PTSD drug: Cannabis Science to file first application for FDA clinical trials

Cannabis Science, Inc.Mar 2 2010

Cannabis Science Inc. (NASD OTCBB: CBIS), a pharmaceutical cannabis company in the US, is pleased to announce that it now has the results of its survey of more than 1,300 individuals with PTSD, including a large cohort of veterans. The survey was conducted by Cannabis Science Advisory Board member Dr. Mitch Earleywine PhD. of the State University of New York (Albany).

The Company has reported several prospective drugs for FDA clinical trials. Based on extensive studies and this survey, the Company now has the substantiated data to for its first application for a PTSD drug for FDA clinical trials. The Company will now sign a pre-negotiated contract with a group of FDA specialists based in Colorado to handle the Company’s first FDA filings.

Dr. Earleywine explained, "Veterans reported that cannabis helped nearly all symptoms of PTSD, with special emphasis on three important components: sleep disturbance, irritability, and disturbing memories. PTSD is notorious for leading to difficulty falling and staying asleep. This insomnia can make other mental and physical symptoms worse. The import of the cannabinoids in sleep is well established, so the idea that it should aid this aspect of PTSD is no surprise. Irritability in PTSD is quite common. It can precede incidents of domestic violence, aggressive driving, and other troublesome behaviors that frequently occur in the disorder. The disturbing memories often include alarming, rapid thoughts as well as distressing images that are difficult to shake. These can be particularly resistant to treatment with other approaches, but respondents reported that medical cannabis helped minimize these experiences dramatically."

Dr. Robert Melamede, PhD., Cannabis Science Inc. President and CEO added, "This survey demonstrates a huge advantage over conventional pharmaceutical research companies that Cannabis Science enjoys. As a patient-oriented company we know that real people with real problems are getting real relief from cannabis. We are now in a position to contract with experts in the FDA processes to use this data to apply for Investigative New Drug status for our products, which we will be announcing soon. Also, it is important to note that insomnia is a very widespread problem in the general population, especially senior citizens, so the need for cannabis based medicines for sleep is not confined to people with PTSD. In fact, it is a multi-billion dollar a year market."