MORE POT GROWERS URGED

An administrative law judge, concluding that there is an inadequate
supply of marijuana for medical research, has recommended that the
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) grant a Massachusetts
professor's application to grow the drug in bulk.

Judge Mary Ellen Bittner's ruling is nonbinding, but officials at the
American Civil Liberties Union hope that the recommendation to grant
the application of professor Lyle Craker will eventually lead to more
research into the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.

In June 2001, Mr. Craker submitted an application as a marijuana
manufacturer to the DEA. However, the federal government limits the
growing of marijuana available for clinical research to one source,
the University of Mississippi.

Federal officials said that Mr. Craker's university, the University
of Massachusetts at Amherst, is free to compete for the next contract
to produce research-grade marijuana for the United States, but they
said there was no basis to add another producer.

The judge concluded Monday that granting Mr. Craker's application
would be in the public interest.