http://www.hightimes.com/read/dea-allows-cannabis-... DEA Allows Cannabis Imports to Facilitate the Big Pharma of Marijuana The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has all but refused to acknowledge lawful cannabis producers as part of legitimate commerce here in the United States, but that has not stopped the agency from working with corporate drug pushers in the importation of cannabis products to be used to facilitate the Big Pharma takeover of the medical marijuana industry. A federal notice released earlier this month indicates that big government has given a New Jersey drug development company called Catalent Pharma Solutions permission to begin importing various forms of cannabis into the United States to be administered to patients in clinical trials. The "finished pharmaceutical products containing cannabis extracts†will be shipped to the company"s research facility in Kansas City, Missouri, which develops and tests medications in "oral dose forms.†Catalent"s Vice President of Corporate Strategy, Cornell Stamoran, recently told In-Pharm Technologist, a news source covering the happenings of the international pharmaceutical trade, there is "a growing need for special handling capabilities in pharmaceutical development due to evolving characteristics of pharmaceutical and biotechnology pipeline molecules†and "as these molecules transition to commercially approved products, similar complexities arise in production and distribution of commercial supplies.†Basically, what this means is major drug manufactures are paying Catalent big bucks to help engineer commercial medical marijuana products in a manner that will garner expeditious approval from the U.S. government. However, the bad news is, this type of action resonates an obvious separation of those medical marijuana products that are sold in state licensed dispensaries and medicine derived from the cannabis plant that is currently being created under the guidance of the federal government. While some insiders of the pot industry believe the emergence of brands such as "Marley Natural†and "Willie"s Reserve†properly defines what is to be "Big Marijuana,†the fact that well-funded drug companies are still exploring methods for capitalizing on the medicinal cannabis sector - even after 23 states and the District of Columbia have established relevant programs - indicates the cannabis industry is on a devastating collision course. One of the Catalent"s clients is GW Pharmaceuticals, a British pharmaceutical company that Merrill Lynch recently cited in a report as being a major player in the cannabis industry. The drug company has been inside the United States for a couple years conducting clinical trials on their prized medical marijuana product Epidiolex - cannabidiol in spray form - in hopes of marketing an FDA-approved epilepsy treatment by 2017. As of now, GW is in Phase III of clinical trials for this medicine, which was recently deemed promising in combating treatment-resistant epilepsies such as Dravet syndrome. Unfortunately, the true Monster of Marijuana has a special luxury that remains unavailable to those companies selling pot products in retail outlet across the country – flexible DEA scheduling. A product like GW"s Epidolex, if approved, would likely be classified Schedule II or III in order to become a part of the mainstream drug market. And while it is expected this medication will come with a hefty price tag, Epidolex, unlike CBD-oil being sold in places like Colorado, would also be covered under most health insurance policies. This very scenario happened over three decades ago with a THC pill called Marinol
What does this mean? In all honesty I don't pay too much attention to the legalization movement, because I don't really feel the true intentions of those helping the cause is the same as mine. Im seeing this medical/recreational thing being monetized too much for my liking. Seems like more of a good business decision than having a passion for this plant and all that it can offer both medically and recreationally. This article makes me even more cynical about the whole thing. Seems like the DEA is finally letting up....but its because there are "Big Pharma" type companies involved. I think big pharma is part of what keeps it illegal since its better to prescribe someone with anxiety lots of xanax than it is to get them to start growing their own MJ. So even tho on the surface it seemed like good news, after reading it seems like they're keeping shit illegal.....but kinda opening the door to big pharma type companies. Furthering my idea that they (Gov+Pharma industry) are in it together. Where do you all think marijuana will stand once all is said and done and the dust settles a bit more....like 10-20 years down the road?
Whats the point of importing? There is plenty of marijuana in north america. This really makes no sense to me, does it come down to money? Marijuana can be grown well very cheaply.
the y you the growing part is like being next to everyone else on the planet and saying to them hey you can grow this plant and reap the rewards but big pharma is not standing equally to help everyone else like the grow your own model represents. big pharma wants to take one little part out and mass produce it charging huge sums and offering one part out of so many parts like when found in the whole plant. marinol was/is one teeny part taken and it leaves the user desperate not to freak the fuck out beacause it thc only with no balancing as in nature of the cbd. and of course now they are taking the cbd only approach leaving out the thc, figures the ten to twenty year point will be mostly humans scratching their heads to figure out how to be super healthy with plants and such while big companies still supply everyone sub par product at huge costs.
isn't GW set up in Uruguay to distribute cannabis products to the entire world? I thought that was why they legalized there so GW could take over the world supply
I wish them the best of luck. The cannabis community has done so much, like literally beginning to end prohibition. I am positive that we the people will not allow them to profit so easily. Regardless of laws people have been getting there medicine and with more and more places allowing medical and recreational marijuana thats only going to make it easier for the people to get what they need. It will be interesting to see how all this plays out over the coming years.
all this (the importation) seems like the whole $600 hammer thing. More layers and red tape crap so people can get their fingers in the pot, even though it is absolutely unecessary and even detrimental.
after reading this again it seems that the idea is to get the cannabinoid behind the scene so no one asks where is the medicine coming from at the doctor office, they don't want you to know or care about as long as insurance fronts the bill. that has been the eye opened for plants and medicine as the cannabis plants becoming seen as medicine and these huge pharma companies are proving it by mass producing medicines with it.