Pubdate: Wed, 19 Nov 2014
Source: Metro (Vancouver, CN BC)
Copyright: 2014 Metro Canada
Contact:  http://www.metronews.ca/vancouver
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3775
Author: Stefania Seccia

PROVINCE INITIATES COUNTRY'S FIRST CLINICAL CANNABIS TRIALS FOR PTSD

'Looking for Answers'. Producer Hopes to Begin Next Spring

British Columbia researchers and a medical marijuana producer have 
joined forces to conduct Canada's first-ever clinical trial to back 
up anecdotal evidence in using cannabis to treat post-traumatic 
stress disorder (PTSD) with hard facts.

Pending regulatory approval, the University of British Columbia 
Okanagan and Tilray, a Health Canada licensed producer under the 
Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations, hope to begin the world's 
first large-scale clinical trial examining cannabis for a mental 
health disorder as early as spring 2015.

"I think a lot of people are looking for answers right now for 
research to support the position of whether cannabis should be paid 
for by the government, (and) whether it's an effective treatment," 
said Dr. Ian Mitchell, a UBC co-principal investigator for the study. 
"We don't have the knowledge at this time."

Mitchell said it's an important way of finding out the potential side 
affects for treating PTSD symptoms as well.

"We've just seen an incredible upsurge in PTSD as a diagnosis," he 
added. "Particularly in the States, they've had tremendous trouble 
with the veterans coming back suffering from PTSD and conventional 
medicine not capable of treating this condition."

The Phase 2, placebo-controlled, randomized trial aims to gather 
evidence about the safety and efficacy of different medical marijuana 
strains to manage those with PTSD resulting from trauma experienced 
by veterans, first responders and sexual assault survivors. Chronic 
PTSD symptoms include flashbacks, anxiety, depressions, anger, 
irritability and changes in sleep and appetite.

"I think right now there's a great opening in the marketplace in 
cannabis treatment but we need research to go along with that," 
Mitchell said. "We need accessible treatment, effective treatment."

Philippe Lucas, vice president of patient research and services at 
Tilray, said there are currently patients using cannabis for PTSD 
despite the lack of peer-reviewed clinical research.

"This study will not only help us identify whether or not cannabis is 
truly helpful treating PTSD, but by comparing (different strains) 
we'll see which one is most significant in treating PTSD," he said.

The study will evaluate 40 volunteers who meet the clinical criteria. 
Two thirds will be military or police veterans and the rest will be 
individuals who survived sexual abuse or assault. Tilray opened its 
$20 million, 60,000-square-foot research and production facility for 
medicinal cannabis in Nanaimo last April.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom