Dr. Sue Sisley recently announced that two site locations for her marijuana research are confirmed, one of which may be in Colorado.
On Friday, Sisley’s contract at the UA officially came to an end. The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies has been working with her to find a location that will allow her to research marijuana to the extent needed for her study. Sisley’s research is on the effect of marijuana on post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans.
“I have a very important announcement about the sites where this study will ultimately be conducted,” Sisley said. “We are splitting the entire study in three parts. Two of my sites have been officially confirmed.”
Sisley did not disclose the new locations, however.
Information had been circulating that Sisley would take her study to Colorado, where marijuana is legal not only in medicinal form, but also for recreational use. Brad Burge, director of communication and marketing at MAPS, confirmed that they are looking toward Colorado for one of the research locations.
“It’s true that there’s a Colorado study location,” Burge said, “but the details haven’t been finalized yet.”
The University of Colorado Anschutz, however, stated that there is no formal agreement with Sisley at this time, according to Erika Matich, interim director of communication at the university.
However, although they are looking to Colorado, Sisley and MAPS are hoping there is a chance they can keep the study in Arizona, with their eyes set on Arizona State University, according to Burge.
“There is a major Arizona Board of Regents meeting on Thursday where a group of Arizona veterans will be encouraging the Board of Regents to get Sisley instated at Arizona State University so she can do the study there,” Burge said. “Nothing has been decided yet, but it will be soon.”
There is a chance Sisley and her research will stay in the Southwest region, as she will also meet with University of Nevada at Las Vegas. According to Burge, Sisley met with administrators at UNLV to discuss the option of conducting her research there, with the possibility of conducting research in Arizona as well.
“The third site is still up for grabs, which is why I was meeting with Nevada,” Sisley said.
Sisley also said that she is looking to continue her research in Nevada for the same reason that there are claims she is looking at Colorado: Nevada is offering more freedom in terms of whole plant marijuana research.
“Nevada-elected leaders, including many of their congressional delegates, agree with urgent need for whole plant marijuana research and immediately reached out to me after learning of my UA termination,” Sisley said. “They have been actively courting the study for over two months, which is a stark contrast to some of our own Arizona legislative leadership who seemed to be actively suppressing this work and certainly trying to create an adverse environment at the universities.”
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Follow Ariella Noth on Twitter @sheba201
