DEA says no to UMASS pot researcher

Well after stalling for three years, the DEA - after being pressed to respond by the US Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C. - has issued a 'preliminary denial' against the proposed project of Lyle Craker, a horticulturist at UMASS who specializes in medicinal plants.

The DEA claims that the University of Mississippi provides researchers "marijuana of sufficient quantity and quality to meet all their legitimate and authorized research needs in a timely manner." Read that as - let them research using schwag.

The DEA has a vested interest in keeping this plant illegal and should not be in a position to dictate policy on this. Craker, who intended to grow high grade cannabis to provide to researchers, will now have to take his case to the courts, which thankfully he intends to do.