USA: Judge Recommends End to Government Monopoly on Marijuana for Research
In a non-binding ruling this week, an administrative law judge with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recommended an end to a policy that stifles research into the medical use of marijuana.
- www.drugpolicy.org
Thursday, February 15, 2007
Current Drug Enforcement Administration restrictions make reliable access to marijuana for research extremely difficult, as production is limited to one government source. Marijuana is the only drug subject to this restriction, and in fact the law requires adequate competition in the manufacture of Schedule I drugs (a designation which includes marijuana) to be used for research purposes.
The recommendation by Judge Mary Ellen Bittner was that Professor Lyle Craker of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst be permitted to grow research-grade marijuana for use in privately-funded, government-approved studies that aim to develop the marijuana plant into a legal, prescription medicine.
Permission to grow marijuana for research purposes would mark a significant step on the road to expanding the body of research on medical marijuana. If Dr. Craker receives a Schedule I license, The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is poised to fund his proposed research-grade medical marijuana production facility.
However, because Judge Bittner’s ruling is only a recommendation, the DEA could still deny Dr. Craker’s request. Researchers and funders are watching to see whether the federal government will embrace the opportunity to expand the body of research, or fall back on a political opposition to marijuana.
