E-Actions for Freedom

Urge DEA to approve Medical Marijuana study

Take Action Now!

Dear NORML Supporters:

You can really help NORML and the larger effort to make medical cannabis
available by taking part in this NORML Action Alert. One of the federal
government's favorite arguments against state medical cannabis laws and
initiatives is that the medical use of cannabis has not been approved by the
FDA and that more scientific research must be conducted. What they don't say
is that cannabis is treated differently than all other drugs.

Sadly, this is not a surprise to NORML's supporters.

The federal government, through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA),
retains a monopoly on the supply of cannabis that can be used in
FDA-approved research and has twice refused to supply it to
privately-funded FDA-approved studies. Over two years ago the Medicinal
Plant Program at The University of Massachusetts/Amherst applied for a
license to produce cannabis for research purposes only to be confronted by a
series of dilatory tactics by the DEA.

Finally, in July this year the DEA officially announced the program's
application. A decision is expected shortly after the end of the public
comment period on September 22, 2003.

The DEA has indicated that it probably won't approve the application so we
have to act now to stop the cycle of keeping medical cannabis from sick and
dying patients.

Write Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Deputy Director for Demand Reduction, Office of
National Drug Control Policy, urging her to recommend that the DEA approve
the Umass/Amherst license:

Take Action Here

As a doctor and senior member of the Office of National Drug Control Policy,
Barthwell holds authority over this issue. Through news articles she has
become a vocal part of the Drug Czar's campaign against medical cannabis.
Her most recent article explicitly says that "If a substance has the proven
capacity to serve a medical purpose, then it will be accepted." Yet, Dr.
Barthwell, along with the Drug Czar, continues to support the governmental
stranglehold on cannabis production hindering such research.

See Dr. Barthwell's article here

NIDA produces only low-potency material with stems included meaning that
patients have to inhale more smoke to get any of the beneficial effects,
decreasing the chance FDA will approve it. The Umass/Amherst team wants to
produce a small quantity of high-potency cannabis. As long as NIDA retains
its monopoly on the supply of cannabis that can be used in research, no
rational sponsor will invest money in the research required to get cannabis
approved as a medicine. Your help is needed to break the government's
monopoly on the supply of cannabis in order to unshackle medical cannabis
research.

Again please contact Dr. Andrea Barthwell, Deputy Director for Demand
Reduction, Office of National Drug Control Policy, urging her to recommend
that the DEA approve the Umass/Amherst license:

Take Action Here

Thanks in advance!

Regards,

R. Keith Stroup, Esq,
Executive Director
NORML