The MS Society of Canada will invest over $1.1 million for cannabis research
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) has already been identified as a disease that could possibly be alleviated by cannabis, albeit only in limited studies. To help improve on the previous studies, a major MS organization is going to donate a serious amount of money to research in order to better understand how cannabis can manage MS symptoms.
The MS Society of Canada (MSSC) has announced this week that it would invest over $1.1 million to fund Canada’s Institutes of Health Research. The investment will be made available over a five-year period and the research will encompass applications for basic science, health services, clinical testing and policy research.
In a statement by the organization, CEO and president Dr. Pamela Valentine asserted, “The MS Society is pleased to invest in this first-of-its-kind funding opportunity in Canadian MS research. As an organization, we have a mandate to provide information that is rooted in evidence. Cannabis is still a relatively unknown substance from the perspective of evidence-based research, so investing in research on cannabis use is an important first step for determining its applicability and efficacy towards managing MS.”
The MSSC is going to be part of a larger group of studies that is being led by Canada’s Integrated Cannabis Research Strategy. That campaign includes the Institute of Cancer Research; Institute of Circulatory and Respiratory Health; Institute of Human Development Child and Youth Health; Institute of Indigenous Peoples’ Health; Institute of Musculoskeletal Health and Arthritis; and the Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health, and Addiction.
In addition, three will be participation by the Arthritis Society, the Mental Health Commission of Canada and the Canadian Cancer Society. The MSSC is now accepting letters of intent for research programs, and the deadline for submission is May 15.