cannabisnews.com: NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - January 15, 2009 NORML's Weekly News Bulletin - January 15, 2009 Posted by CN Staff on January 15, 2009 at 13:49:36 PT Weekly Press Release Source: NORML DEA Rejects Order To Allow For Private Production Of Marijuana For FDA-Approved Research January 15, 2009 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: The US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has rejected a 2007 administrative ruling demanding that the agency license non-government entities to produce cannabis for FDA-approved clinical research. DEA Deputy Administrator Michele Leonhart said that its own administrative law judge (ALJ) erred when she determined that the agency should grant a license to the University of Massachusetts (U-Mass) at Amherst's Medicinal Plant Program for the purposes of manufacturing research-grade cannabis. The DEA had rejected the U-Mass request in 2004.In her 2007 decision, DEA administrative law judge Mary Ellen Bittner opined: "I conclude that granting Respondent's application would not be inconsistent with the Single Convention, that there would be minimal risk of diversion of marijuana resulting from Respondent's registration, that there is currently an inadequate supply of marijuana available for research purposes, that competition in the provision of marijuana for such purposes is inadequate, and that Respondent has complied with applicable laws and has never been convicted of any violation of any law pertaining to controlled substances. I therefore find that Respondent's registration to cultivate marijuana would be in the public interest."The DEA set aside Judge Bittner's ruling in a 118-page decision, issued late last week. Administrator Leonhart contended that international treaty obligations demand a "government monopoly" on the bulk manufacturing and distribution of cannabis. Leonhart also argued that US National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) possesses "adequate" quantities of cannabis to meet the needs of privately funded researchers. (Under current policy, all federally approved research on marijuana must utilize cannabis supplied by and grown under contract with NIDA.)The DEA further alleged that the non-profit group MAPS (the Multidisciplinary Association of Psychedelic Studies) was ineligible to underwrite the U-Mass project because the organization's director, NORML Board Member Rick Doblin, had admitted using marijuana. Leonhart wrote, "It is simply inconceivable that DEA would ... grant a registration to engage in certain activities involving controlled substances where it is clear that a person who will have any role in the oversight and management of such activities ... engages in the illegal use of controlled substances." Leonhart concluded: "I have determined that Respondent's proposed registration is inconsistent with United States obligations under the Single Convention and with the public interest. ... Respondent's ... goal of ending the Federal Government's monopoly on the wholesale distribution of marijuana can not be squared with the requirement under the Convention that there be precisely such a monopoly. With respect to the public interest, Respondent's failure to demonstrate that the longstanding existing system in the United States of producing and distributing research-grade marijuana under the oversight of [the US Department of Health and Human Services] and NIDA is inadequate ... weighs heavily against his application. Also, with respect to the public interest, the admitted conduct relating to controlled substances of Respondent's sponsor ... is unacceptable for anyone seeking to have a prominent role in overseeing the controlled substance activities of a DEA registrant. In sum, [these] three independent grounds ... provide a sufficient (indeed compelling) legal basis for denying Respondent's application."Responding to the DEA's rejection, MAPS Executive Director Rick Doblin said: "The DEA and NIDA, but not the FDA, are clearly frightened of permitting privately-funded, scientific research into the risks and benefits of the medical uses of marijuana. We need the Obama Administration to reverse this egregious suppression of scientific research that the outgoing administration so fears will reveal inconvenient truths." The DEA has a history of overruling decisions favorable to the medical use of cannabis. In 1989, former DEA Administrator John Lawn rejected a 1988 ALJ ruling (NORML et al. v. DEA) that determined that cannabis possessed "currently accepted medical value, The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld Lawn's decision in 1994.For more information, please visit: http://www.maps.org or: http://www.aclu.org/drugpolicy/medmarijuana/DL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7788 Updated NORML Report Highlights Marijuana's Role In Moderating Disease Progression -- 'Emerging Clinical Applications' Booklet Reviews Nearly 200 Studies On The Therapeutic Use Of CannabisJanuary 15, 2009 - Washington, DC, USAWashington, DC: Clinical and preclinical research on the therapeutic use of cannabis indicates that cannabinoids may curb the progression of various life-threatening diseases – including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and brain cancer, according to an updated report published today by the NORML Foundation. Now in it's third edition, NORML's revised report, "Emerging Clinical Applications for Cannabis & Cannabinoids: A Review of the Recent Scientific Literature, 2000 – 2009," reviews nearly 200 scientific trials assessing the therapeutic utility of cannabinoids for the treatment of nineteen clinical indications: Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), chronic pain, diabetes mellitus, dystonia, fibromyalgia, gastrointestinal disorders, gliomas, hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hypertension, incontinence, methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA), multiple sclerosis, osteoporosis, pruritus, rheumatoid arthritis, sleep apnea, and Tourette's syndrome. NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano, who authored the report, said: "The conditions profiled in this report were chosen because patients frequently ask me about the use of cannabis to treat these disorders. Ideally, with this report in their hands, patients can now begin talking openly with their physicians about whether cannabis therapy is appropriate for them." Full text of the report is now available online at: norml.org. Hard copies will be available for purchase shortly.For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Deputy Director, at: paul norml.orgDL: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=7789Source: NORML Foundation (DC)Published: January 15, 2009Copyright: 2009 NORML Contact: norml norml.org Website: http://www.norml.org/CannabisNews NORML Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/NORML.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #41 posted by FoM on January 18, 2009 at 06:01:21 PT I Just Saw This Link on MSNBC I am so excited about the change that is coming. http://www.bornagainamerican.org/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #40 posted by FoM on January 17, 2009 at 21:35:14 PT rchandar For me I have always found I get further down the road when I'm not grumbly. Everyone sees things in different ways. Reasoning, listening, lowering expectations and compromise have made people understand me better. [ Post Comment ] Comment #39 posted by rchandar on January 17, 2009 at 21:25:52 PT: FoM If someone doesn't grumble, change will never come. [ Post Comment ] Comment #38 posted by FoM on January 17, 2009 at 20:25:41 PT rchandar I don't know about the border wars. I live in the mid west and it just isn't an issue up here. Obama isn't even President yet. I have enjoyed watching History being made today. So many happy people. I always smile when I see smiling people. It's contagious. I avoid grumbly people or I might get grumbly and I don't like being grumbly. [ Post Comment ] Comment #37 posted by rchandar on January 17, 2009 at 20:11:25 PT: Come On That just isn't good enough. Why was this city not good enough that he couldn't even make a campaign stop? That's all fine, but I see this city every day--it hasn't recovered, and no one seems to see the problem. You entirely missed the Border Wall too--that seems, apparently to be a "good" idea.But I can see what this amounts to--he'll kowtow to Drug Warriors, and a lot of people are going to get hurt because no one in politics has the guts to admit that the WOD will NEVER work, will ONLY create famous injustice, and will moralistically trample on the rights of those who can least afford it.I didn't live in those times, I admire Mahatma Gandhi and MLK. It may take a bit of doing before I will say the same about Obama.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #36 posted by FoM on January 17, 2009 at 16:40:15 PT rchandar I looked for links to maybe answer a question or two.Statement from Barack Obama on Darfur, Sudanhttp://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Statement_from_Barack_Obama_on_Darfur,_Sudan***When The Cameras Are Off: Barack Obama’s Hurricane Katrina Recordhttp://thinkonthesethings.wordpress.com/2007/08/29/when-the-cameras-are-off-barack-obamas-hurricane-katrina-record/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #35 posted by BGreen on January 17, 2009 at 16:30:46 PT rchandar The man hasn't even taken office yet and you've already declared him a failure?Since we're not psychic and don't have a perfect vision of the future, most of us will have to wait and see what happens before we deem someone a failure.The Reverend Bud Green [ Post Comment ] Comment #34 posted by rchandar on January 17, 2009 at 16:26:50 PT: Post-Postscript Hey--Something else to stew the pot a little more (pun intended). Did this man even state what he was going to do about the Border Wall? I had a classroom full of Tejanos who adored him and loved him. How about Darfur? Did he even speak one word about the massacre of 200,000 innocent people?These questions have been slowly occupying space in my brain, and they recently started sizzling. I'm p #sed at this man--he's not making any effort, and still the money pours in.You motherf ker. The $500 that I donated to your "Change" campaign was NOT free money.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #33 posted by rchandar on January 17, 2009 at 16:11:11 PT: Postscript I would also like to share an obvious note with you all. I live in New Orleans, which was gutted by Hurricane Katrina. Fully half of the city is still in ruins. A lot of people aren't working, and the state issued a hiring freeze, so nothing good is happening here. Gustav and Ike plowed through, keeping things as they are here.I've been a Democrat all my life, but let the truth be spoken. Obama never came here even once. He blew us off. That's the "concern" he has about "change." He will rule as a center-right politician, scrupulously avoiding any real "change" and basically the puppet of one of our most famous Drug Warriors--Joseph Biden.When he was elected, Black people celebrated it, but I can tell you that the Black man on the street has no affection for Barack Hussein Obama. Listen to the song "My President Is Black," for example. He ignored these people like they were useless pieces of junk. He is very far from the kind of person who will in any way restore dignity and trust in minorities affected by racism, poverty, injustice. His all-White cabinet reflects that, too.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #32 posted by rchandar on January 17, 2009 at 15:56:39 PT: Obama's Broken Promise Sorry, folks--I've been watching the TV on and off, and I can tell that Barack has no intention of withdrawing this horrible war. Remember Clinton? Who increased the annual arrest rates from 200,000 to about 700,000? That's the kind of evil monster that has won the support of our new President. The War on Drugs will continue unabated, and expect the number of MJ arrests to go above 1 million within 2 years. Lives will be ruined, because hey, I won the election and I can f #k over anyone that I want to. Sons separated from their parents, fathers taken away from their kids and wives. People must die! People must be killed! The drug warriors want more vengeance.Barack, we will NEVER SURRENDER.--rchandar [ Post Comment ] Comment #31 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 20:28:24 PT fight_4_freedom Nothing will take away this special time for me either. Here's a schedule of the events. HBO is open this weekend.http://www.pic2009.org/pages/schedule/***The HBO Schedule for Sundayhttp://www.hbo.com/weareone/***Crosby, Stills & Nash - Long Time Gone (1977)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50go7zlvnfg [ Post Comment ] Comment #30 posted by fight_4_freedom on January 16, 2009 at 19:14:20 PT I have nothing but pure optimism running through my veins. I am so very glad that this administration is coming to an end. It was eight years way too long. And now we have a fresh start to look forward to. We probably will not see the complete legalization of our sacred herb during Obama's term. (first term that is :)But I know that it will not get any worse than it has been during these past 8 years. In fact, I believe we will make significant progress in changing our cannabis laws for the better.So for now, I'm going to completely enjoy this inauguration anticipation. I think I may party even harder on the 20th than I did on New Year's Eve!I'm so happy for us all. [ Post Comment ] Comment #29 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 11:49:28 PT Hope I don't really know. I know that it could be really bad but only time will tell how bad. If Obama can generate jobs for blue collar workers it will help. We desperate need bridges repaired and Interstate's re-done. Many schools are falling apart and need to be rebuilt. The cost of a car is out of sight for many people. We need cheap little VW Bugs again or something close to it. We need a new Green Industry so we don't need to depend on oil. Oil is cheap now but there is always calm before a storm. We need to make our country work again. Cities like New York will have really hard times but rural America should be a little better off because you learn to be self sufficient. I feel sorry for people if the laws change on Marijuana who will need to get a real job but that's the way it will be. It's going to be an interesting and bumpy road but we're tough. We can make it. Yes We Can!!! [ Post Comment ] Comment #28 posted by Rainbow on January 16, 2009 at 11:45:24 PT Hope but not as optimistic Yes I sure do hope that Obama does the right thing but he has several hurdles 1) the secret message all presidents get about cannabis, 2) we really need jobs right now and stopping prohibition will reduce jobs 3) Many of his close advisors are drug warriors (Biden, Emmauel, holder, etc) 4) I heard somewhere that for a good sconomy you need a war and the war on drugs is a controlled war that the feds can ramp up or down based on whatever the secret message is that presidents get about cannabis.So I know that Obama is a good man but that does not mean someone or something is holding his hands regarding prohibition.Prohibition is an interesting term. The USA has been prohibiting recreation for a while and this time hurting people big time.1 [ Post Comment ] Comment #27 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 11:29:56 PT Mass. http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n051/a03.html?397STATE REP WANTS STIFFER PENALTIES FOR POT DEALERS AND GROWERS [ Post Comment ] Comment #26 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 11:24:16 PT I hope it's not going to be as bad as the Great Depression.Do you suppose the fact that a major prohibition of a fairly widely desired substance preceded the Great Depression, and what's beginning to appear to going to be something of a similar caliber financial situation and it is also preceded by a major prohibition of a fairly widely desired substance, means anything? Is it just a coincidence? [ Post Comment ] Comment #25 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 10:54:32 PT Hope Reality is harsh. No one knows what tomorrow will bring and even if our economy totally collapses we will all be in the same boat like during the Depression. We will grow victory gardens and share our vegetables with others. We'll barter rather then buy if possible. We'll be humble just because a financial collapse is humbling. We are made stronger by what doesn't kill us. It humanizes us because anyone of us can become the homeless person asking for a little money from strangers. Our nation has been so full of pride this mess doesn't surprise me. Keeping up with the Joneses and thinking the stock market is or was a gravy train isn't what some people thought it was. We will be better in the end for these hard times I think. [ Post Comment ] Comment #24 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 10:37:11 PT Hope I've prayed for hope more than a few times. It's extremely valuable to me. Despair is destructive. Hope can facilitate healing better than no hope at all.It is a beautiful name. A grandmother and two, at least, cousins that I know of, are named Hope.I first used it here as hope for the dire situation building at the Rainbow Farm.Of course, as we know that and so much else all escalated hideously.My hopes have been crushed more than a few times.It happens... as it did then.But hope, however fragile, is valuable to our souls, our spirits, and probably our bodies, I think. It's a pinprick of light in what seems like total darkness.Without hope is despair... and despair sucks. [ Post Comment ] Comment #23 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 10:10:40 PT Rainbow I removed the extra post. I call it a hiccup. [ Post Comment ] Comment #22 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 10:05:00 PT Hope What would happen to us if we didn't have hope? Hope is a wonderful name and the meaning to me is looking into the future with a positive anticipation. Hope can be dashed but without hope we are doomed is how I see it. [ Post Comment ] Comment #21 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 10:01:23 PT I'm cautiously optimistic... and I do feel the excitement of a nation that is beginning to feel free to speak up.Optimistic about government being smarter and less vindictive and wasteful of the taxes it collects, than it is? Not so much. [ Post Comment ] Comment #20 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 09:54:39 PT Rainbow? You're "less optimistic"? Rainbows, somehow... should be very optimistic. [ Post Comment ] Comment #19 posted by Hope on January 16, 2009 at 09:50:16 PT Comment 15 JSM No, you aren't the only one.:0)And yes... FoM has worked so diligently for so many years to maintain this place of refuge and rip-roaring truth, and will always be deeply admired and appreciated for it by many of us. [ Post Comment ] Comment #17 posted by FoM on January 16, 2009 at 09:44:21 PT JSM Thank you. I feel the excitement too. It still is below 0 here but I feel warm and cozy and wided eyed with anticipation. We have come a long way. [ Post Comment ] Comment #16 posted by Rainbow on January 16, 2009 at 09:42:54 PT Jobs First what is the purpose of an Administrative Law Judge if they are always countered on unfavorable opinions? I think they have no power and ought to be replaced. they are dead weight.Second I am less optimistic than you all. Obama needs jobs. he will not get rid of one job producing activity, it could be political ramifications. the drug war is a Jobs program just on the backs of innocent people. Obama can not afford to get rid of jobs at any expense these days. maybe when the economy recoups he might think about it again. [ Post Comment ] Comment #15 posted by JSM on January 16, 2009 at 09:39:02 PT Movement Am I the only one who feels the excitement? This genie is out of the bottle and all king`s horses and all the king`s men can not put it back again. Prohibitionists beware - this truth is unstoppable. For those who doubt just examine this site back to it its beginnings and marvel at the changes we have witnessed. FOM, you deserve special recognition and thanks for everything you have done throughout the years. [ Post Comment ] Comment #14 posted by The GCW on January 15, 2009 at 21:14:46 