Cannabis research often advances slowly. Researchers face a variety of challenges, including prohibition laws, a lack of labs willing to do marijuana research, and difficulties finding actual weed to use in their studies. But now, as a groundbreaking FDA-approved study of marijuana for vets with PTSD starts phase 2, the field of medical marijuana research could be taking a big step forward.
A Groundbreaking Study
The study is being led by Dr. Sue Sisley. It is part of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. The organization, called MAPS for short, is a research institute focused on exploring medicinal uses of cannabis and psychedelics.
Sisley’s project is focused specifically on learning how cannabis affects military veterans suffering from PTSD. The project first received approval from the U.S. Public Health Service in 2014.
Later that year, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment awarded a $2 million grant to complete the research.
Finally, in January 2017, research began at the Scottsdale Research Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Now, a little over a year later, Sisley’s project is in its official Phase 2 clinical trial phase.
Phase 2 Clinical Trial
As outlined in Healio’s Psychiatric Annals, the Phase 2 study is a triple-blind outpatient test. In the study, volunteer test subjects are put in one of four groups.
One group of patients will be given a high-THC strain. A second group will receive a high-CBD strain. The third group will be given a strain with an equal, 1:1 ratio of THC to CBD. Finally, the fourth group will be given a placebo.
To begin, subjects will complete two 4-hour sessions in which they consume marijuana under observation. This is a “familiarization stage.” During