[fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ enable_mobile=”no” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]A paradigm shift occurred in our executive branch yesterday and it means big news for marijuana research! The Obama administration has removed a huge obstacle for researchers attempting to begin marijuana studies. Until yesterday, to initiate a marijuana study researchers were required to follow a four step process.

As of June 22nd, effective immediately, the Obama administration has removed the required PHS review. The Department of Health and Human Services supports this decision saying it is “no longer necessary to support the conduct of scientifically-sound studies into the potential therapeutic uses of marijuana.” The FDA review is sufficient in determining a study’s validity.

Until recently, to begin marijuana studies, researchers had to:

1. Submit your study proposal to the FDA for a validity and ethical review.
2. Submit your study proposal to the Public Health Service (PHS) review.
3. Obtain a marijuana permit from the DEA.
4. Obtain a marijuana quantity from the Drug Supply Program maintained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).

[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_3″ last=”no” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”fade” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.9″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”2_3″ last=”yes” spacing=”yes” center_content=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” background_color=”” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding=”” margin_top=”” margin_bottom=”” animation_type=”” animation_direction=”” animation_speed=”0.1″ class=”” id=””][fusion_text]While this won’t open the floodgates to marijuana research in America it’s a great first step in the right direction. The next step towards the end of this prohibition is to move marijuana out of Schedule I. By simple definition, Schedule I is reserved for recreational drugs with zero medical use or therapeutic benefit. Yet, there are several substances that have peer-reviewed research purporting their therapeutic uses including, LSD, psilocybin,and MDMA/Ecstasy.[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container background_color=”” background_image=”” background_parallax=”none” parallax_speed=”0.3″ enable_mobile=”no” background_repeat=”no-repeat” background_position=”left top” video_url=”” video_aspect_ratio=”16:9″ video_webm=”” video_mp4=”” video_ogv=”” video_preview_image=”” overlay_color=”” overlay_opacity=”0.5″ video_mute=”yes” video_loop=”yes” fade=”no” border_size=”0px” border_color=”” border_style=”” padding_top=”20″ padding_bottom=”20″ padding_left=”0″ padding_right=”0″ hundred_percent=”no” equal_height_columns=”no” hide_on_mobile=”no” menu_anchor=”” class=”” id=””][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_text]Cocaine could be called a pure, no pun intended, recreational drug and yet the American government recognizes the analgesic and vasoconstrictive properties it elicits (per it’s Schedule II classification).

LSD, ecstasy, and other recreational drugs have federally approved facilities producing quantities for research. Currently, marijuana has only a single facility approved to cultivate research-grade marijuana and the federal government has barred any additional facilities from cultivating.

As a nation, we can study a number of illegal drugs in the name of science without unnecessary red tape and with ample supply.

Why not marijuana?[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][fusion_imageframe lightbox=”no” lightbox_image=”” style_type=”none” bordercolor=”” bordersize=”0px” borderradius=”0″ stylecolor=”” align=”none” link=”” linktarget=”_self” animation_type=”bounce” animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.8″ hide_on_mobile=”no” class=”” id=””] [/fusion_imageframe][fusion_text]source: Reuters.org[/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]