DEA Ruling Renders Federal Approval of Medical Marijuana Impossible

[NVMojo]

Dec 16 - The US Drug Enforcement Administration has declined to grant a Massachusetts University researcher permission to grow medical marijuana for federally approved research. Advocates for the legalization of the drug say the ruling has effectively "slammed the door" on efforts to win the Food and Drug Administration's approval of marijuana as a medicine.

Dr. Lyle Craker, who heads the Medicinal Plant Program at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst, had asked the DEA of three years ago for permission to grow marijuana for distribution to researchers. Currently all marijuana used for research must come from a Mississippi farm contracted by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, and proponents of Craker's proposal have said that supply from Mississippi has been inconsistent and the potency of the drug questionable.

In its letter to Craker, the DEA said it found the amount supplied to researchers by the Mississippi farm to be sufficient. It also said that it did not find that granting the application was "consistent with the public interest."


more...

http://newstandardnews.net/content/?items=1330&printmode=true

[EC]

1. This is getting rediculus

just to protect the all mighty drug companies, pill-pushers,errrr:mad:

[jeff30997]

2. It's an evil weed I tell you ! Eeeeevil !

I'm glad I live in Canada.

[NVMojo]

3. I want to raise hemp, why can't I??? Really???

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

11. Because of our overwhelming freedom.

That's why. Freedom demands you obey stupid oppressive laws. There, see the logic?

[tom_paine]

4. As it always was, science has no home in Totalitarian Nations like ours

Science fluorishes primarily in Free Nations with Free Presses and Free Inquiry.

Imperial Amerika is NOT such a nation.

I find this entirely unsurprising. Science will have to flourish in Japan, Europe or Canada, the last remaining bastions of the Free World.

[slay]

21. Well put. Sad but true.

:(

[ernstbass]

5. This sucks!!!!

[Ediacara]

6. The Dems need to embrace pot

Seriously. 80% of Adults support medical marijuana. That's not 80% of pot-smokers, it's 80% of adults. A full 47% of Americans admit having used marijuana when polled, but I suspect the number is closer to 60% due to embarassment, or fear of non-confidentiality.

The Dems need to say this in plain English:

Marijuana as a medicine has demonstrated its worth, and should be legalized without delay.

Marijuana as a diversion should be legalized for adults and controlled much the same way alcohol is controlled, ie, age restrictions, operation of machinery restrictions etc. Marijuana is less dangerous than smoking, and less dangerous than alcohol, is not addictive, and does not make people beligerent.

I realize that this will get the puritans in a tissy, and will get the DEA liars to come out in full force, but it's the right thing to do, and will win us elections.

The only argument that the DEA can put out is the specious "slippery slope" argument, where they claim that we want to legalize heroin and coke.

The response to that should be these exact words:

"Shut the fuck up you motherfucking liar!"

[elemnopee]

18. the "gateway" drug argument is such bs

If it was legal it would not be in the underground illicit drug market with coke and heroin.

Politicains just need an argument to keep marijuana, a convienient scapegoat, illegal.

[libertypirate]

7. Drug companies keep winning!

[rockedthevoteinMA]

8. This is beyond ridiculous!

Isn't medical marijuana allowed in California? How do they do it?

I know a few people who work with the elderly - specifically Alzheimer's (sp?) patients. They have talked about the amazing results with giving them marinol, instead of being combative and listless, they brighten up, etc. I've also read that smoking it works wonders with many mental health issues too. Too bad that profit has to ruin everyhting.

I know marinol isn't the same - much more expenisive than the plant itself, plus it's tainted by big pharma.

I could go on and on about how many benifits I have heard about MM.

[Ediacara]

9. It's legal in almost all western states

And some others in the rest of the country. Every time a MM intiative was on the ballot it passed. Heck, it even passed in Montana by a huge margin!

ON EDIT: here's a map

[rockedthevoteinMA]

15. Thanks for the map!

I am hoping that massachusetts passes an initiative soon...I have family members who could really benefit from it.

I read a really great website recently when researching alternatives for medications for Bipolar Disorder. A lot of people from California had testimonies up on it - on how much better it is to help alliviate the symptoms. Cheaper, it's non-lethal, and doesn't consist of taking 5 different meds throughout the day.

edit to add the website:

http://www.rxmarihuana.com/index2.htm

[AtTheEndOfTheDay]

13. "I could go on and on about how many benifits I have heard about MM."

I could do the same only I could report first hand. Good medicine!

[Griffy]

10. BE IN DC on january 6th.. we need smarter ppl in charge! nt

The uses and value of this plant are amazing, and yet the government treats it like a menace to society. The hypocracy of alcohol sales and Marijuana prohibition is stark and sad. Someday this will end. See the docmentary "Grass" to learn the history of the prohibition and how stpid it all is!

[Willy Lee]

12. The fact that it's in the same class as heroin and cocaine

boggles the mind. But alcohol, cigarettes, and prozac are hunky-dory.

[Megahurtz]

14. aaaaaa fuck it.

We'll just grow our own.

[fertilizeonarbusto]

16. I hope

the dickwads responsible for this need medical marijuana soon.

[Muzzle Tough]

17. There is nothing in the U.S. Constitution......

..... that gives the federal government the authority to outlaw marijuana.

George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew it. They wanted it to be legal.

I voted for one of those "crazy" third party candidates that wants to legalize marijuana. My candidate lost, but at least I feel glad about my choice of whom I voted for. I will NEVER vote for anyone who wants to put people in jail for growing, owning, or smoking marijuana. This is my #1 most important political issue. And I have never smoked it ever, not even once, in my entire life. For me, it's just a very important matter of principle.

[walldude]

19. This issue is why I'm an independent

and not a Democrat. The war on drugs is a futile waste of time money and resources. Imagine the tax revenue on legal pot. You want to kill the deficit? Legalize. But the alcohol, tobacco and drug company lobbies will never let it happen.

[slay]

22. War On Drugs and War On Terror = two bullshit "wars" that will never end

I agree, the democrats need to step up and quit playing defense to the republican offense. We need to go on the offense about this and not act all ashamed for wanting to be free to make our own decisions. This is about freedom of choice - to use or not use drugs, why or why not, are choices all of us make, and should be able to make free from government prosecution.

We must stop fighting these so called "wars". Let people be free to make up their own minds. Nobody is force feeding anyone drugs. Alcohol, caffeine, nicotine. All legal. Recognize it's only the drugs they choose for us which are legal. We have no choice. Anyone who truly thinks we are free in this country is sadly confused.

[Karenina]

20. The Constitution

was written on paper made of hemp. Diebold currently holds the contract to "protect" it.