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