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| *Catalysts: The Impact of Psychedelics from Culture to Creativity (Dec. 10th–12th, 2010, Los Angeles, CA)<ref>http://www.maps.org/conferences/details/critical_components_a_maps_benefit_event/</ref> | | *Catalysts: The Impact of Psychedelics from Culture to Creativity (Dec. 10th–12th, 2010, Los Angeles, CA)<ref>http://www.maps.org/conferences/details/critical_components_a_maps_benefit_event/</ref> |
| *The Second International Psychedelic Science Conference (April 18–23, 2013, Oakland, CA)<ref>[http://www.wired.com/2013/04/psychedlic/]</ref> | | *The Second International Psychedelic Science Conference (April 18–23, 2013, Oakland, CA)<ref>[http://www.wired.com/2013/04/psychedlic/]</ref> |
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| == Legal efforts ==
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| === Medical marijuana monopoly ===
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| [[National Institute on Drug Abuse]] (NIDA) has a government granted monopoly on the production of medical marijuana for research purposes.<ref>{{cite web|author=Jag Davies |url=http://www.alternet.org/drugreporter/143729/letting_the_science%2C_not_the_politicians%2C_decide_about_marijuana/ |title=Letting the Science, Not the Politicians, Decide About Marijuana | Drugs |publisher=AlterNet |date= |accessdate=2010-03-17}}</ref> In the past, the institute has refused to supply marijuana to researchers who had obtained all other necessary federal permits. Medical marijuana researchers and activists claim that NIDA, which is not supposed to be a regulatory organization, does not have the authority to effectively regulate who does and doesn't get to do research with medical marijuana. Jag Davies of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) writes in MAPS Bulletin:{{quote|Currently, the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has a monopoly on the supply of research-grade marijuana, but no other Schedule I drug, that can be used in FDA-approved research. NIDA uses its monopoly power to obstruct research that conflicts with its vested interests. MAPS had two of its FDA-approved medical marijuana protocols rejected by NIDA, preventing the studies from taking place. MAPS has also been trying without success for almost four years to purchase 10 grams of marijuana from NIDA for research into the constituents of the vapor from marijuana vaporizers, a non-smoking drug delivery method that has already been used in one FDA-approved human study.|<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.maps.org/news-letters/v16n3-html/marijuana_production_facility.html |title=MAPS Bulletin Volume XVI Number 3: Winter 2006-7 |publisher=Maps.org |date= |accessdate=2012-04-14}}</ref>
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| NIDA administers a contract with the University of Mississippi to grow the nation's only legal cannabis crop for medical and research purposes,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web |url=http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/nacda/MarijuanaStatement.html |title=NIDA - About NIDA - Organization - NACDA - Provision of Marijuana and Other Compounds For Scientific Research - Recommendations of The National Institute on Drug Abuse National Advisory Council |work=archives.drugabuse.gov |date=January 1998 |accessdate=April 11, 2014 |author=Department of Health and Human Services|author2=National Institutes of Health|author3=National Institute on Drug Abuse |archiveurl=//web.archive.org/web/20140412063112/http://archives.drugabuse.gov/about/organization/nacda/MarijuanaStatement.html |archivedate=April 11, 2014 |deadurl=no}}</ref> including the [[Compassionate Investigational New Drug program]]. United States federal law registers cannabis as a Schedule I drug. Medical marijuana researchers typically prefer to use high-potency marijuana, but NIDA's National Advisory Council on Drug Abuse has been reluctant to provide cannabis with high THC levels, citing safety concerns:<ref name=autogenerated1 />{{quote|Most clinical studies have been conducted using cannabis cigarettes with a potency of 2-4% THC. However, it is anticipated that there will be requests for cannabis cigarettes with a higher potency or with other mixes of cannabinoids. For example, NIDA has received a request for cigarettes with an 8% potency. The subcommittee notes that very little is known about the clinical pharmacology of this higher potency. Thus, while NIDA research has provided a large body of literature related to the clinical pharmacology of cannabis, research is still needed to establish the safety of new dosage forms and new formulations. In the most recent rejection of [[medical marijuana]] by the Federal Government, the DEA denied [[Lyle Craker|Professor Craker]], [[Valerie Corral]], and MAPS request to end the federal government's monopoly on medical marijuana production and
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| research.|<ref>[http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/articles/2006/05/28/weed_control/ Weed Control] Boston Globe May 28, 2006. Retrieved on February 15th 2010.</ref>}}
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| Major events in recent proceedings are notable, as in the 2007 ruling by Administrative Law Judge Mary Ellen Bittner, wherein she recommended that Craker receives a license to grow marijuana for research and that NIDA dismantles its monopoly. The DEA in response overturned the recommended ruling in January 2009 and later denied Craker's Motion to Reconsider in December 2010. In March 2011, Craker's lawyers submitted their final brief in the case. MAPS is pursuing efforts to have the DEA's final ruling rescinded.<ref name="maps-mmj"/> A detailed timeline of MAPS' attempts to gain access to research-grade marijuana is available on the MAPS [http://www.maps.org/research/mmj/ website].
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| == See also == | | == See also == |
