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Marijuana Regulatory Agency Announces 2021 Veteran Marijuana Research Grant Recipients
August 10, 2021 - Today, the Marijuana Regulatory Agency (MRA) announced the 2021 Veteran Marijuana Research (VMR) Grant Program Award Recommendations to Wayne State University and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). All of the information regarding the VMR Grant Program - including the initial Request for Proposals (RFP), the Response to Inquiries, the JEC Summary and Award Recommendations, and each of the 2021 received proposals - is published on the MRA website here.
On June 1, 2021 the MRA issued an RFP for the VMR grants. The Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (Initiated Law 1 of 2018) was passed by the voters of the state of Michigan in November 2018 and, among other things, creates the Marijuana Regulation Fund in the state treasury and requires the Marijuana Regulatory Agency to expend money in the fund until 2022 or for at least two years, to provide $20 million annually to one or more clinical trials that are approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration and sponsored by a non-profit organization or researcher within an academic institution researching the efficacy of marijuana in treating the medical conditions of United States armed services veterans and preventing veteran suicide.
The MRA received responsive proposals in response to the RFP from Wayne State University and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS). The review team recommended that both applicants receive grant awards. When determining the amount to be awarded to each organization, the review team took into consideration several factors, including:
- Experience and financial stability of the organization
- Work plan
- Management summary
- Budget and budget narrative
Wayne State University was awarded the full amount requested, $7,020,950, and MAPS was awarded $12,979,050 of the requested $17,583,994. Responses to this solicitation were reviewed by a Joint Evaluation Committee (JEC) which consisted of the following individuals:
- Andrew Brisbo, Executive Director - Marijuana Regulatory Agency
- Robert Near, Deputy Director Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency
- Debra Pinals, M.D., Medical Director MDHHS - Behavioral Health and Forensic Programs