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."

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.

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.

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

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.

Under 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.