Original article can be found on The Chronicle, a Washington State University Newsletter
At WSU Vancouver, a research project analyzing the use of marijuana in conjunction with medications like morphine to control pain has received $148,438 from the National Institutes of Health.
The two-year grant to psychology professor Michael Morgan focuses on “Neural Mechanisms for Enhanced Cannabinoid/Opioid Antinociception.” The grant is part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
The research examines whether administration of cannabinoids, a.k.a. marijuana, in conjunction with anti-pain medications such as morphine provides better pain relief than either drug alone. This research could be especially relevant for patients suffering with severe or chronic pain.
Morgan was awarded $74,750 from the ARRA in May for his research and qualifies to receive matching funds for a second year.
This grant was the first ARRA funding to be received by WSU. Morgan’s project is uniquely qualified for these funds because of its potential to stimulate the economy and create or retain jobs within the community. ARRA also stipulates that this particular project will make scientific progress within two years.
“This research is innovative in the field,” said Morgan. “Currently there are no other projects that are studying this chemical relationship using these parameters.”
Phase one is well under way, and Morgan projects starting phase two early in 2010.
The original article was posted in the Washington State University Newsletter The Chronicle and has been modified by the editors of Medical Marijuana 411. The original article can be seen in full through any of the links above.
