Marijuana can be examined for battle error

DENVER - for years some veterans groups and marijuana have argued supporters that the therapeutic benefits of the drug can help to calm the psychological wounds of the battle. But with only individual reports for support, their demands have still widespread acceptance in medical circles.

Now, however, researchers to the Federal Republic are approval for what that probably, first study will look at the effects of marijuana on veterans with chronic post-traumatic stress disorder.

The proposal that multidisciplinary Association for psychedelic studies in Santa Cruz, California, and researchers to which would University of Arizona College of medicine, by examining the potential benefits of cannabis who suffer from 50 combat veterans, on the condition and have not responding, look at other treatment.

"With so many veterans from the wars in the Iraq and Afghanistan, it is a widely recognized need for a new treatment of PTSD," said Rick Doblin, founder and CEO of psychedelic studies group. "These are people, the we in danger, and we have a moral obligation to help them."

In April, the food and Drug Administration said it content was security worried about the trial of Mr Doblin and Dr. Sue Sisley, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and internal medicine at the Arizona, had provided fixed according to a letter from Mr Doblin drug management.

But the letter pointed out that the project could go forward not, until the researchers found, where she would receive their marijuana. And this can not happen, Mr Doblin said, until the project of a scientific assessment of Department of health and human is approved services, agencies belong to the representatives from a range of federal health.

If the proposal is approved, said Mr Doblin, the researchers are grown on drug abuse marijuana use by the University of Mississippi under a contract with the National Institute. May the only marijuana, used in State-approved studies.

A health and human said services spokeswoman the proposal still in the year under review. "The production and distribution of marijuana for clinical research is carefully restricted under a series of federal laws and international obligations," said the spokeswoman, Tara Broido, in an E-mail. "Proposals are for scientific quality, and the likelihood that they are providing data to meaningful benefits study, be reviewed."

An institutional review Board also the study as well as the drug enforcement Administration must approve Mr Doblin said.

Getting final approval from the Federal Government could be difficult, Mr Doblin and Dr. Sisley conceded. They said it was far more challenging to get permission, which examines the benefits of an illegal drugs than their risks for a study.

"We really believe that science should replace politics,", said Dr. Sisley. "This disease must be treated in a multidisciplinary way." Drugs such as zoloft and paxil have proven completely inadequate. "And it is individual reports by veterinarians that cannabis entlastend systematic."

Medical marijuana is in 16 States and the District of Columbia. But only New Mexico and Delaware especially post-traumatic stress disorder as a qualifying condition for treatment according to the marijuana policy project, a Washington-based group, the legal regulation of the drug supports.

Currently nearly a third of 4,982 people approved for medical marijuana in New Mexico suffer post-traumatic stress disorder, more than any other condition according to the State Health Department. It is unclear how many veterans are.

A recent Army veteran from Texas, who in 2006, fought in the Iraq said for 18 months from the year that he used marijuana three times a day he was prescribed instead of the painkillers and antidepressants, after the return. He asked that his name not be used because Texas does not allow medical marijuana.

The veteran, who said he already shot in the leg and marijuana suffered numerous injuries from explosions his physical and mental pain helped quiet, while not caused due to its prescription medications said weight loss and sleep deprivation, while provided as a gunner humvee.

He said "I it have seen with my own eyes". "It works for the boys come home to many."

If the study is approved, would veterans who participate on the basis of the patient more than three months to comply with Mr Doblin said. During two four-week increments it would causes up to 1.8 grams to treat marijuana per day, anxiety, depression, nightmares and other symptoms by PTSD. Researchers also veterans for periods would watch if they are not allowed to use marijuana.

In addition to a placebo of Explorer four marijuana strains in the study, different levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), a major component of the drug to use. One of the varieties contains Cannabidiol (CBD), another ingredient accepted, that anti-anxiety effect.

Mr Doblin said that the veterans would be allowed, the marijuana use in its sole discretion. Half will be asked to smoke the drug, while the other half is to inhale it through a vaporizer.

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