Michigan Awards $20 Million for Cannabis Research to Help Veterans

The Michigan Cannabis Regulatory Agency has announced the awarding of the 2022 Veteran Marijuana Research (VMR) grant to Wayne State University and the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. The total funding amounts to $20 million.

Wayne State University Research Initiatives

Wayne State University will conduct the first randomized controlled clinical trial to study how THC and CBD may help military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Another study will focus on the effects of CBD on the neurobiological foundations of suicidal thoughts in veterans with PTSD. The university will receive approximately $9 million for the first study and $3.5 million for the second.

University of Michigan Research Initiatives

The University of Michigan will receive funding to study the effectiveness of cannabis-based therapy for veterans suffering from chronic pain, with the goal of reducing suicide risk among veterans. The research will focus on the effectiveness of CBD in treating pain syndromes. The University of Michigan will receive about $7.5 million out of the $12 million requested.

Funding Source and Legal Framework

The research funding comes from tax revenues generated by the sale of recreational cannabis in Michigan. Annual funding for clinical trials is determined in accordance with the state’s cannabis regulation and taxation law. According to the law, the Cannabis Regulatory Agency (CRA) is required to allocate $20 million each year for one or more clinical trials approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).