cannabisnews.com: Senators Back UM Medical Marijuana
Senators Back UM Medical Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on October 28, 2003 at 09:55:48 PT
By Mary Carey, Staff Writer
Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette
Both U.S. senators from Massachusetts, Edward M. Kennedy and John Kerry, have written a letter to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration urging approval of an application by the University of Massachusetts to grow high-quality marijuana for medicinal research. Backers of the proposal by plant and soil sciences professor Lyle Craker say support from Kennedy and Kerry, along with the recent refusal by the Supreme Court to consider penalizing doctors for recommending medicinal marijuana, put UMass in a much better position to win DEA approval than previously.
UMass would be only the second legal grower of marijuana for research purposes. The University of Mississippi has supplied the National Institute on Drug Abuse with marijuana for 30 years.In their Oct. 20 letter addressed to DEA administrator Karen Tandy, Kennedy and Kerry wrote, ''We believe that the National Institute on Drug Abuse facility at the University of Mississippi has an unjustifiable monopoly on the production of marijuana for legitimate medical and research purposes in the United States.''According to Kennedy and Kerry, the current lack of competition ''may well result in the production of lower-quality research-grade marijuana, which in turn jeopardizes important research into the therapeutic effects of marijuana for patients undergoing chemotherapy or suffering from AIDS, glaucoma, or other diseases.''Kerry and Kennedy also said in their letter that UMass is ''one of the nation's most distinguished research universities, and it is highly qualified to manufacture marijuana for legitimate medical and research purposes with effective controls against diversion.''Craker first applied to the DEA in June 2001, for permission to grow, in a secure building on the Amherst campus, an initial 25 pounds of high-potency marijuana, which would be supplied to government-approved researchers. The project would receive funding from the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a Florida-based nonprofit research and educational organization that seeks to develop marijuana as a prescription medication approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.Massachusetts Congressmen John Olver, Barney Frank, James McGovern, William Delahunt and Michael Capuano, who support Craker's proposal, wrote to the DEA urging its approval in June, 2002. But then DEA administrator Asa Hutchinson responded in a July 1, 2002 letter addressed to Frank that increasing the numbers of marijuana growers could put the United States in violation of international treaties and that the University of Mississippi supply has proven adequate for 30 years.Rick Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association, said Monday that supporters of the University of Massachusetts proposal believe Kennedy's and Kerry's support is a crucial turning point.''I think the letter from Kennedy and Kerry shows that there is law on the other side - the law saying we need a competitive environment - to try to get the data to see whether we can justify to the FDA that marijuana is safe and efficacious so that it should be a medication. I think the DEA loses more credibility by trying to protect the government monopoly and obstruct research,'' Doblin said.Doblin said he has approached Gov. Mitt Romney's administration to ask for the governor's support. ''As a venture capitalist in the past, he is dubious of government monopoly and sympathetic to private industry,'' Doblin said. ''If Romney comes out and says that it's time for a plan, let science have its day, I think that will be have the final step. Then we would have bipartisan support in Massachusetts.''Romney spokeswoman Nicole St. Peter said Monday of the Romney administration's position on the UMass proposal, ''We do not have enough information about this project to form a decision at this time.''Source: Daily Hampshire Gazette (MA)Author: Mary Carey, Staff Writer Published: Tuesday, October 28, 2003Copyright: 2003 Daily Hampshire GazetteContact: opinion gazettenet.comWebsite: http://www.gazettenet.com/Related Articles & Web Sites:MAPShttp://www.maps.org/MassCannhttp://www.masscann.org/UMass Professor Seeks OK To Grow Marijuana http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17178.shtmlUMass Prof Seeks Pot Permit http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread17170.shtmlPrivatizing Pot - Reason Magazinehttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread16836.shtml
Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help
Comment #10 posted by FoM on November 03, 2003 at 08:50:54 PT
Excerpt from Boston Globe
Pot Project Wins SupportNovember 2, 2003University of Massachusetts at Amherst professor Lyle Craker's underdog quest to grow marijuana for research received a big boost recently from Massachusetts Senators Ted Kennedy and John Kerry. Right now, the University of Mississippi is the only place in the United States with federal permission to grow marijuana, and Craker is arguing that his stuff would be stronger than the inferior Mississippi product. The senators from Massachusetts wrote in a letter to Drug Enforcement Administration head Karen Tandy that Mississippi has an "unjustifiable monopoly" on the production of marijuana for medical and research purposes. The resulting lack of competition "jeopardizes important research into the therapeutic effects of marijuana" for patients with cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, and other diseases, the senators wrote. The professor and his supporters hope this high-profile support could make the difference when the DEA decides whether to grant Craker approval to grow marijuana, probably within a month. What they really want now is to get a Republican, Governor Mitt Romney, on board. But a Romney spokeswoman said last week that he hasn't had an opportunity to review the project and form an opinion.Copyright: 2003 Globe Newspaper CompanyComplete Article: http://www.boston.com/news/education/higher/articles/2003/11/02/pot_project_wins_support/
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #9 posted by Rev Jonathan Adler on November 01, 2003 at 15:26:56 PT:
Positioning for Legal Distribution......
Howdy, We in Hawaii have also been positioning ourselves to do this needed job of providing high quality cannabis to researchers and patients. In fact we have a "bulk manufacture permit" application made out to the Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute from DEA still in hand and awaiting my successful appeal here in Hawaii's State Supreme Court to clarify that we do indeed have a superseding priority to the state's and federal's lack of a compelling interest to prevent our acknowledged legal activity. Healing is an inherent right of a legal church and minister. We are also reintroducing HB 1805 and SB 2502 in our legislature to clarify this distribution question at last. and thusly are "positioned" to do this unique service now. Not requiring, but hoping for legislative, judicial and law enforcement support. Interesting yeah? Good Luck to UM, but University of Hawaii is also capable of designing and conducting studies with us. Ask Dean Ed Cadman in the Medical School. Aloha and Happy Holidays. New Year, new attitude?
Hawaii Medical Marijuana Institute
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #8 posted by jose melendez on October 29, 2003 at 09:50:05 PT
BBC expose
Hurry, the pictures are missing from this site, not sure how long the article will remain posted.
UNDCP Caught Suppressing Truth about Cannabis (BBC)
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #7 posted by ekim on October 28, 2003 at 21:12:23 PT
good Kucinitch has started the ball rolling
with Joe Leberman stating prison stats on Black men being unjustly treated for non violent offences. Now Kerry and Kennedy and bringing in Romney, maybe just maybe we will have that debate with jpee come hell or highwater.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #6 posted by FoM on October 28, 2003 at 19:58:01 PT
Thank You Nuevo Mexican
I appreciate the compliment. I want to have integrity. I want to be believed when I say something. I want to make a small difference. I want to help fix the world. I know I am only one person but there are many of us who care and feel similarly. This is our world and we need to care for it and help guide it for a better future. We are the ones that really care for the children. These fires in California are truly mesmerizing to watch and the effects of these fires will be felt for years to come. It just shows me how vulnerable we really are and how fragile our earth really is.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #5 posted by mayan on October 28, 2003 at 16:55:09 PT
GCW...
Here is some more relative info...The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign: Six Years Of Failure
http://www.drugpolicy.org/news/10_28_03ads.cfmAlso, the fascists are trying to broaden the rave act...Oppose the CLEAN-UP Act!
http://actioncenter.drugpolicy.org/action/index.asp?step=2&item=10378The way out is the way in...White House is said to ignore 9/11 panel:
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/articles/2003/10/27/white_house_is_said_to_ignore_911_panel/9/11 CitizensWatch:
http://www.911citizenswatch.org/
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #4 posted by kaptinemo on October 28, 2003 at 16:12:23 PT:
About the Single Convention Treaty...
The Single Conventions Treaty isn't cast in neutronium. It can be changed...I suggest that you follow this link to an exposition by Marc Emery on the loophole that exists in the Treaty that the antis fervently wish stays unknown to the public-at-large:http://www.pot-tv.net/ram/pottvshowse2264.ramThe US is a signatory (obviously) but like all signatories, IT CAN BAIL OUT WITH SIX MONTH'S NOTICE. Nations who adhere to it may leave it with the proper notification. Neither Canada or the US are not straightjacketed by any means.But you want to know something really funny? It's a *UN* treaty. Think back to the days before and during the Iraq War, when the Busch Regime flipped the bird at the UN? God knows how many UN treaties and UN regulations the US flouted in its' mad spasm of illegally invading a sovereign nation without Congress declaring war. The Busch Regime broke both UN *and* US law. NOW, the US government is going to sound all meek and mild and milquetoasty and say it can't change the cannabis laws because..because...because of a UN *treaty*? ROFLMFAO!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #3 posted by The GCW on October 28, 2003 at 14:55:48 PT
I know there are Colorado people here.
Please distribute this memo widely. Forward to family and friends in
Colorado, or send them to http://www.mpp.org/CutAds2003 immediately.
======================================================================TO: Colorado residents*FROM: Alexis Baden-Mayer, MPP national field directorDATE: Tuesday, October 28, 2003SUBJECT: URGENT: Tell U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell to cut federal
anti-marijuana ad budget======================================================================One of the most spectacular government failures in recent years, the
National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, could have its budget slashed
within the next week. Please encourage U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse
Campbell (R-CO) to reduce funding for this program by either calling
or faxing his office now.Earlier this year, President Bush requested $170 million for another
year of the Media Campaign, which has blamed marijuana use for
everything from teen pregnancy to date rape to gun violence. Neither
chamber of Congress greeted this request with great enthusiasm. The
U.S. House of Representatives passed an appropriations bill that
trimmed the Media Campaign's budget to $150 million, while the
U.S. Senate's version of the bill provided only $100 million for the
program.You are in a special position to help our Capitol Hill lobbying
efforts, as your U.S. senator, Ben Nighthorse Campbell, is on the
House-Senate conference committee that will be resolving the
differences between the two appropriations bills.To reach Sen. Campbell's office by phone, call the Capitol Switchboard
toll-free at 800-839-5276. This switchboard operates 24 hours a day.
So if you need to call after normal business hours in D.C., the
operator will transfer you to Sen. Campbell's office and you may leave
a voice message. Of course, calling during business hours would be
preferable, if possible.Here is a sample script for you to use when you call: "Hello, my name is _____________ and I live in ______________.
I am calling to urge Senator Campbell to use his influence to
urge appropriations conferees to go with the Senate's lower
$100 million dollar figure for the National Youth Anti-Drug
Media Campaign. The media campaign has not been effective in
reducing teen drug use and may even be the cause of rising
rates of teen drug use. Thank you."If you prefer, you can send a pre-written letter to Sen. Campbell from
our Web site at http://www.mpp.org/CutAds2003 . The entire process
takes only two minutes. After you enter your address, you will see
links to a selection of sample letters. Simply choose a letter, edit
it if you like, then fax it to Sen. Campbell with one final click.Thank you for assisting MPP on this important lobbying project.======================================================================
Please visit http://www.mpp.org/USA/donate.html or write to MPP,
P.O. Box 77492, Washington, D.C. 20013, to donate to our lobbying work
on Capitol Hill.
======================================================================*If you live outside of Colorado, please reply with your city and
state or zip code so that we can send you alerts that are of local
interest. To completely unsubscribe from MPP's lists, simply e-mail
us with the word REMOVE in the subject line. Removal may take up to
48 hours. Thank you.
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #2 posted by Nuevo Mexican on October 28, 2003 at 12:17:28 PT
Rush Limbaugh supporters fall on his sword:
http://smirkingchimp.com/article.php?sid=13535&mode=nested&order=0&thold=0
Great article on the hypocrisy of Rush and his supporters, who fail to see this man for who he really is, a bankrupt soul, who has no compassion for himself.Watch what happens when he starts to wake up, as he will have to do, or else it's 'doing the dick cheney', with multiple heart transplants for the forseeable future. Compassion is coming to a heartless soul in a country named 'America'!
Mark my words! (yes, Astrology reveals all, but don't take my word for it! Take a journey to know yourself, your destiny, and your purpose here on Earth, if you don't already know! Go to Astro.com for FREE astrology charts!)Saturn in Cancer will take bush and the cancerous plague called the bush mis-administration down, as Saturn took Nixon down 28 years ago!
After watching this mornings press conference with the boy emporer, one couldn't help feeling the press is starting to figure out that they have to redeem themselves as journalists, and ask the HARD questions
never asked.
Well, he (pretzel boy) couldn't hide his hate for reporters, even friendly ones were treated with disdain and disrespect, making comments such as, 'that was a trick question and I won't answer it'. Amazing we haven't tarred and feathered this maniacal idiot for his murderous behaviour yet, but GCW explains it well with 'self-condemnation'. (one takes care of oneself eventually) Thanks GCW for your insights!Summary: Prohibition is falling simultaneously to the fall of bush, one props up the other, and the Dems are starting to point out the desparities in the huge minority jail population of 'drug' offenders. As usual, the media is most fearful of Dennis Kucinich, as Ann Coulter (Man Coulter), makes clear every time she says his name, referring to him as the 'real' Democrat, and trying to make the Democratic Party over with his face up front. Thanks Ann, maybe the Dems will wake up and see who is the only REAL threat to bush, most of the Dems can't wait to do what bush is doing now, (Kerry, Leiberman, Edwards). Go to kucinich.us and find out more! Don't give up FOM, we are making huge strides right now, and you deserve an award for bravery, integrity and concientousness! If we all follow your example, we can save the world in no time! Peace!
[ Post Comment ]
Comment #1 posted by FoM on October 28, 2003 at 09:56:42 PT
Good News
This article gives me hope!
[ Post Comment ]
Post Comment