Will wonders never cease?
After last week’s announcement that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) was intending to increase the amount of legally grown research cannabis for 2019, the agency has said it is now undertaking even more changes for 2018 as well.
The news, first reported by Marijuana Moment, is expected to be published in a filing scheduled to come out in the Federal Register on Thursday, Aug. 23.
Under the proposed update, more than 2,500 pounds of cannabis will be needed in 2018 “to provide for the estimated medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs of the United States, for lawful export requirements, and for the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks.”
That amount is far less than the reported 5,400 pounds proposed last week for 2019, but more than double the amount the DEA had laid out for the year, which was 978 pounds.
The Marijuana Moment offered some explanation of why the DEA has suddenly become so generous with its research cannabis cultivation limits.
“It is not immediately clear why DEA is moving to so dramatically increase cannabis cultivation quotas for 2018 and 2019, but it could have to do with an ongoing process to license more legal growers for research that was initiated under the Obama administration,” wrote Tom Angell.
“A bipartisan group of members of Congress have repeatedly pressured U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions on this issue, so it could be the case that the department is feeling the pressure and will soon be giving the green light to more researchers to grow cannabis,” Angell continued.
The proposals in the new filing on the Federal Register will be open for public comment for 30 days, so let the government know what you think. Tell them that we want our scientists and researchers to be able to cultivate their own cannabis, for the benefit of us all.
