Obama Administration Blocks FDA-Approved Study of Marijuana for Veterans

[The Straight Story]

Obama Administration Blocks FDA-Approved Study of Marijuana for Veterans

The Obama administration is having a difficult time making up its mind over whether to green-light the first-ever study of marijuana and its medicinal impact on veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

In April, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved a proposed medical study on marijuana and PTSD by the nonprofit research organization the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). Dr. Sue Sisley of the University of Arizona at Phoenix planned to lead the research.

The plan was to test five different doses of marijuana on 50 combat veterans with PTSD whose symptoms have not improved with the aid of conventional treatments, such as talk therapy, antidepressants and anti-anxiety medicines.

But in order to carry out the study, MAPS needed to legally obtain marijuana through the Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the FDA. This week, the department refused to sell government-grown marijuana to MAPS, effectively putting a halt to the research project.

http://www.allgov.com/Controversies/ViewNews/Obama_Administration_Blocks_FDA_Approved_Study_of_Marijuana_for_Veterans_111006

[_ed_]

1. Sick and pathetic as usual

And the height of hypocrisy since Obama admitted smoking weed in the past. I guess it was good enough for him but not for our vets. Fucking pathetic.

[Warren DeMontague]

2. END THE CHARADE. LEGALIZE, REGULATE AND TAX IT.

FUCKING ENOUGH, ALREADY.

[MADem]

3. The VA is already gathering anecdotal data from VN vets w/PTSD and other ailments.

The conclusions will pretty much be self-evident. Then they'll be stuck with a conundrum, since they have the medicine that works, a weed, and they'll have to legalize it as a consequence or be painted as assholes.

In the other corner? Big Pharma, who can't make any money off of weed!

That's the crux of this block and stymie effort.

[shraby]

4. Since congress made it illegal with laws, isn't it up to congress

to rewrite the laws? If I recall correctly when it was done, the law stated that research into the plant was even outlawed. That part needs to be rewritten also.

[dtexdem]

5. But what if the study shows that MJ is medically effective?

Then how will the feds be able to argue that it has no medical uses?

Anything to perpetuate the nonsense.

[The Straight Story]

6. Would not matter if it did

Big pharma would see that we did not use it because it would cut into their profits.

[pokerfan]

7. Now we aren't even going to study it?

:wtf: :shrug: