Sue Sisley
Suzanne A. "Sue" Sisley is a psychiatrist and former clinical assistant professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine. She is known for her research into potential medical uses of marijuana.
Marijuana research and termination
In March 2014, Sisley's study of marijuana use to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was approved by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. After working at the University of Arizona for nearly eight years in various capacities, she was fired from the university in June 2014, ostensibly because of "funding and reorganization issues"; Sisley, however, maintained that it was because of her interest in studying the potential medical uses of marijuana to treat PTSD. Sisley has also claimed that her university failed to provide a location for the trial to take place, and that the University of Arizona was "fearful of the word 'marijuana' and [did] not want... their brand aligned with this research." After she was terminated, her university released a statement saying that they had "not received political pressure to terminate any employee as has been suggested in some media and other reports." Sisley has also acknowledged that she is "not sold" on the efficacy of marijuana for this purpose, but that she does think it has shown enough promise to be studied in a controlled environment. Since being fired, Sisley's research has been supported by the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a California-based nonprofit organization, which intends to look for a new university where it can be conducted. On July 28, the University of Arizona denied Sisley's appeal for reinstatement.
