Recently, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) approved a study approving the consumption of medical marijuana as a treatment for PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in U.S. veterans. Also, this study counts with the approval of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), making it a significant development in the current market for the ‘virtually’ legal plant. This is the first time that a clinical study using smoked botanical marijuana is approved for treatment. This study is a big step for the agencies involved to move botanical drug development programs into federal level to gathering all necessary information about dosing, risks and benefits of smoked marijuana for PTSD patients.
It’s worth mentioning that the study was made possible with the help of a $2.156 million grant from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). The money was also raised by the study’s sponsor Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) located in California.
Initially, the research received approval from the Health Human Services Department and the University of Arizona was in charge of the first investigations. But it was delayed because of the Tucson Arizona School finished the contract with the primary researcher Dr. Sue Sisley.
Many collaborators were part of this study: Marcel Bonn-Miller, PH.D. on behalf of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine together with co-investigators Sue Sisley, M.D. in Phoenix, Arizona and Ryan Vandrey at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. Also Paula Riggs, M.D. of the University of Colorado School of Medicine is part of this study in the area of blood analysis.
Standard procedure for participants
The study is based on the analysis of 76 veterans who suffer PTSD. Considering that previous studies have compiled data from a smaller sample, analyzing over 70 volunteers allowed researchers to get better results. The focus of the test is intended to compile the data on four potencies of marijuana, when smoked in different amounts of the active component. Cannabis’ active component, which can vary from different strains of marijuana plants is called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). Moreover, the study’s purpose is to determine an accurate ratio on how marijuana, when used in controlled doses, could help U.S. veterans.
Currently, MAPS is working with the FDA to managing and monitoring data for surveillance of this study taking into account guidelines of Good Clinical Practices. Also, is working to evaluate the safety and efficacy of botanical marijuana for using it as treatment. And up to date, MAPS has raised over $36 million for psychedelic therapy and medical marijuana research and education.
Source: The Weed Blog