Executive Director Rick Doblin, Ph.D., Research and Information Specialist Ilsa Jerome, Ph.D., and Clinical Research Associate Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D. Candidate are exploring funding and collaborating on a new study of medical marijuana for the treatment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) with principal investigator Sue Sisley, M.D. The study is tentatively titled "Placebo-controlled, double-blind study of the safety and efficacy of smoked cannabis in 30 veterans with PTSD."
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This study is currently designed to enroll 32 veterans diagnosed with PTSD by the clinician administered PTSD scale (CAPS). Scores of 50 or higher can be included in a placebo-controlled, double-blind study of self-administered smoked cannabis for the treatment of PTSD symptoms. Study duration will be six weeks. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of four conditions, receive 2 grams per day of 1) placebo, 2) 6% THC, 3) 12% THC cannabis, or 4) 6%thc/6%CBD cannabis. The study will begin with an hour-long baseline assessment of PTSD symptoms and one 30-minute introductory session to prepare subjects for the use of marijuana. This will be followed by self-administration of cannabis for four weeks. PTSD symptoms will be assessed at four weeks, followed by a two week medication cessation period after the cannabis use has stopped, and a third 60-minute assessment of PTSD symptoms at six weeks. Participants who originally received the placebo can enroll in a second open-label segment following identical study procedures where they can choose to receive full doses of either 6% THC, 12 % cannabis, or 6%THC/6%CBD cannabis.
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The proposed study has already received informal comments about the design from health personnel inside the Department of Veterans Affairs. MAPS has applied for grant from the Marijuana Policy Project to partially fund this study."); document.writeln("
The fifth status update in the ongoing attempt to license Professor Lyle Craker to grow marijuana for research at UMass Amherst has been filed with the United States Court of Appeals First Circuit. It has now been almost one year since the DEA rejected the recommended ruling of their own Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittner. Judge Bittner ruled in favor of licensing Craker and ending the U.S. governments supply of marijuana for research. We have been hopefully waiting for President Obama to appoint a new leader at the DEA who would adhere to the original ruling, rather than the ruling written by DEA acting administrator Michelle Leonhart.
This editorial urges President Obama to instruct the DEA to license Professor Craker to be able to grow marijuana for research, among other suggestions for increases scientific investigations of medical marijuana.
Join Together. \"AMA Calls for More Research into Medical Use of Marijuana\" By Bob Curley
"); document.writeln("The federal government should consider moving marijuana out of Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act in order to facilitate clinical research and development of cannabinoid-based medications, the American Medical Association (AMA) said in a new policy statement. Rick Doblin, Ph.D., executive director of MAPS, said the AMA policy shift demonstrates that there is \"clearly more interest in medical marijuana in the medical community than ever before.\" However, Doblin -- who has long contended that NIDA has worked to block medical-marijuana research through its gatekeeping role over supplies of marijuana for research -- said the policy will have \"zero effect in getting NIDA out of the loop.\" Doblin said that a unique and open-ended Public Health Service (PHS) review process for medical-marijuana research, coupled with NIDA's monopoly on the drug supply, has prevented most basic research studies on smoked marijuana from getting off the ground.
Originally appeared at: www.jointogether.org/news/features/2009/ama-says-marijuana-has.htmlUnder the direction of the Knesset (Israels legislative body), the Israeli Ministry of Health is considering allowing medical marijuana producers to sell marijuana to Ministry of Health approved patients. If this plan is implemented, the marijuana producers will be able to increase the amount they produce and the Ministry of Health will approve more patients. Furthermore, if the plan is implemented, Israel will become a model state for the safe distribution of medical marijuana to medical marijuana patients.
On September 4, 2009, Professor Lyle Craker, Ph.D.s ACLU Drug Law Reform Project lawyers filed the third Status Update with the U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit. The update reports on the DEAs lack of response to the witness and document list filed with the DEA on June 5, 2009, in support of Prof. Crakers Motion to Reconsider the DEAs Final Ruling. The lawyers are asking the Court to hold the appellate proceedings in abeyance until we learn the DEAs final decision. The DEAs final order was scheduled to go into effect July 1, 2009, but the DEA lawyers have previously indicated that it is not unusual to have a Motion to Reconsider still pending after the effective date of a final agency order.
"); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("For the first time since we began this court case in 2001, we are in alignment with the DEAs tactic of delay. We have read rumors that Obama is considering appointing new leadership at the DEA from outside of the current DEA. Hopefully, any new leadership replacing the Bush-holdovers who are still running the DEA will reverse the rejection of the Administrative Law Judge (ALJ)s recommendation to license Prof. Craker.
"); document.writeln(""); document.writeln("Crakers lawyers are required to file a status report with the Court of Appeals every 60 days until a decision is finalized by the DEA. These status report filings preserve Crakers right to appeal should the DEA deny him a license to grow marijuana for research purposes at UMASS Amherst, under contract to MAPS.
Craker’s lawyers filed an impressive list of potential witnesses and documents regarding our pending Motion to Reconsider. DEA has until July 1 to decide whether or not to grant our Motion."); document.writeln("
On June 5, Crakers Lawyers Filed Witness and Document Lists, DEA has until July 1 to respond.
"); document.writeln("On June 5, Crakers lawyers filed potential witness and document lists regarding our pending Motion to Reconsider. On May 18, DEA filed an Interim Order requesting that Craker submit witness and document lists by June 5, 2009. DEA also extended the effective date of its final ruling to July 1, 2009, leaving it three weeks to consider whether or not to grant our Motion to Reconsider. On May 11, 2009, we asked the First Circuit, US Court of Appeals (where in a defensive maneuver we have filed a new lawsuit against DEA) to delay consideration of our case until after we learn how DEA responds to our pending Motion.
"); document.writeln("On April 29, Senators Kennedy and Kerry sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General David Ogden requesting that he take immediate action to delay DEAs final decision regarding Prof. Crakers application for a license to grow marijuana for research. This follows a similar letter sent on April 15 by Congressmen John Olver and Sam Farr requesting that Ogden intervene on behalf of Prof. Craker by asking the DEA to cease going forward on its May 1 deadline.
"); document.writeln("On April 13, the DEA filed its final response to Crakers March 11 Supplemental Motion To Reconsider and Exhibits submitted to DEA Deputy Administrator Michelle Leonhart, adding to a Motion to Reconsider filed January 30. These motions request a hearing to present opposing arguments to new evidence that DEA cited in its January 14, 2009, Final Order rejecting DEA Administrative Law Judge Bittners February 12, 2007 recommendation that Prof. Craker receive a license to grow marijuana for federally-licensed research. Prof. Crakers facility would be built at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and would be sponsored by MAPS.