cannabisnews.com: DEA Denies Professor’s Marijuana-for-Research Bid





DEA Denies Professor’s Marijuana-for-Research Bid
Posted by CN Staff on January 13, 2009 at 06:15:16 PT
By The Associated Press
Source: Associated Press
Washington, DC -- The Drug Enforcement Administration has rejected a petition by a University of Massachusetts-Amherst professor to let him grow marijuana for medical research.The DEA’s Jan. 7 ruling said Lyle Craker, a horticulturist who heads the university’s medicinal plant program, failed to demonstrate that the government’s longtime monopoly on producing and distributing the drug for medical research was "inadequate."
DEA spokesman Garrison Courtney on Monday confirmed the ruling, but declined further comment.Craker challenged the government’s monopoly on research marijuana. A lab at the University of Mississippi is the government’s only marijuana-growing facility.Craker’s suit claimed government-grown marijuana lacks the potency medical researchers need to make important breakthroughs. He also alleged there wasn’t enough of the drug freely available for scientists across the country to work with.The professor has won support from Massachusetts Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry as well as several other members of Congress.Craker in 2001 submitted an application as a marijuana manufacturer to the DEA.A federal administrative law judge in 2007 recommended to the DEA that it grant Craker’s application to grow marijuana in bulk for use by scientists in Food and Drug Administration-approved research. That nonbinding ruling said the government’s supply was inadequate for medical research.The timing of the decision and the nearly two years it took to make it were criticized by Rick Doblin, president of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, a nonprofit group that does research on psychedelic drugs and whose goal is to develop psychedelics and marijuana into prescription medication."The ruling today is really bad because the Bush administration must be aware that the Obama administration ... has said that science will be used more as a tool for decision making," instead of the ideology, said Doblin, whose group sponsored Craker’s license application.DEA attorneys have defended the government’s marijuana, saying its Mississippi growing center provides adequate quality and quantity for legitimate researchers across the country.Craker has said his case has been hurt by DEA concerns about the drug falling into the hands of students. He said he was confident security measures could be used at UMass to prevent that from happening.Craker and Doblin said they were not surprised by the decision by the agency whose policy is to prevent members of the public from accessing marijuana."There is probably a philosophical difference — people who want to investigate this as a medicine have to go through those people who see this as a drug that could be abused in the market," Craker said."All we are asking is that let’s give it a fair trial, independent fair trial. I’m not for the recreational use of this," Craker said. "Personally, I don’t see any reason why this couldn’t become a prescribed drug, and if the doctor says this could help you, then let’s let people relieve their pain ... But we need scientific evidence to prove that it works or doesn’t work," he said."With one foot out the door, the Bush administration has once again found time to undermine scientific freedom," said Allen Hopper, litigation director of the American Civil Liberties Union Drug Law Reform Project. "In stubbornly retaining the unique government monopoly over the supply of research marijuana over the objections of DEA’s own administrative law judge, the Bush administration has effectively blocked the proper regulatory channels that would allow the drug to become a wholly legitimate prescription medication."Source: Associated Press (Wire)Published:  Tuesday, January 13, 2009Copyright: 2009 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:MAPShttp://www.maps.org/DEA Rejects UMass Request To Grow Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24422.shtmlDEA Rejects Professor's Bid To Grow Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24421.shtml
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Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 19, 2009 at 06:59:13 PT
MA: Smoke Screen
Monday, January 19, 2009URL: http://www.dailyfreeman.com/articles/2009/01/19/opinion/doc496d1744a8694513465244.txt
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Comment #9 posted by Mahakal on January 14, 2009 at 14:10:47 PT
paul armentano
What Hope said, and the NORML blog is consistently good as well. Community requires communication, and you're the best.
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Comment #8 posted by Hope on January 14, 2009 at 07:32:39 PT
Paul Armentano
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.Other than the front page of the Washington Post, the Wall Street Journal, and maybe, the New York Times... The Hill has got to be one of the greatest places to be seen and heard, especially among the people in Washington who work in government.You're one of the best in getting our agenda out there, and yes, we darn sure do have an Agenda... and that's Agenda with a capital A. Peace, liberty, and sanity are the components of our Agenda.Thank you, again.So many people refuse to hear or recognize the many, many terrible problems caused by prohibition of cannabis. We keep it out there enough... they have to see it. Thanks for keeping it out there where it can be seen.
