Prof. Questions Gov't Monopoly on Marijuana

yahoo ^ | 12-12-05

[LouAvul]

WASHINGTON - Put this in your pipe and smoke it: A University of Massachusetts professor says the medical marijuana grown by the federal government isn't very good. He wants a permit to cultivate his own pot, saying it will be better for research.

Lyle Craker, a horticulturist who heads the school's medicinal plant program, is challenging the government's 36-year-old monopoly on research marijuana. Craker's suit claims government-grown marijuana lacks the potency medical researchers need to make important breakthroughs.

"The government's marijuana just isn't strong enough," said Richard Doblin, a Craker supporter who heads the Massachusetts-based Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies.

A hearing before a federal administrative judge at the Drug Enforcement Administration got under way Monday and is expected to last all week.

Craker's suit also alleges there isn't enough of the drug freely available for scientists across the country to work with.

The DEA contends that permitting other marijuana growers would lead to greater illegal use of the drug. They have also said that international treaties limit the United States to one marijuana production facility.

A lab at the University of Mississippi is the government's only marijuana growing facility.

[thoughtomator]

Nope! Not enough! We need to kill the druggies and everyone within a 50 yard radius - that will enlist the people in getting this all-important law enforced! After all, if you can be put to death for being near a druggie, you'll do your best to make sure there are no druggies in your area, won't you... Comrade?

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

People suffering with cancer have smoked weed as it relieves side effects of treatments. Yet the guvmint says no you can't do that so take this chemically replicated pill (of pot) with a glass of water.

So, you can't take the 'organic' but you can take the chemically replicated?

Actually, the arms subject is most likely why this is still illegal. Pot is about at harmful as anything else in excess. But if your caught, its a felony, and you can never own a firearm or have possession of ammo.

Another way to regulate the 2nd?

[thoughtomator]

Just another way to turn citizens into subjects.

[The Shootist]

Show me one line of the United States' Constitution where the Federal Gub'mint is granted the authority to ban the care and feeding of a plant. 'Cause boy, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."

Case closed, Pink Floyd notwithstanding.

[muawiyah]

Hey, you know those guys are copping a plea to a lesser charge. There's only a handful of dopers in the bunch. Rest of 'em are real criminals ~ the kind you don't usually take home to dinner unless you're some kind of cannibal.

Time for more aggression ~ check out the Air Marshals.

[Mrs. Shawnlaw]

No thanx, I'd rather pick out and pay for my own.
And I'll pick my own ammo too thanx very much.
MMmmmmm, gun oil, yum! Now that's what I call aromatherapy!

[muawiyah]

Hmmmm ~ did you ever notice what heavy MJ use does to spelling, even with access to Spellchecker?

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

Funny you mentioned "Comrade." My parents and I left Soviet Russia in 1980. Every so often, Russia pushes an anti-alcoholism campaign.

(waits for laughter to subside)

The results speak for themselves. As do the results of our own WOD.

[muawiyah]

That "well regulated militia" clause says Uncle Sam owes you a major piece of weaponry. The "letters of marquis and reprisal" clause says Uncle Sam can't own the really big stuff but has to rent it out from the private sector.

I've got my eye on a B-52, fully packed, myself.

[md2576]

Put this in your pipe and smoke it

Na, looks like Schwag to me.

 

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

And don't forget, "The enumeration in this Constitution of certain rights shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people."

[TnGOP]

I actually got to smoke some of the University of Mississippi weed back in the late 70's. It wasn't lacking in potency then.

Best I remember, the person that got it used a fishing rod and reel with treble hooks, cast it out into the field, and reeled in a few buds. (At least that is how the story went.....)

[muawiyah]

Now that's some powerful stuff.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

I know they usually plea to lesser charges - my problem is they should not be charged in the first place. As for real criminals, I agree. What's a real crime? See my tagline.

[thoughtomator]

After all this time, after the mountains of evidence that the WoD is a) unconstitutional, and b) ineffective, the only phrase I can come up with for those who insist we stick with it is... "Stuck on Stupid".

[muawiyah]

The real crime? Actually, the reality is these pukes are all guilty of some really nasty stuff ~ the kind that gets you executed in the Third-World, and a promotion to be the boss of your production segment in Socialist Europe.

Plea bargaining should be abolished as rapidly as new prisons can be brought into service.

[308MBR]

Wow. I thought everyone knew to get theirs from the Deputy Sheriffs.

[Freedom_no_exceptions]

Plea bargaining should be abolished because it really amounts to a conviction without a trial. And if you think all drug users are guilty of "really nasty stuff," then that should be the basis for conviction - not merely smoking a joint or doing a line.

[muawiyah]

You know very well that in a service economy that if you are convicted of a felony involving theft or conversion your employment opportunities are destroyed. On the other hand, copping a plea to dope should keep you near the cash register in most cases, although maybe not stocking shelves.

[em2vn]

Private business can do most things better than the government. Let the man grow the pot.
It's idiotic for the government to claim that letting others grow pot for research will lead to greater illegal use pot.