Marijuana may be Studied for Combat Disorder (PTSD)

It’s about time!

Photo: collegeotr.com

(MOLALLA, Ore.) - This is a headline pulled from the The New York Times July 19, 2011. It is not a coincidence that Patricia Kime from the Army Times newspaper interrogated me about this subject in the morning of July 20th for my opinion on this subject. The bad news is finally about the failure of anti-depressant drugs for PTSD according to the NYT.

They quote Dr. Sue Sisley, an assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. Dr. Sisley says, “PTSD needs to be treated in a multi-disciplinary way, drugs like Zoloft and Paxil have proved entirely inadequate and there is evidence from Veterans that Cannabis can provide systematic relief.”

New Mexico has legal medical marijuana and of about 5,000 patients, 1/3 or about 1,600 are PTSD victims (in my own study of 6,000 medical marijuana patients approximately 1,000 were military PTSD victims and doing very well).

The study referred to in The Times’ article was proposed by Mr. Rick Doblin, director of the multi-disciplinary association for psychedelic studies in Santa Cruz, California and Dr. Sue Sisley.

They would lead the endeavor with about 50 military veteran volunteers. The double-blind studies will use a placebo (fake cannabis), and four strains of medical cannabis which will come from the US government Marijuana farm at the University of Mississippi (aka Ole Miss).

Many people and organizations have tried this before but there are about six federal offices which must give permission. All of these offices and people working there have, for the past 50+ years, maintained that Cannabis/Marijuana is a dangerous and addicting drug of no medical value. It is doubtful that they will change their minds and admit their ignorance at this time.

In the meantime, 16 states and Washington DC have approved medical Marijuana. Besides that, even the US government estimates that about 10 million people use Marijuana daily, for medical purposes.

It is hopeful that the NYT marijuana article and the upcoming Army Times article, both about the abject failure of the anti-depressant drugs for PTSD, will nudge somebody in high places- maybe President Obama or ex-President Clinton, who both know the benefits and lack of harm from Cannabis/Marijuana and will finally get something positive done.

MARIJUANA, AN ANCIENT DRUG, IS THE BEST MODERN MEDICINE!

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Click on this link for other articles and video segments about PTSD and medical marijuana on Salem-News.com:
Dr. Leveque INTERVIEWS & ARTICLES

Salem-News.com Marijuana Coverage

Where and How to Smoke Legal Marijuana without Fear of Arrest in the U.S.

Eulogy of a Great Warrior: Hoss Plourde

The Ripple Effect How Marijuana Laws Are Impacting Society

Audit the Audit

Welcome Home, Tom

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David . July 24, 2011 10:31 pm (Pacific time)

When is Oregon going recognize that PTSD should be one of the factors for a permit. I was just turned down even thou I am 100 percent and the drugs the Doc give don't help, and actually make it worse.

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Anonymous July 24, 2011 6:37 pm (Pacific time)

Dr Phil..I so respect your work and dedication..but feelin a but down these days.. they will throw bone to keep us quiet, but they wlll not change. I know marijuana is a great natural medicine, and so is Ibogaine...but these herbs cannot be patented, and the pharma industries own the government. Keep it up tho, I will support you best I can.

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