DEA faces federal lawsuit for blocking marijuana research

[DreamSmoker]

Researchers hoping to study the medical benefits of marijuana are taking the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to federal court for blocking access to the plant.

The Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS) has received free legal representation in a lawsuit against the DEA over a license to grow marijuana for federally regulated research.

The D.C.-based law firm Covington & Burling LLP, one of the foremost law firms representing the pharmaceutical industry, has offered pro-bono legal representation to the research group to appeal the DEA’s August 15 final order in the First Circuit Court of Appeals. MAPS estimated the law firm saved them $175,000 in legal costs.

http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/21/marijuana-researchers-get-pro-bono-representation-in-dea-lawsuit/

[tridim]

1. Ooh, now that's a good angle.

I'd like to research it too.

[Kennah]

2. In times of economic uncertainty, never ever fuck with another man's livelihood.

[Rex]

3. DEA...another huge waste of money for nothing.

Might as well stick it with that other worthless agency - call it the Department of Homeland Drug Enforcers. The War on Drugs is a huge failure and the DEA is proof of that failure.

[Dawson Leery]

4. Eliminate funding for the DEA and DHS, cut the deficit.

[jberryhill]

5. Pro Bono my foot

Do you know how much Covington & Burling pulls in from US Pharma companies for general lobbying?