DEA licenses 55 unnamed Big Pharma pot farms

 

Published by: Norml Stash Blog on May 26, 2011

UPDATE: Paul Armentano confirms that the author of the quoted East Bay Express piece has jumped the gun with this pronouncement.  There may be 55 companies that want to produce the generic Marinol using naturally-extracted THC, but that would still have to come from Dr. El Sohly’s farm at U. Miss.  See the comments section for more explanation.  I apologize for the mis-hype.

Remember the saying, “It’s not paranoia if they’re really out to get you?”  Well, is a conspiracy theory about Big Pharma takeover of medical marijuana still a conspiracy when you have evidence?

(East Bay Express) The Drug Enforcement Administration told Legalization Nation in an e-mail last week that 55 unnamed companies now hold licenses to grow cannabis in the United States, a fact that contradicts the widespread belief that there is only one legal pot farm in America, operated under the DEA for research purposes. It appears as if the upswing in federally approved pot farming is about feeding the need of pharmaceutical companies who want to produce a generic version of THC pill Marinol and at least one other cannabis-based pill for a wide variety of new uses.

In other words, if big corporations grow dope with the government and put it in a pill, it’s medicine. But if you grow it at home or at a city-permitted pot farm and then put it in a vaporizer, it’s a felony.

It’s a weird piece of news that comes at a strange and contradictory time for the drug war. As US attorneys send threatening letters to states and cities, including Oakland, warning them against “commercial cultivation” of marijuana, the DEA is quietly handing out licenses for commercial cultivation.

NORML’s Paul Armentano has informed us about the end of the patent on Marinol and how these drug companies want to create similar pills with THC extracted from natural sources rather than synthetic ones, which are more expensive.  ”Natural sources” are raw cannabis plants, of course.  Silly Stoners Against Legalization, it was never Big Tobacco you had to worry about from legalization of pot, it was Big Pharma you had to worry about from medicalization of pot.

 

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9 months 11 days ago pamWill you please post the email from the DEA w/ their letter head, etc so we don't spread word of mouth but rather spread it straight from the horses mouth? please. I'd like to print out copies of their email, it has credibility.

9 months 10 days ago SamBULLSHIT. THC was isolated in 1963 or 4 depending on who you believe, but not the 70's. And sure the DEA licensed 55 new Cannabis growers, why? So they could help make medical Cannabis a reality? Bullshit!! If you believe this I have a bridge in Brooklyn for sale.... -SamS -SamS

9 months 10 days ago SamFrom: David Downs [mailto:XXXXXXXX] Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:43 PM To: Jakim, Christopher A. Subject: D.E.A. stats and records request Hi Mr. Jakim, This is David Downs, journalist in San Francisco reporting for the East Bay Express, in Oakland. I'm doing an article about generic marinol (dronabinol), and how industry insiders have alleged the D.E.A. - along with its sole cannabis grower Dr. ElSohly - seek to corner the market and profit from supplying plant cannabis to companies seeking to manufacture now-generic dronabinol. How many companies are licensed by DEA to produce synthetic THC? How much per year? Per ODR (Registration and Program Support Section of DEA), there are 35 active DEA registrations (reflecting 28 companies) for manufacturers that have listed drug code 7369 (Marinol, synthetic THC in sesame oil/soft gelatin) on their DEA record. Please be advised that having the drug code listed on the DEA registration does not mean the registrant manufactured any of that particular drug code. How many companies are licensed by DEA to produce organic THC? How much per year? Per ODR, there are 64 active DEA registrations (reflecting 55 companies) for manufacturers that have listed drug code 7370 (THC, Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, dronabinol and others) and drug code 7371 (TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL, ORGANIC ) on their DEA record. Please be advised that having the drug code listed on the DEA registration does not mean the registrant manufactured any of that particular drug code. ..."

9 months 10 days ago SamFrom: David Downs [mailto:XXXXXXXX] Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2011 3:43 PM To: Jakim, Christopher A. Subject: D.E.A. stats and records request Hi Mr. Jakim, This is David Downs, journalist in San Francisco reporting for the East Bay Express, in Oakland. I'm doing an article about generic marinol (dronabinol), and how industry insiders have alleged the D.E.A. - along with its sole cannabis grower Dr. ElSohly - seek to corner the market and profit from supplying plant cannabis to companies seeking to manufacture now-generic dronabinol. How many companies are licensed by DEA to produce synthetic THC? How much per year? Per ODR (Registration and Program Support Section of DEA), there are 35 active DEA registrations (reflecting 28 companies) for manufacturers that have listed drug code 7369 (Marinol, synthetic THC in sesame oil/soft gelatin) on their DEA record. Please be advised that having the drug code listed on the DEA registration does not mean the registrant manufactured any of that particular drug code. How many companies are licensed by DEA to produce organic THC? How much per year? Per ODR, there are 64 active DEA registrations (reflecting 55 companies) for manufacturers that have listed drug code 7370 (THC, Delta-8 THC, Delta-9 THC, dronabinol and others) and drug code 7371 (TETRAHYDROCANNABINOL, ORGANIC ) on their DEA record. Please be advised that having the drug code listed on the DEA registration does not mean the registrant manufactured any of that particular drug code. ..."

9 months 10 days ago SamAs you can see it is not 55 Companies licensed to grow Cannabis, but rather to work with Cannabinoids and analogues. The story was all bullshit.. -SamS

9 months 9 days ago MelissaGatlin@ Sam, are any of these companies working currently with Cannabinoids and if so, what is their source material? Had several cancer patient friends that had been prescribed Marinol .. their bitch about it was that it either got them too stoned, they didn't want to lose 1/2 a day just to be able to eat ..or that they couldn't hold the pill down when they tried to take it for nausea, they would just wind up throwing it up.

9 months 5 days ago Granny GreenWhen it is not EVER BS they spew!!!