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Comment #7 posted by FoM on January 13, 2009 at 18:11:20 PT
OT: Thank You HBO
Obama-Biden Inaugural Features Two Green CelebrationsExcerpt: On Saturday, President-elect Obama, Vice President-elect Biden and their families will journey to Washington, DC by train, holding events that are free and open to the public along the way. Beyonce, Bono, Bruce Springsteen and Stevie Wonder are among the performers on stage Sunday at the Lincoln Memorial for the opening celebration for the 56th Presidential Inaugural. The event will be free and open to the public, kicking off what the Presidential Inaugural Committee calls "the most open and accessible Inauguration in history." The concert, "We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration at the Lincoln Memorial," will be presented by HBO on Sunday, January 18, 7:00-9:00 pm ET/PT. HBO will televise the event on an open signal, working with all of its distributors to allow Americans across the country with access to cable, telcos or satellite television to join in the opening celebration for free. Musical performers also scheduled for the event include - Mary J. Blige, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, Renee Fleming, Josh Groban, Herbie Hancock, Heather Headley, John Legend, Jennifer Nettles, John Mellencamp, Usher Raymond IV, Shakira, James Taylor, and will.i.am. Reading historical passages will be Jamie Foxx, Martin Luther King III, Queen Latifah and Denzel Washington. http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jan2009/2009-01-13-01.asp
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Comment #6 posted by paul armentano on January 13, 2009 at 12:14:45 PT
My latest essay on The Hill.com
Marijuana Law Reform No Longer a Political Liability, It’s a Political Opportunityvia The Hill’s Congress Bloghttp://blog.thehill.com/2009/01/13/marijuana-law-reform-no-longer-a-political-liability-its-a-political-opportunity/#more-8340[excerpt]Rather than rebuff the public’s calls for drug policy reform, the new administration ought to be embracing it. After all, many of the same voters that put Obama in the White House also voted by wide margins in November to liberalize marijuana laws in two states — Michigan and Massachusetts — and in nearly a dozen municipalities.In short, marijuana law reform should no longer be viewed by legislators a political liability. For the incoming administration and for Congress, it is a political opportunity. The public is ready for change; in fact, they are demanding it. Are their representatives listening?***FYI, The Hill is widely read by lawmakers and by the national media. In fact, my last Hill.com commentary received national television coverage on Fox News. Therefore, it is vital that we demonstrate the popularity of the marijuana legalization issue by commenting prolifically. Please post your feedback to The Hill and make a point of disseminating this essay to your friends and colleagues.(Note: Comments to The Hill are moderated. That means that there will be a delay, sometimes a significant delay, between when you post and when your comment appears live online. That said, all comments will eventually be published so please join the discussion.)
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Comment #5 posted by fight_4_freedom on January 13, 2009 at 09:21:55 PT
I'm hoping for the same Sam
From NORML:Dear NORML Supporters, During his election campaign, President-elect Obama pledged numerous times to end DEA raids on individuals who use or provide medical cannabis in accordance with their state law. The U.S. Attorney General is the member of the cabinet who will implement Obama’s criminal justice policies—including federal marijuana enforcement. Confirmation hearings for Obama's nominee, Eric Holder, are scheduled to begin on January 15th before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT)**. Please help NORML make sure the next Attorney General keeps the promises made by President-elect Obama!
Write http://capwiz.com/norml2/home/ or call Senator Leahy's office at(202) 224-4242 and say:"Hi, my name is ___________ and I am calling about the Attorney General Confirmation hearings. President-elect Obama said numerous times during his campaign that DEA raids on individuals legally qualified to use medical cannabis in their states are a waste of resources and that he would end that policy. 72 million Americans live in the 13 states with medical cannabis laws. Please ask Eric Holder if he will uphold Obama's promise and end DEA raids on legal medical cannabis patients.” The hearings will be on C-Span on Thursday...let's see Mr. Holder answer a straight forward question regarding the clear and emerging conflict between states favoring medical access to cannabis and a federal government that yields no quarter on cannabis prohibition--even for the sick and dying.Thanks and regards, -Allen St. Pierre Executive Director NORML Washington, D.C.director norml.org**Senator Leahy represents Vermont, a state that has legal protections for medical patients who benefit from cannabis use.
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on January 13, 2009 at 09:13:18 PT
executive decision
there was an article in the paper today about closing Gitmo, apparently obama's people are already drafting the executive order to close it and it may even been his first official act on Day One.Bush's first executive order, of course, was to deny condoms and other family planning/AIDS prevention help to the Africans.I couldn't help but hope that maybe the medical MJ raids will be one of his first executive orders also.
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Comment #3 posted by fight_4_freedom on January 13, 2009 at 09:09:27 PT
This denial doesn't surprise me 
This might be the one of the last chances this administration has to throw any more punches before they are sworn OUT.Less than two weeks before a brand new day begins.Praise the Lord!
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Comment #2 posted by Sam Adams on January 13, 2009 at 08:30:36 PT
Disabled Veteran loses house over MJ
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090113/NEWS01/901130341Here is the email address of the housing organization mentioned in the article:http://www.homesforourtroops.org/site/PageServer?pagename=contactus
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Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 13, 2009 at 07:13:55 PT
OT: Just For a Smile
I found this new song and video on the Rust List by Neil Young called Fork in the Road. Enjoy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7L7XsHKCVs
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