PT John Tyler, "...Millions of North Americans have utter contempt for the continent's discredited cannabis laws, which are nothing more than government subsidized discrimination. Millions of North Americans demand cannabis and one way or the other that demand will be honoured. Cannabis will be cultivated and it will increase rather than decrease. Except for those who profit, nearly every person who uses cannabis would prefer to acquire it from regulated sources but all will purchase it in the black market if necessary. It's just a matter of who consumers give their money to. Right now consumers are ready, willing, able and eager to give it to regulated sources along with its share of taxes to government but if government doesn't want it. The money is changing hands either way."CN BC: PUB LTE: Cannabis Should Be Regulated http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n050/a07.html?1474 [ Post Comment ] Comment #13 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 21:05:09 PT John Tyler It sure will be! [ Post Comment ] Comment #12 posted by John Tyler on January 15, 2009 at 20:46:51 PT CNBC show Ooops a reall big shoe, should be show [ Post Comment ] Comment #11 posted by John Tyler on January 15, 2009 at 20:45:15 PT CNBC shoe With regard to the CNBC show this is really big money. When you have this much money being made in just a few counties it is not going to stop, or go away. The whole industry now is so big, and so spread out, and so prosperous that the only thing that can be done is to legalize it. There is no other sensible way. The public wants it and it would be good for the economy, the society, the earth, the body, the mind and the spirit. Backward thinking politicians resist legalization at the cost of their political careers. [ Post Comment ] Comment #10 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 20:29:24 PT The GCW I think Obama will talk to whoever he has to talk to do learn how to fix something. That's a smart person. [ Post Comment ] Comment #9 posted by The GCW on January 15, 2009 at 19:59:17 PT FoM, I didn't care for George Bush's father either.But Obama might consider consulting with Georges daddy to help know how to clean up the kids mess; since He did a lot of that... [ Post Comment ] Comment #8 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 19:32:48 PT The GCW I hope that people are as happy as we are about Obama soon being our brand new President. I like being around happy people. A friend called me that couldn't care one bit about politics before and she voted for Obama. I was amazed. I know our economy won't be fixed and a big crash seems more and more possible but I believe Obama will try hard to fix Bush's mess. They said today Bush will actually go down in history as being worse then Nixon. Now that is really a failure. I know people who don't like Democrats will blame Obama for everything and try to say Republicans are better or complain or something but I won't listen to them. It's been 40 years since I had any hope for our country. It might be too late but that won't be Obama's fault. [ Post Comment ] Comment #7 posted by The GCW on January 15, 2009 at 19:19:51 PT NO MOE BUSH NO MOE BUSHPhoto on Boulder Weekly coverhttp://www.boulderweekly.com/?site_id=619-0-(with the Bush's last day countdown clock tickin') [ Post Comment ] Comment #6 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 18:32:44 PT OverwhelmSam I've been busy but when I get to look I haven't seen anymore on Mass so far. [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by OverwhelmSam on January 15, 2009 at 18:06:12 PT So What's Happening in Massatwosits Sorry, I didn't know how to spell it and didn't feel like looking it up, though in retrospect I could have looked it up by now. One town voted no, what about the rest of the city councils? Are they going to ditch the weed ordinances too? [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 16:45:44 PT Found This on DrugWarRant.com For those who have High Speed Internet and won't be watching PBS on Inauguration Day here's the whole program.Dreams of Obamahttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/dreamsofobama/ [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by Hope on January 15, 2009 at 16:22:02 PT Report! Way to go, Paul and NORML!That's absolutely wonderful. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 15:29:43 PT CNBC Poll SHOULD MARIJUANA USE BE LEGAL?Currently, 13 states have laws on the books stating it’s not a crime to possess small amounts of marijuana. Internationally, other countries have similar legislation. A number of studies reveal legalization of pot does not necessarily lead to increased usage.http://www.cnbc.com/id/28621704 [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on January 15, 2009 at 13:57:10 PT CNBC Slideshow: Inside America's Pot Industry I am looking forward to seeing Marijuana Inc. on January 22nd.Slideshow: http://www.cnbc.com/id/28561896The Marijuana Boom: http://www.cnbc.com/id/28281668/Preview: http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=994945722&play=1 [ Post Comment ] Post Comment