cannabisnews.com: Marijuana Research a New Field at UMass? Marijuana Research a New Field at UMass? Posted by CN Staff on February 17, 2007 at 10:47:51 PT Editorial Source: Republican Massachusetts -- What a long, strange trip it's been for Lyle E. Craker, a professor at the University of Massachusetts who wants to grow marijuana for medical research. An administrative law judge recommended on Monday that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration allow Craker to grow high-grade marijuana on the Amherst campus. Here again is a brief history of Craker's frustrating efforts to study marijuana, beginning in June 2001 when he applied to the DEA for a permit: The DEA said first that it had lost his application. Later, the DEA said he had not filled out the forms correctly. When that failed, the DEA sent two DEA agents to the Amherst campus to discourage university officials. And, finally, the DEA rejected his application. Craker appealed, launching a process that eventually ended with the recommendation on Monday by Judge Mary Ellen Bittner, who said that granting the permit would be in the public interest. The DEA objects to Craker's research because it fears the marijuana will fall into the hands of young people who will turn into potheads. For a federal government that has waged a decades-long war on illegal drugs with little success, it must be painful to admit that marijuana might have some value as a prescription drug. According to a study published Monday in the journal Neurology, patients given marijuana said it eased their HIV-related foot pain known as peripheral neuropathy. There are no approved drugs to specifically treat that kind of pain. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration counters that there are few sound studies to support the medical use of marijuana. That's because the DEA is blocking the studies, and very little federal funding is available in this research field. Without the sort of research that Craker proposes, it is unlikely we'll ever know how many uses might be found for marijuana. Craker's journey isn't over yet. The judge's ruling on Monday is not binding, and a decision will eventually be made by the head of the DEA, Karen Tandy. No more smokescreens, please. Source: Republican, The (Springfield, MA)Published: Saturday, February 17, 2007Copyright: 2007 The RepublicanContact: letters repub.comWebsite: http://www.masslive.com/republican/Related Articles & Web Site:MAPShttp://www.maps.org/ Judge Tells U.S. To Grow More Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22646.shtmlJudge Sides with Botanist on Pot Supplyhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22640.shtmlResearch Supports Medicinal Marijuanahttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread22637.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #4 posted by doc james on February 19, 2007 at 07:17:52 PT As long as the DEA has the final word it will never happen. Cannabis IS/could be, the cure all for a myriad of afflictions and they know that. Thats why the PDA has so much support from big pharma and the alcohol/tobacco producers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by afterburner on February 18, 2007 at 21:27:20 PT Speaking of Big Pharma LTEs need to emphasize the fact that the major supporters of Partnership for a Drug-Free America are pharmaceutical producers, and formerly tobacco producers and alcohol producers. These supporters of cannabis prohibition have an obvious conflict of interest. Educate, regulate, medicate, legalize Partnership for a Drug-Free America and Corporate Drug Wars [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by ekim on February 17, 2007 at 12:52:17 PT Pete site -- Lou Dobbs doing show on reformers Thursday, February 15, 2007 www.drugwarrant.com Open Thread Lou Dobbs' most recent convoluted declamation dressed up as a poll question: ck out comment section--- says that Lou Dobbs will have segment on cannabis reformers on Mon Feb 20 6pm dir tv ch 202 CNNhttp://www.drugwarstats.com/ http://www.drugwarrant.com [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by HempWorld on February 17, 2007 at 12:42:19 PT DEA aka Big Pharma vs a God given plant Guess who wins? Not God or we the people... Nobody Can Stop This! [ Post Comment ] Post Comment