recover when they used cannabis to treat their symptoms.
In the United States, more and more clinical research is being funded which is likely to have global implications. See Germany for starters.
Celebrity Endorsement Vs. Clinical Proof
It is a sad state of affairs that a celebrity prince’s endorsement of such treatment would get so much attention if not add to the credibility of the same. However that is still where the cannabis discussion lies for too many people.
That said, such endorsements are likely to help mainstream use of the drug for those who otherwise might not be open to the same. Nobody who watched the funeral of Princess Diana can think of anything but pity on the impact of what an experience might have on a young teenager. Not to mention the experience of growing up knowing that you were only useful as a ”Spare.”
How Do You Get a Doctor To Support Your Use of Cannabis for PTSD?
Unlike Prince Harry who can afford the best healthcare on the planet, not to mention has a sympathetic audience in the media, obtaining medical coverage for cannabis use, including for PTSD, remains out of reach for most people who need it, including veterans.
In the United States and Canada, medical cannabis is still not widely covered by health insurance. In Germany, cannabis can be covered by insurers, but the fight is still long and arduous for most patients.
The best way to get cannabis by prescription is to find a sympathetic doctor rather than psychiatrist in Germany. In general, German psychiatrists remain highly sceptical about the treatment of any condition by cannabinoids, particularly the psychoactive kind. The doctor then has to fill out a special form provided by health insurers as well as an explanation of why this drug is necessary and there is no other alternative.
The other option is to contact a licensed medical cannabis distributor and ask if they can refer you to a doctor who will fill in the necessary paperwork.
