Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)

Request for Proposals:

MPP is interested in providing funding for an individual or organization to influence the American Psychiatric Association's (APA's) definition of marijuana abuse and dependence in the forthcoming "Diagnostic and Statistical Manual V." An APA task force is currently working to rewrite and update the DSM, an updated version of which is expected to be published after 2010. The DSM is widely considered to be the most authoritative document on mental disorders. Regarding drugs, the DSM provides criteria for diagnosing abuse and dependence. Currently, the DSM criteria for marijuana abuse and dependence include problems that might be caused or exacerbated by marijuana prohibition, ironically increasing the perceived need for maintaining prohibition. MPP seeks to make the DSM's definition of marijuana dependence more accurate, so that people who use marijuana responsibly are not mislabeled as having an abuse or dependence problem. Interested applicants should include an analysis of the DSM rewriting process and a multi-year strategy on how to influence the process.

Please click here for grant application guidelines.