Veterans in support of medical marijuana as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder are urging the state universities to allow research.
Marijuana researcher Sue Sisley is studying the effectiveness of marijuana in treating combat veterans with PTSD. Her position at the University of Arizona was terminated in June. Since then she has been trying to secure funding and a place to do the study.
The Colorado Department of Health is considering funding Sisley's research in the amount of $2 million. The money is from the Colorado medical marijuana program cash fund, which funds research on the plant’s efficacy as medical treatment.
“Opponents of this research believe it’s just a strategy to make marijuana look good, which is absurd," Sisley said. "We are all blinded independent investigators. It’s a triple-blind study. None of us know what any of these veterans are getting. They may be randomized to placebo.”
Sisley’s struggle to find a university to back her research is a consequence of divided politics on the issue. The Arizona Department of Health is adding PTSD to the list of conditions treatable my medical marijuana. At the same time, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery is challenging the state’s medical marijuana law. Montgomery spoke earlier.
“The federal controlled substances act, which has marijuana as a schedule-one drug and prohibits possession, use, trafficking, sale cultivation, and is in direct conflict with Arizona’s medical marijuana act," Montgomery said.
Veterans and researchers want to keep the study in Arizona, but need a university to sign on. So far, none of the three state universities have been willing to take on Sisley’s research.
