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| Judge: Let Prof Grow Medicinal Marijuana |
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Posted by CN Staff on February 12, 2007 at 20:34:31 PT By David Abel, Globe Staff Source: Boston Globe 
Massachusetts -- An administrative law judge recommended Monday that a professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst be allowed to grow marijuana for research purposes, possibly making the state host to the nation’s second laboratory authorized to grow the drug.Professor Lyle Craker, a horticulturist who specializes in medicinal plants, has won support from both Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John F. Kerry in his effort to grow marijuana for research. Marijuana is now only legally grown at the University of Mississippi, but Craker has argued that the drug grown there is neither potent enough nor readily available to researchers. In her opinion, which can be overruled by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Judge Mary Ellen Bittner said Craker’s bid to grow marijuana "would be in the public interest." "There would be minimal risk of diversion of marijuana," she wrote. "There is currently an inadequate supply of marijuana available for research purposes ... [and] competition in the provision of marijuana for such purposes is inadequate." In a phone interview, Craker said he had not read the 87-page opinion. "I understand it’s favorable, and that’s good," he said. Rick Doblin -- president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a drug research group based in Belmont that hopes to sponsor Craker’s work -- called the decision "a major turning point." "This is a major step to getting us to do the scientific research that the government has been blocking for the past 30 years," Doblin said. "If the government says no, the hypocrisy of their approach will help fuel efforts for state medical marijuana reforms." Garrison Courtney, a DEA spokesman, declined to comment on the ruling. "We’re still reviewing the opinion," he said. "We’ll make a determination at a later point." Craker first applied to the DEA for permission to grow marijuana in 2001. Kennedy and Kerry later wrote a letter to the DEA, saying that the Mississippi lab had an "unjustified monopoly." In 2004, Craker and the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies sued the government in federal court, charging the DEA with unreasonable delays. The DEA promptly rejected their bid. In 2005, Craker and the group sought the opinion from an administrative law judge. If the DEA’s administrator decides to reject Bittner’s recommendation, Doblin said Craker and the group would file another lawsuit in federal court. Source: Boston Globe (MA) Related Articles & Web Sites: Prof Gets Boost in Bid To Grow Marijuana Marijuana Research? Don't Hold Your Breath Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help |
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| Comment #4 posted by doc james on February 14, 2007 at 07:18:40 PT |
| they are meaning grown legally as the federalies are involved with the schwagg they grow. I have smoked it and it isn't worth a crapp. No taste whatsoever and harsh. It's about time someone breaks this monopoly. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #3 posted by OverwhelmSam on February 13, 2007 at 04:14:30 PT |
| The DEAs little marijuana shell game is coming closer to being eliminated. The sad thing, the guys running things at the DEA will get away with their fraud upon the world Scott free. [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #2 posted by The GCW on February 12, 2007 at 21:20:23 PT |
| The article fails to mention what the University of Mississippi does with the God-given plant material once it is grown... Like reveal it is given to 7 people for health reasons and has been for many years... [ Post Comment ] |
| Comment #1 posted by The GCW on February 12, 2007 at 21:03:21 PT |
| There needs to be a correction! "Marijuana is now only legally grown at the University of Mississippi" Is a falst statement! Cannabis (kaneh bosm / marijuana) is grown legally in Colorado, California and many other states! With a doctors recomendation, citizens are legally growing the God-given plant. [ Post Comment ] |
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