The Future of Veteran & First Responder Mental Health: A Shift Towards Endocannabinoid & Psychedelic Therapies?
The Pro Patria Rise Up Media crew headed to Brisbane for the 2025 United in Compassion (UIC) Conference to chat with researchers, doctors, and specialists about endocannabinoid therapies. The consistent message was obvious: there's a dire need for better understanding of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) and the controlled use of medicinal cannabis.
The Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide has wrapped up, revealing the shortcomings of traditional treatment models. For ages, veterans and first responders have been bogged down with polypharmacy—intense mixes of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and benzodiazepines—that left them sedated, isolated, and struggling to regain control of their lives.
But what if there was another path? Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative at the University of Sydney, reckons medicinal cannabis and psychedelic-assisted therapies could revolutionise mental health treatment for veterans.
Breaking Free from the “Zombie Veteran” Model
For too long, veterans suffering from PTSD, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), and chronic pain have been overloaded with multiple medications—often with catastrophic results. McGregor points out that TBIs are often wrongly diagnosed as PTSD, leading to years of ineffective psychiatric treatment while the actual neurological damage goes untreated.
"Antipsychotic drugs, antidepressants, and benzodiazepines have been the standard treatment for PTSD, particularly in veterans, but they often aren't sustainable or healthy in the long run."
Instead, research is demonstrating that CBD, CBN, and other cannabinoids could provide relief—particularly for PTSD- and TBI-related sleep disturbances. The potential for MDMA-assisted therapy, now being trialled for PTSD, marks a significant turning point.
The Endocannabinoid System: An Untapped Resource?
McGregor describes the endocannabinoid system (ECS) as a crucial but under-researched aspect of human health. It's been a part of the animal kingdom for millions of years, acting as a regulator of balance, stress, and recovery.
"Cannabis interacts with hundreds of receptors in the brain and body—it's not just about 'getting high.' We're only just beginning to understand its full potential."
Despite this, most doctors receive little to no education on the ECS, leaving veterans and first responders without proper medical guidance when considering cannabis as a treatment.
The Future: Are We Moving Towards a New Treatment Model?
With the findings of the Royal Commission, and the DVA set to green-light psychedelic-assisted therapy trials in 2025, Australia is at a crossroads. Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) are often mistaken for PTSD, leading to years of inappropriate psychiatric treatment.
Medicinal cannabis is already aiding veterans with PTSD, TBIs, pain, and sleep disorders.
Clinical trials using MDMA and psilocybin for treatment-resistant PTSD show significant promise.
Cannabinoids like CBN (cannabinol) are proving effective in treating sleep disorders, one of the most debilitating symptoms for many veterans.
The next steps? Advocating for more research, funding, and education for doctors—so those who served their country have genuine choices in their healthcare.
What’s Next?
As veterans, first responders, and their supporters, we must push for policies that:
Expand access to medicinal cannabis & psychedelic-assisted therapies
Ensure doctors are properly trained in endocannabinoid health
Recognise the role of TBIs in veteran mental health and reform misdiagnosis practices
Move away from outdated, overmedicated treatment models
If we've learned anything from the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide, it's that the old way isn't working. A new approach is not just necessary—it's long overdue.
