Pubdate: Sat, 28 Feb 2009
Source: Daily Star, The (NY)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily Star
Contact:  http://www.thedailystar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/557
Author: Allan Erickson
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n193/a01.html

U.S.-OWNED PATENT SHOWS HYPOCRISY

The letter from Bruce Dunn in The Daily Star,  "Marijuana research not
allowed by DEA," on Feb. 17 is  right on the money. There is one
misstatement, however.

Dunn says, "The DEA is a nutsy organization that grows  pot on its
Mississippi farm and sends it to three  Americans who have medical
conditions that no other  drug will help." That the DEA is a "nutsy
organization"  is true, it is the "grows pot on its Mississippi farm" 
that is in error.

The only legal medical marijuana is grown under the  direction of the
National Institute on Drug Abuse on  five acres at the University of
Mississippi. And yes,  as Mr. Dunn states, that marijuana is provided
to the  few remaining patients enrolled in the Compassionate 
Investigational New Drug program.

It is indeed interesting that the same federal  government that denies
cannabis (marijuana) has any  medical use also is the only entity
providing medical  cannabis at the federal level. Interesting also
that  its owns the patent on Cannabinoids as antioxidants and 
neuroprotectants _ U.S. Patent # 6630507.

Hypocrisy? At the very least. Injustice disguised as  policy is more
like it.

Allan Erickson

Eugene, Ore.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin