Post-traumatic stress disorder is one of the most significant — and most contested — indications for medical cannabis in Israel. In a country with a large veteran population and, since October 2023, a sharp rise in trauma, demand has grown even as the clinical evidence has come under sharper scrutiny. This guide explains where things stand.
This guide is informational and is not medical advice. PTSD is a serious condition; treatment decisions should be made with a qualified clinician.
A major and growing indication
PTSD has been a recognised indication for medical cannabis in Israel since 2014. Over the period covered by a comprehensive 2025 review, 12,977 patients were licensed for PTSD — about 8.2% of all medical cannabis users, roughly 70% of them men (Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025). PTSD is the second-largest indication after chronic pain, and one of the fastest-growing: its share of prescriptions rose by roughly 89%, from about 9% to 17% (Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025).
Unlike most indications, which were devolved to the health funds in the recent reforms, PTSD remained under the direct authority of the Ministry of Health's Medical Cannabis Unit — a reflection of how closely the state manages this category.
Reimbursement for combat-related cases
Because PTSD in Israel is heavily combat-related, a large share of patients are treated not through the ordinary health system but through the Ministry of Defense's Department of Rehabilitation, which provides full reimbursement for their medical cannabis costs (Journal of Cannabis Research, 2025). For eligible veterans, this removes the out-of-pocket cost that other patients face. War-related stress since late 2023 has further increased demand for cannabis as a trauma treatment (AJEM).
The efficacy debate
The clinical picture is genuinely unsettled, and patients should understand that. A coalition of doctors treating PTSD published a report warning about potential harms of cannabis for this indication, prompting the Ministry of Health to establish a review committee headed by Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer, head of mental health services at the ministry (The Media Line; Jerusalem Post).
The concern is grounded in wider evidence. A large review published in The Lancet found that cannabis does not effectively treat anxiety, depression or PTSD, and flagged risks including psychosis and dependence, as well as the possibility of delaying other proven treatments (The Media Line). At the same time, some smaller studies of treatment-resistant combat PTSD have reported benefit for individual patients (Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022). The result is a treatment that many patients report helps them, set against population-level evidence that is far from conclusive.
What this means for patients
For a patient considering cannabis for PTSD in Israel, the practical realities are: it is an established and accessible indication; combat-related cases may be fully funded through the Ministry of Defense; and it sits under direct ministry oversight that is currently being tightened, not loosened. Anyone weighing it should do so with a clinician who can balance the potential benefit against the documented risks and the availability of other evidence-based therapies.
For how to apply, see how to get a medical cannabis licence in Israel; for the full list of recognised indications, see qualifying conditions. More on the science is collected in our Research section, and the Patient Access hub has the broader context.
Compiled and reviewed by Tamar Levin, Editor. Sources are linked inline. This guide is informational and is not medical or legal advice; consult a licensed physician about your own treatment.
More on this topic: Patient Access.