Chapter 7: Medical Marijuana Research Hits Wall of U.S. Law

Image courtesy of: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/us/politics/medical-marijuana-research-hits-the-wall-of-federal-law.html?_r=0

While searching through the New York Times, I came across the article Medical Marijuana Research Hits Wall of U.S. Law, written by Serge F. Kovaleski, about a psychiatrist at the University of Arizona. Dr. Sue Sisley (pictured below) turns to the federal government to seek approval in researching the therapeutic effects of medical marijuana on patients, specifically war veterans, suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Exposure to a terrifying or life-threatening event can lead to PTSD. This condition is an example of an anxiety disorder induced by traumatic stress. Dr. Sisley aims to expose and support medical marijuana as treatment for other diseases and disorders as well. Kovaleski states the purpose of her study and how it could be critical to therapeutic effects of medical marijuana research in PTSD patients:

“Dr. Sisley’s predicament shows that even in states like Arizona, where medical marijuana is legal, the matter remains politically volatile. [July of 2014], Arizona authorized the use of marijuana for patients undergoing conventional treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Sisley’s study is supposed to use five different strains of marijuana that would be smoked or vaporized by 70 veterans. The goal is to develop a marijuana drug, in plant form that would be smoked or vaporized, approved by the Food and Drug Administration.” (1)

Unfortunately Dr. Sisley runs into many issues with the legal aspects of the study and the approval process in which she must compete. Medical marijuana is legal in Arizona, however legal applications to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) pend approvals, further delaying the study. Kovaleski talks about these controversial accounts between Dr. Sisley and three political stakeholders, Andrew Biggs, Tim Bee and Ann Weaver Hart. Mr. Biggs is the Arizona State Senate president. He claims that Dr. Sisley’s study is biased because she is involved in pro-legalization of medical marijuana campaigns. Thus, Mr. Biggs reaches out to Mr. Bee with his complaints that Dr. Sisley is too aggressive and inappropriate in her approach. Mr. Bee contacts Ms. Hart with the complaints he had received and Dr. Sisley is given a warning to resign. Three months later, she was notified that her contract at the university would be terminated. This causes great distress for Dr. Sisley and her team because they cannot continue their research on patients with PTSD. In order to resume the study, Dr. Sisley and her team must either be reinstated or find a new university to study at.

Image courtesy of: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/us/politics/medical-marijuana-research-hits-the-wall-of-federal-law.html?_r=0

As a side note, Kovaleski states:

“There are signs, though, of a possible shift in attitude within the federal government. In May, the DEA issued new rules to increase the government’s production of marijuana for research this year to 650,000 grams from 21,000 grams.” (1)

This means that the United States will increase the manufacturing of medical marijuana by about 31 percent. Serge Kovaleski gave an immense amount of research to support his claims. This article shows the difficulty in the process behind funding research of medical marijuana. Because the drug is categorized as a schedule 1 substance, pending approval demonstrates to be a complicated process. Kovaleski writes about Dr. Sisley’s short-end of the stick, also giving further evidence behind all parties in the situation. Using his research, he gives clinical details behind the therapy of medical marijuana and why Dr. Sisley seems to be on the right track with hers. Kovaleski emphasizes this quote given by Governor Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island:

“It defies logic in this day and age that marijuana is still in Schedule 1 alongside heroin and LSD when there is so much testimony to what relief medical marijuana can bring.” (1) 

The main point of this article is to publicize the need for supplementary research in medical marijuana. Serge Kovaleski discusses the flaws and shortcomings within the approval system with funding clinical studies. The organization of the points is clearly noted alongside Dr. Sisley’s account. Medical Marijuana Research Hits Wall of U.S. Law is a report describing the complications behind the endorsement of research in medical marijuana, even though there is clear therapeutic evidence.

Resources:

(1) http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/10/us/politics/medical-marijuana-research-hits-the-wall-of-federal-law.html  

(2) http://www.psychologytoday.com/conditions/post-traumatic-stress-disorder