May 1 Comes & Goes Without DEA Action - Craker's Marijuana Production Application in Limbo.
The effective date of DEA's final ruling rejecting Prof. Craker's license was supposed to be May 1. However, we have heard nothing so far directly from DEA regarding a response to our pending Motion to Reconsider. Based on conversations between our attorneys and the Department of Justice, and Senator Durbin's staff and DEA, we have learned that DEA review of our Motion to Reconsider is still pending, and that it is not rare for such matters to take place after final orders have become effective. As a result on May 11, 2009, we asked the First Circuit, US Court of Appeals (where in a defensive maneuver we have filed a new lawsuit against DEA) to delay consideration of our case until after we learn how DEA responds to our pending Motion.
On April 29, Senators Kennedy and Kerry sent a letter to Deputy Attorney General David Ogden requesting that he take immediate action to delay DEA's final decision regarding Prof. Craker's application for a license to grow marijuana for research. This follows a similar letter sent on April 15 by Congressmen John Olver and Sam Farr requesting that Ogden intervene on behalf of Prof. Craker by asking the DEA to cease going forward on its May 1 deadline.
On April 13, the DEA filed its final response to Craker's attorney's March 11 Supplemental Motion To Reconsider and Exhibits submitted to DEA Deputy Administrator Michelle Leonhart, adding to a Motion to Reconsider filed January 30. These motions request a hearing to present opposing arguments to new evidence that DEA cited in its January 14, 2009, Final Order rejecting DEA Administrative Law Judge Bittner's February 12, 2007 recommendation that Prof. Craker receive a license to grow marijuana for federally-licensed research. Prof. Craker's facility would be built at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and would be sponsored by MAPS. We will inform our supporters as soon as we hear anything from DEA.
The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) is a membership-based, IRS-approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit research and educational organization. We assist scientists to design, fund, obtain approval for and report on studies into the risks and benefits of MDMA, psychedelic drugs and marijuana.
MAPS' mission is to sponsor scientific research designed to develop psychedelics and marijuana into FDA-approved prescription medicines, and to educate the public honestly about the risks and benefits of these drugs. Read our strategy statement for more information.
We need your support so together we can make a difference. In addition to general membership donations, MAPS is seeking to raise funds for specific research projects. These are our funding priorities and here are our financial reports.
For background reading, see MAPS President Rick Doblin's doctoral dissertation (Harvard, Kennedy School of Govt., 2001) "Regulation of the Medical Use of Psychedelics and Marijuana," visit our media and audio/visual archives, or peruse the latest issue of the MAPS Bulletin and our monthly news update.
MAPS is co-hosting the International Drug Policy Reform Conference, November 12-14, 2009 in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
MAPS is pleased to present the original work of two amazing Visionary Artists: Roberto Venosa and Dean Chamberlain. We are now proudly offering four special signed and numbered limited-edition prints from Dean Chamberlain's Psychedelic Pioneers series (at left), as well as limited-edition prints of Robert Venosa's portrait of Albert Hofmann, signed by Albert Hofmann himself (at right). Proceeds from the sale of these portraits will be equally divided between MAPS-sponsored psychedelic research and the respective artists.
Both Dean Chamberlain's portraits of Albert Hofmann, Laura Huxley, Ann & Sasha Shulgin and Ram Dass as well as Roberto Venosa's portrait of Albert Hofmann are all available for purchase in the MAPS Online Store. These portraits are not only a good investment and would look great on your wall, but they are also a major fundraising tool for MAPS' research projects!
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