As The DEA Raids Dispensaries, It Hands Out Cannabis Growing Licenses To Big Pharma
Joe | May 29, 2011 | Comments 16
As the federal government pressures the National Cancer Institute to change their too-approving language about cannabis on their website; as the DEA executes raids in state after state with legal medical marijuana; as federal prosecutors attempt to intimidate officials in Rhode Island, Maine, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington – the DEA admits that 55 pharmaceutical companies now hold licenses in the United States to grow cannabis.
That’s right, what many of you do in the privacy of your own home for your own personal use is a crime – but if you’re a pharmaceutical company (and make sure you give plenty of money to political campaigns) you can get a license from the Drug Enforcement Administration to grow cannabis for medical purposes – purposes the same DEA says cannabis doesn’t have.
The blatant and unmitigated hypocrisy of the federal government on this issue is now on full display. If a sick person goes to a dispensary to get marijuana, they are wrong. But if they get a worthless pill like Marinol – with almost all of the chemicals in cannabis with medical properties taken out – from a pharmaceutical company, they are right.
In other words, the DEA conducts raids on collectives and dispensaries to eliminate competition for their “Big Pharma” buddies who give tons of money to politicians who in turn give tons of money to the DEA in their budgets. A tried-and-true Mafia tactic – only it’s coming from our government.
So while advocates would like to see cannabis rescheduled, the DEA makes that decision, and there is no way they are going to bite the hand that feeds them. They will have to be forced by the courts – after all, with the politicians cashing those “Big Pharma” checks, the courts are our only hope of a cannabis rescheduling.
Filed Under: Best Of The Best • Exclusive Web Content • Politics • The War On Drugs
Ummm, Marinol has 1 active chemical, that’s synthetic delta 9 THC. The main reason that it doesn’t work as well are the other medically active cannabinoids.
What it seems everyone and their brother is missing is that the Feds are getting ready to move organic THC to schedule III to accommodate the approval of Sativex. There are no cannabis plants involved in the production of synthetic THC.
http://www.drugwarrant.net/files/2010-27502.pdf
quoted from link above:
“(ii) Any drug product in hard or soft gelatin capsule form containing natural dronabinol (derived from the cannabis
plant) or synthetic dronabinol (produced from synthetic materials) in sesame oil, for which an abbreviated new drug application (ANDA) has been approved by the FDA.”
seriously? this needs to stop, egypt style
Monterey Marijuana News And Review The Federal Gov. are Pious Hypocrites:
US Govt Holds Cannabinoid Patent 6,630,507
For god’s sake if we stumbled upon this substance today in the Amazon rain forest, society would hail it as a new found “Wonder Drug”…
Does everyone know and understand that the US Government has Patent # 6,630,507 on …. Drum rolls please… CANNABINOIDS!
Thinking to myself when I first noticed this …surely this is just a pile of crap. How could the Federal Government on one hand call cannabis a schedule I (one) narcotic…
“(1) Schedule I.—
(A) The drug or other substance has a high potential for abuse.
(B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States.
(C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance under medical supervision.” [20]
No prescriptions may be written for Schedule I substances.”. And on the other hand, hold a patent to CANNABINOIDS?
The US Dept. of Health and Human Services were in fact awarded the patent in 2003 based on research done by the National Institute of Health, and was then assigned to the US Dept. of Health and Human Services.
So just why is this so important? Well, here is a legal document, in the public domain, which contradicts the US Government’s specified position with regard to the classification of cannabis as a Schedule I substance having no “currently accepted medical use”.
In their own words and conclusions the National Institute of Health states unequivocally that “cannabinoids are useful in the prevention and treatment of a wide variety of diseases including auto-immune disorders, stroke, trauma, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and HIV dementia.” The powers that would like to keep their foot on the throat of cannabis are loud and well-funded with big industry money, but they are not impervious to persistent effort.
I hope that in broadcasting this information about our Government held patent on Cannabinoids, as widely as possible and to as many people as possible…it can only help to change the public perception of medical cannabis.
Time for the Martha and George Hemp Ammendment!
This article lacks a lot of facts, backing its claims. I love the way it reads, but to the author … we need; names, numbers, links. Backup every claim to quell the naysayers.
“as federal prosecutors attempt to intimidate officials in Rhode Island, Maine, Arizona, Colorado, and Washington – the DEA admits that 55 pharmaceutical companies now hold licenses in the United States to grow cannabis.”
Right there is prime information to take a week and investigate that in depth to add validity to your article, so you can add names, links and breadth to your writing.
What I just read seems a little lazy, quick, informal, opinion … and holds no water. I’m on your side, and is why I’m taking the time to critique you.
Good luck.
Ima: Thank you for your comment. If you’ll notice, in the quote you cite from the article, there are no less than 6 links to all the information you desire. Thanks again.
Gee whiz Bat Man you can grow pot for Penny’s a pound if not free if you grow it your self and If you legalize it. Big pharmacological want to make synthetically patent it and sell if for big buck.
The big boys will always win. It’s the American Way!
But we can always go down with a fight.
Big Pharma, Tobacco, Alcohol, Corn, and the Banks run our country.
This is why I believe MM is a blind alley. It is a fight that never ends. Full legalization gives all adults safe access to cannabis for whatever they choose. No doc in a box, no fighting the same battle over and over. It is what we all want anyway isnt it? Full legalization. MM is a half measure that will always be subjected to oppression. Half measures avail us nothing.
Browndog after working in the mm industry complying with all state laws and still having the Feds raid and destroy our facility, I am inclined to agree with you. Full legalization is the only way to go. Unfortunately greed and ignorance are the obstacles and those are two problems that can never be solved.
I believe a model of legalization could be so compelling that it would meet widespread public approval. The real trick is to prevent those still opposed after legalization from running false flag operations against our industry. The only way I can design that is to invest the authorities in the success of the industry. Make them responsible, if security is breached or rules circumvented, it is undeniably their fault. If the industry fails, they lose their jobs as well.
The Federal government and the DEA are a disgrace to the American people. They approve drugs that have more side effects and only one ability to help with some certain illnesses. When a drug that has been approved by the federal government hurts or kills someone. everyone who was affected should not only sue the pharma company they should also sue the federal government for approving the drug. These are nothing more than corporate puppets and the new mafia. It is time for them to be disbanded and put into they’re own prisons. They are not here for the people of the United States they are disgrace to OUR Country. It is time to show them how powerful the citizens of the United States are. We have to do it through non-violence and non cooperation. Shut this Country down and show corporations who think they are now individuals since our supreme court said they are individuals (what a joke). We are ALL spectacular Beings. It’s time for a Global change in the leadership of the Human race. It is time for us to step up and be the great Beings that we are and should be. The greatest leaders are those who help others to lead in a positive and pro-active manner. To help the Human race, the Planet and yes even the Universe. We are great Beings I know it do you ? It is time for Us ALL too shine
Peace, Love and Happiness for ALL 
Have a Beautiful day and a Smile on the Universe 
pain patient who(me) grow my “life food” i mean painkiller hemp was best!
I am wondering when we are going to get our act together! We know what is going on and it is being done right in front of our faces.My mother is needing the Rick Thompson treatment for her health challenge and I am in a very bad position,of which I will probably not be able to help.My thought is “Do we have the numbers to make a difference in this country.Are we strong enough and able to withstand what may be one of the most courageous efforts we as Americans have ever had to undertake.Remember it started “WE THE PEOPLE”and it still is “WE THE PEOPLE”!Many have given their All,before us.Now it is time for us to give,”Our All’.To keep the pride in our country we need to stand for the RED,WHITE,and BLUE and start choosing for Big Farma to stand up and be accountable for what they are doing and also answer the many questions they have left unanswered. To the “AMERICAN PEOPLE” Stand Up and be Counted
I’m ready to stand up and be counted, just tell me where to stand.
DEA = PCE: Paid Cartel Enforcers