Medicinal Marijuana in USA

[texan.99]

Hi all

 

The medicinal marijuana movement is gaining more and more momentum in the USA.

Thought you might like to read this article from National Public Radio (USA).

http://tiny.cc/c6vhr

 

The voice of the people is being heard!

tex

[snooch]

Problems With Researching Pot

 

However, scientists say doing research with marijuana requires the patience of Job, largely because the federal government still classes marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance with no legitimate medical use. That status requires researchers to get a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration, part of the Justice Department. The DEA relies on the National Institute on Drug Abuse, or NIDA, for advice on research proposals.

 

"I know one research group who says it took a year to get feedback from NIDA," says Dr. John Halpern of Harvard Medical School and McLean Hospital. "Then when they resubmitted their proposal, they got another set of criticisms."

 

The director of NIDA, Dr. Nora Volkow, declined to be interviewed about medical marijuana

 

An interesting read, thanks for that.

 

You might be right in saying the voice of the people is being heard, but it's particularly disturbing that agencies like the DEA and NIDA still have so much influence when it comes to hindering scientific research. The power these groups, particularly the DEA, have is frightening (not to mention far-reaching)

Edited June 14, 2010 by snooch