Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is one of the unseen wounds of combat, and while it may not be physically apparent to most people, it is an injury that is just as deadly – if not even more so. The physical wounds may heal, but PTSD is something that, if left untreated (or worse, undiagnosed), may last a lifetime.
A feature on the New York Times shared a proposal from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies in Santa Cruz, California, and a researcher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. They are seeking federal approval to look into the potential benefits of marijuana on veterans who are suffering from chronic PTSD; should they be granted permission, it will become the first study of its kind.
Rick Doblin, founder and executive director of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, shared: “With so many veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, there is a widely accepted need for a new treatment of PTSD… These are people whom we put in harm’s way, and we have a moral obligation to help them.”
The proposal, according to Department of Health and Human Services spokeswoman Tara Broido, is currently under review: “The production and distribution of marijuana for clinical research is carefully restricted under a number of federal laws and international commitments… Study proposals are reviewed for scientific quality and the likelihood that they will yield data on meaningful benefits.”
If and when the researchers receive the green light to proceed with they study, they will be using cannabis grown by the University of Mississippi, under contract with the National Institute of Drug Abuse. This constitutes the only marijuana allowed for use in studies with federal approval.
July 19th, 2011 - 4:35 pm
It will never happen.. the Federal Government would just as soon people stay troubled even if proved cannabis could help them.
The ONLY place the cannabis can be obtained is from the single existing facility that grows cannabis for the Feds, and the ENTIRE reason for the grow facilities existence is to use the cannabis for studies to show how damaging cannabis can be.
It is a pity some of our nations brightest and bravest will have to return home only to be sucked into another war created by the Feds (the war on drugs) and with over a trillion dollars spent the last 3 decades to make sure cannabis remains out of reach of the population, even with failing as badly as they have, there is no way on earth ‘they’ will have the dignity to admit there is anything to cannabis other than a means to keep spending money to fight it.
Heck, just last month they busted into Jose Guerena’s house, a Marine who has two children and just returned home from over seas. They busted his door down with a warrant, shot him dead, said he shot at them first (which they later admitted he did not) and even though they found he had nothing at all illegal in his house ..zip.. nada.. zilch, the killing of this young marine was justified because they had a warrant (that said he had things in his house he didn’t, thereby license for them to kill and lie).
Yes, our Government shot and killed this young Marine in the name of their ‘justice’ on cannabis users. There is no way on God’s green earth they will allow service members to be part of a study that might demonstrate they have been invading and killing the wrong people right here on US soil.
So sad.. but true..
To those in service, past or present who may be reading, Thank you from the bottom of my heart for your service.
Peace~!
July 19th, 2011 - 5:50 pm
Its about time there is a study not controld by the DOJ or DEA, they are an embarrassment to patriotic Americans and their existence is based on lies and coruption.
July 20th, 2011 - 7:19 am
[...] the study gets the go ahead researchers can use the only federally legal weed available — the cannabis [...]
July 20th, 2011 - 8:32 am
This is a good video pass it on.
This Para Military not citizen Police. There is a place for the Military. What happen to Posse Comitatus.
http://biggovernment.com/reasontv/2011/06/19/no-knock-raid-a-song-about-the-drug-wars-deadliest-tactic/
July 20th, 2011 - 9:51 pm
Oh, it will happen. It just needs to be legal in a few more states first. Google search Ohio Coalition for Medical Compassion.
July 25th, 2011 - 1:35 pm
http://www.medicalcannabis.com and Veteransformedicalcannabis.org has good new info on cannabis, Veterans and PTS(d).
August 13th, 2011 - 1:33 pm
I am a 8 year Marine Corps Veteran with 3 combat tours to Iraq, to include Operation Phantom Fury in 2004. The only drug that helps me cope with life and the horors of PTSD because they are very real, is marijuana. All the other drugs that the VA prescribes only kills veterans because the VA gives them a concoction of drugs to use and they get abused and wind up killing veterans. Any veteran reading this with the same problems I have please take in consideration of what I said. It really does help. Not only does it help it feels good and its fun and… YOU CANT DIE FROM IT google it. But moderation is the key because you still have to live your life to the fullest. I only smoke at night to help me sleep and believe it or not the pains in my joints aren’t as bad as they used to be before i starting using this stuff. I’m back to working out and I actually enjoy running again, let alone living a normal life. Semper Fi america.
August 16th, 2011 - 4:31 pm
It’s a new world … a new millenium. I see the dimunition of ‘boom-boom, bang-bang, bye-bye’. World society is on a vector for more cooperation. Agent Orange becomes Agent Green. This, for some, seems the ONLY (*read “SINGULAR”) medication that provides real relief. Even if it is not the case, why ‘f’ with the vets who might think this to be the case. Include me in. The CEO of Progressive Insurance stated that he can discnern no negative effect from it’s use – all of his experiences have been of benefit. Ya know … comes a time, no?
August 20th, 2011 - 10:33 am
will never happen in our lifetime. big business, pharmaceutical in the pockets of politicians will never let it happen. can grow it anywhere with very little processing. no money in it for them unless they charge and insane amount for a small quantity. other more dangerous drugs can be tested but the government will not allow marijuana to be tested, come on.