The federal government has been growing marijuana for multiple decades at the University of Mississippi. The marijuana is grown ‘for research’ and to supply four federal medical marijuana patients. The federal government also owns several patents for marijuana. The sad irony of course being that the federal government prohibits all forms of marijuana outside of their monopoly, and actively enforces marijuana prohibition, even in states that have legalized it in various forms.
Recently the federal government decided to ramp up production of marijuana at the University of Mississippi. And they are not just ramping it up a little, they are increasing production more than 3,000%. Per the Federal Register:
The DEA received one comment on the notice with request for comments. The commenter supported the adjusted 2014 aggregate production quota for marijuana. The DEA appreciates the support for this adjusted 2014 aggregate production quota for marijuana which will provide for the estimated scientific, research, and industrial needs of the United States.
The DEA has taken into consideration the one comment received during the 30-day period and the Administrator has determined, pursuant to Section 306 of the CSA (21 U.S.C. 826), based on all of the above, and for the reasons stated in the May 5, 2014, notice, that the adjusted established 2014 aggregate production quota for marijuana to be manufactured in the United States in 2014 to provide for the estimated scientific, research, and industrial needs of the United States, and the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks, expressed in grams of anhydrous acid or base, shall remain as follows:
Previously established 2014 quota – 21,000 g. Adjusted 2014 quota – 650,000 g.
There isn’t a clear reason why the federal government is ramping up production. For a government who’s official stance is that marijuana doesn’t have any medical value, they sure do plan on producing a lot of marijuana for medical research. It’s beyond time to give up the sham, and reschedule marijuana, or even better, eliminate marijuana prohibition altogether.
