Michigan is funding two major medical cannabis research projects for $ 20 million

By Maureen Meehan

The state of Michigan is funding two major medical cannabis research projects valued at $ 20 million from tax revenues from the state’s recreational marijuana program, the Michigan state’s Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) said.

And Michigan is no shortage of cannabis cash. In June alone, cannabis sales reached $ 149 million. Actually April and May were about the same.

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PTSD research

The money for the Veteran Marijuana Research (VMR) Grant Program is earmarked for clinical trials that will focus on cannabis as a treatment for military veterinarians with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The MRA stated that the research grant was recommended by Wayne State University and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The latter is currently conducting the very first controlled study of cannabis for the treatment of PTSD in military veterans.

RELATED: Michigan Cannabis Sales Nearly $ 1 Billion In First Year Of Adult Sales

When Michigan voters passed the poll to legalize recreational marijuana by a 63% majority in November 2018, at least $ 40 million in tax revenue was intended to be used on marijuana research grants to help reduce veteran suicides .

Veteran suicide – a national problem

Studies have shown that the suicide rate among military personnel is almost 50% higher than the rate in general.

A growing body of research has shown the possibility that cannabis can help relieve symptoms of conditions like PTSD and depression.

RELATED: PTSD Patients Report On The Effectiveness Of Medical Cannabis

The first half of the money is expected to be awarded by mid-August, Marijuana Regulatory Agency spokesman David Harns told MLive.com.

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More good news for Michigan – No more reefer madness

A person should be allowed to receive unemployment benefits even if they are laid off for off-clock use of cannabis, argued Michigan attorney general Dana Nessel in an amicus brief filed Monday, Detroit’s Metro Times reported.

“The people have reserved the personal freedom to use and grow marijuana, and the state cannot withhold unemployment benefits from a person just for doing this legal activity,” Nessel wrote in the letter. “Employers generally still retain their ability to hire and fire at will, but Michigan employees need not question whether their legal off-duty conduct leaves them without unemployment benefit should an employer exercise that ability. Counter-arguments depend on outdated understandings of marijuana that the people of Michigan have rejected once and for all. “

Amen to that, Mrs. Attorney General.

This article originally appeared on Benzinga and was republished with permission.