By Phil Riske, managing editor
Arizona Department of Health Director Will Humble has until next week to decide whether to accept or reject a hearing officer’s conclusion post-traumatic stress syndrome (PTSD} should be added to the list of approved conditions for medical marijuana use.
But that’s not the story today.
A high school friend of mine, who retired as a professor of medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, confirmed for me the results of a faculty survey that gave the college low marks. Examples:
- Satisfied with medical school governance: 21%;
- Satisfied with the medical school: 48%;
- Faculty can express opinions about the medical school without fear of retribution: 28%.
Political retribution appears to be the case for Dr. Suzanne Sisley, who pushed for research into medical marijuana at UA. Come September, she’s out of a job at the College of Medicine, canned with no explanation from the school.
Sisley tried to get legislators to approve state funding of a study on whether medical marijuana can be useful in treating PTSD.
Sen. Kimberly Yee, R-Phoenix, blocked a vote on the measure after the House had approved it. Sisley says she has no proof she was fired for her political advocacy, but contends that’s exactly what happened.
The Growler doesn’t need any more proof than what is obviously obvious.
Shame on UA and shame on any legislator who might have played a role in Sisley’s firing.
By the way, Forbes reports that almost once an hour – every 65 minutes to be precise – a military veteran commits suicide, a new investigation by the Department of Veterans Affairs shows.
We pray Humble makes the right decision.
