Terrance Cole's First Test: Will He Restore DEA Diversion To Legitimacy
As the DEA Diversion spirals into constitutional crisis, all eyes now turn to incoming Administrator Terrance Cole. With the Supreme Court, DOJ, and Congress aligned on the illegality of the agency's ALJ system, Cole faces a clear mandate: dismantle the DEA's kangaroo court framework, remove corrupt leadership like Thomas Prevoznik, Matthew Strait and attorney Aarathi Haig, restore sound marijuana policy and return the agency to the rule of law. His next moves will determine whether the DEA Diversion can be salvaged-or whether it must be restructured from the ground up.
Read More"This is insanity," declares Duane Boise, CEO of MMJ International Holdings, echoing the sentiments of lawmakers and researchers alike. The 2020 House Oversight Committee hearing, and ongoing developments, have laid bare the Drug Enforcement Administration's (DEA) persistent obstruction of legitimate cannabis research, a battle MMJ has been fighting since their 2018 application. Despite bipartisan congressional outrage, as highlighted by Representative Earl "Buddy" Carter's scathing critique of the DEA's "epitome of ineptitude," and the agency's own hollow defenses, the DEA, represented by figures like Matthew Strait and Thomas Prevoznik, continues to delay and deny, hindering vital medical advancements. Boise's lawsuit against the DEA underscores the urgent need for reform, as the agency's actions not only impede scientific progress but also deny patients access to potentially life-changing treatments, a situation that demands immediate structural changes in federal cannabis policy.
Read MoreMMJ is currently engaged in litigation with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The company contends that the DEA has obstructed domestic cannabis research despite the Right To Try and the Medical Marijuana Research Expansion Act. MMJ accuses the DEA of bias in restricting MMJ to cultivate its proprietary marijuana cultivars necessary for research and pharmaceutical drug manufacturing. A pending federal court ruling in Rhode Island will set a significant precedent, challenging DEA authority and potentially easing regulatory barriers for MMJ's future cannabinoid drug development.
Read MoreThe DEA has violated the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act by failing to approve MMJ's marijuana research and cultivation application in a timely manner. Anne Milgram, DEA administrator, is responsible for the delays. MMJ claims the DEA has caused significant harm to suffering patients and financial damages to the company despite adhering to all the DEA regulatory requirements.
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