The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has been awarded a $16,254,183 grant to resume its investigation into the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD) with cannabis. The funding will allow for the non-profit research and educational organization to conduct a second randomized, controlled trial to assess the therapeutic potential of cannabis as a treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder in U.S. veterans. The aid comes from Michigan’s US$20 million 2021 Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Program.
President of Scottsdale Research Institute, Dr. Sue Sisley, said recreational cannabis taxes funded the program, which is designed to evaluate, “the efficacy of marijuana in treating the medical conditions of United States armed services veterans and preventing veteran suicide.” She continues, “Suicide among veterans is an urgent public health crisis, but it’s solvable if we invest in researching new treatments for pain, depression, and PTSD.” It’s clear that this research will emphasize the importance of why further analysis on cannabis needs to be had so new studies can be confirmed.
Dr. Sisley added, “This grant enables more rigorous study, overseen by the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), which can lead to cannabis flower being prescribable medicine in the future. Veterans are urging objective cannabis drug development research, and the state of Michigan is fulfilling our collective obligation to our beloved veteran community.” The study will compare the safety and efficacy of cannabis against placebo for treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder.
Over 300 veterans are chosen to participate, across four trial sites, including two in Michigan. After a three-week enrollment and evaluation period, veterans will spend five weeks self-administering inhaled doses of cannabis on an outpatient basis. Dr. Rick Doblin, founder and executive director of Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, exalted the use of cannabis taxes to fund the research. He said, “Michiganders are granting non-profit researchers the opportunity to establish whether marijuana is helpful for veterans with PTSD. If so, we’ll seek to return that generosity by developing a public-benefit cannabis pharmaceutical product that would be eligible for insurance coverage, just like any other pharmaceutical drug.”
Dr. Berra Yazar-Klosinski, chief officer of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC), said the organization “overcame significant regulatory obstacles obstructing cannabis research to conduct the first clinical trial of inhaled cannabis for PTSD.” Dr. Yazar-Kolinski further noted that “This grant funding provides the resources needed to leverage the results from the first trial, conduct a fully powered clinical trial and align the body of scientific evidence with cannabis that more closely mirrors what is available within state-regulated cannabis programs.” Thanks to the immense support from the marijuana community in Michigan, there can now be further studies performed on marijuana and how it affects different aspects of the mind.
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