Military Vet PTSD Study Just Needs a Few More Volunteers

Many of us know military veterans that reasonably suffer from post-traumatic stress after experience combat or other trauma. Many of us know veterans that utilize cannabis to treat their post-traumatic stress and that it is a crime against humanity for our government to deny soldiers and veterans the option of at least trying to utilize medical cannabis. Thankfully, there is a study that will begin soon that has the potential to benefit our veterans battling PTSD, that just has 7 spots to fill, as reported by Marijuana Moment:

After some difficulty, a study in Arizona sponsored by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) examining smoked marijuana as a treatment is near full enrollment and is expected to finish on time, the organization announced.

The study can accept seven more volunteer test subjects, said lead researcher Dr. Sue Sisley, a physician and psychiatrist who has been working on the study for a decade.

Participants “must be adult military veterans with chronic, treatment-resistant PTSD,” according to Sisley. Research will be conducted in Phoenix, Arizona, where veterans will make 17 outpatient study visits over the course of 12 weeks.

“We only have seven spots available for #veterans to still be enrolled in the study, but they must be screened before the end of October in order to be eligible.” —@SueSisleyMDhttps://t.co/2Mqt7HcFHi #PTSD #Medicine #Marijuana #PressRelease

— MAPS (@MAPS) August 9, 2018

I would like to note that I usually leave the “disorder” portion off of “PTSD” and refer to the condition as post-traumatic stress as I don’t like the stigmatization that people have a “disorder” when they are having a natural reaction to a traumatic event. I can only imagine what military veterans that have seen the worst of combat, or ordinary citizens that have experienced horrible crimes or situations, experience, but my imagination and empathy informs me that their reaction is usually natural, not a disorder.

Good luck to Dr. Sue Sisley, MAPS, all of the researchers, and patients that are working on this important study, along with all of the patients that can benefit. Our nation, despite all of its lip service, doesn’t treat veterans nearly well enough and not trusting them and their doctors by refusing to allow the legal use of medicinal cannabis is a travesty. Hopefully, that injustice ends soon.

Learn more about the latest developments in both the medical and adult-use cannabis movements at the upcoming International Cannabis Business Conference this September 27th-28th in Portland, Oregon. If you know of a local business that should pitch their business from the main stage for a chance to win $10,000 please spread the word and be sure to get your “early bird” tickets by September 12th to save yourself $200!