Skip to main content

In Significant Turnaround, DEA Announces Steps To Improve Access To Medical Marijuana Research

In a turn of events this week, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) revealed that it is “moving forward to facilitate and expand scientific and medical research for marijuana in the United States.” To do this, the agency announced it will be accepting and reviewing applications from marijuana growers who would like their products to be used for scientific and medical research. This builds on a three-year-old commitment to end the 50-year monopoly held by the University of Mississippi, the country’s only approved grower per a contract by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). A monopoly that has resulted in sub-par cannabis for testing, and thus the U.S. falling years behind the scientific work of other countries including China and Israel.

Nevertheless, many fear the announcement may be too good to be true for the time being given the years of delays and vague language used in the Federal Register notice. According to documents the agency wants to craft and roll out new rules for evaluating and overseeing new growers. Which could possibly signal a means of delaying real action.

The announcement did however get a full press release and quotes from Attorney General William P. Barr who said, “I am pleased that DEA is moving forward with its review of applications for those who seek to grow marijuana legally to support research.” He went on to include buy-in from other agencies saying, “The Department of Justice will continue to work with our colleagues at the Department of Health and Human Services and across the Administration to improve research opportunities wherever we can.”

This is a significant change from his predecessor Jeff Sessions’ position on the subject. It was well documented in 2017 that then Attorney General Sessions effectively blocked the DEA from pursuing at least 25 proposals (reportedly 33 applications have been filed since 2016) for growing marijuana for the purposes of medical and scientific research.

Further, according to the Department of Justice the number of researchers approved to conduct studies with marijuana grow from 384 in 2017 to 542 in 2019 (an increase of more than 40%) – suggesting that the DEA and the University of Mississippi are having to significantly increase the supply of marijuana used in research.

But supply and demand is not the only catalyst for movement on the part of the DEA. In fact, the announcement came just two days before the DEA had to file a response (court ordered) to a lawsuit brought by a research institute carrying out efforts to better understand  cannabis for treating post-traumatic stress (PTSD) in combat veterans. The Scottsdale Research Institute sued the DEA earlier in 2019 after their application for cultivating research-grade cannabis went ignored – along with all the other applications – for years.

In the coming days there is expected to be a public response from other heads of federal agencies, as well updates on the Scottsdale Research Institute’s lawsuit.

Original Article Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicolefisher/2019/08/28/in-significant-turnaround-dea-announces-steps-to-improve-access-to-medical-marijuana-research/

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Feds Hire Hazmat Firm For Marijuana Eradication Training

An ambitious campaign to decriminalize psychedelics in Washington, D.C., is one step closer to placing their measure on the November ballot with the formal submission of tens of thousands of voter signatures. Organizers have been scrambling for weeks to collect enough signatures from D.C. voters by Monday’s deadline amid historically difficult circumstances: a global pandemic, months of stay-at-home orders and protests over racism and police violence that filled the streets of the nation’s capital. But with the help of innovative signature-gathering techniques and allies flown in from across the country, advocates said they had successfully submitted upwards of 35,000 signatures—more than enough to qualify the initiative. If approved by voters, Initiative 81 would make enforcement of laws against plant- and fungus-based psychedelics among the “lowest law enforcement priorities” for the Metropolitan Police Department. It would not, however, legalize or reduce penalties for the substa
Post a Comment
Read more

Weed Is So Last Year: The Best CBD Gummies On The Market Today

CBD gummies have taken the industry by storm. As one of the most popular ingestion methods, gummies make it easy to discreetly and easily get your dose of CBD, which has caught on amongst previous CBD users and nonusers alike. Now with a massive amount of brands all trying to make a name for themselves amongst the gummy industry, here is a list of CBD gummies on the market and a description of what makes each brand special. Verma Farms Recently releasing their lineup of gummies, Verma Farms ranked as the current top choice for our CBD participants. Made with American hemp, Verma’s gummies come in three different flavors: Maui Melon (which has a juicy, fruity flavor to it), Peachy Pau Hana (which has the full-punch of a peach smoothie), and Blueberry Wave (which is made with natural fruit flavors), and all of are THC-Free. Hands down some of the best rated for flavor, Verma Farms has an absolute knockout on their hands with these gummies. Green Roads Next on our list comes one o
Post a Comment
Read more

Crime Rates Drop After Marijuana Dispensaries Open Nearby, Study Finds

Whether you’re partnered up or riding solo, marijuana can enhance the longevity, frequency and quality of sexual pleasure, reports a new survey out on Tuesday. Though a number of recent scientific studies have found consuming cannabis can improve bedroom activities for men and women , a report from Lioness, the makers of the world’s first smart vibrator, and cannabis delivery service Eaze offers a more in-depth look at how the substance can affect people’s sex lives. “Cannabis can enhance your orgasms no matter who you are,” the report states. “While a satisfying sex life is the result of many variables, cannabis can increase the length, frequency of, and quality of your orgasms and pleasure sessions whether you’re single or married, solo or with a partner, young adult or silver fox.” The report is the result of an online survey shared with 432 Lioness newsletter subscribers in North America between June 23 and July 1. Researchers also included perspective from 19 Lioness users who
Post a Comment
Read more