Cancellation of only active medical marijuana study a blow to researchers

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/decodedc/cancellation-of-only-active-medical-marijuana-study-a-blow-to-researchers

From the article:

Medical cannabis use is recognized legally in almost half of the states, yet getting approval to study the health benefits of the drug is harder than getting a medical marijuana license.

So it was a big deal last spring when a doctor at the University of Arizona won rare federal approval to test marijuana’s effects on veterans with PTSD.  For marijuana advocates, who believe the research is a key step in getting medical and scientific regulation of the drug— it was a historical shift.

“My opinion is that there is a systematic interference, a deliberate attempt to interfere with the progress of marijuana research in the country,” Sisley said. The federal government isn’t as strict with studies that aim to measure the negative impacts of marijuana use, says Sisley, but when the study dares to test some of the potential positives—“you get put into this permanent review process that goes on forever.”

Then politics got in the way. Local government funding meant for the program was canceled after a state senator challenged using the money for Sisley’s research. After Sisley argued against the de-funding of her program, pressure from state government ultimately led to her dismissal from the University of Arizona, according to Sisley. The university disputes political pressure led to her firing. Sisley’s study never got off the ground.

When is the last time – or the first time – that you are aware of  bureaucrat(s) having denied medical research on chemical molecule or some substance.. that shows promise to improve human health ? How unfortunate, that our societal phobias are causing untold millions of people to suffer or die.. while other chemical molecules or substances continue to be tested and fail at some point along the clinical trials.

Filed under: General Problems