U.S.-OWNED PATENT SHOWS HYPOCRISY

The letter from Bruce Dunn in The Daily Star, "Marijuana research not
allowed by DEA," on Feb. 17 is right on the money. There is one
misstatement, however.

Dunn says, "The DEA is a nutsy organization that grows pot on its
Mississippi farm and sends it to three Americans who have medical
conditions that no other drug will help." That the DEA is a "nutsy
organization" is true, it is the "grows pot on its Mississippi farm"
that is in error.

The only legal medical marijuana is grown under the direction of the
National Institute on Drug Abuse on five acres at the University of
Mississippi. And yes, as Mr. Dunn states, that marijuana is provided
to the few remaining patients enrolled in the Compassionate
Investigational New Drug program.

It is indeed interesting that the same federal government that denies
cannabis (marijuana) has any medical use also is the only entity
providing medical cannabis at the federal level. Interesting also
that its owns the patent on Cannabinoids as antioxidants and
neuroprotectants _ U.S. Patent # 6630507.

Hypocrisy? At the very least. Injustice disguised as policy is more
like it.

Allan Erickson

Eugene, Ore.