Government to Give University of Mississippi $68.8 Million to Grow and Study Cannabis
The National
Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has awarded the University of Mississippi $68.8 million to grow and analyze cannabis.
The money will go to a cannabis research lab at the university, which is the sole producer of cannabis used for federal research. The project is expected to lead to the cultivation of at least 30,000 plants.
NIDA is mandating that the cannabis be cultivated at a “secure and video monitored outdoor facility of approximately 12 acres”, that can handle the “cultivation, growing, harvesting, analyzing, and storing of research grade cannabis,” according to a posting on a federal government website. “The indoor facility must be at least 1000 square feet, having controls for light intensity, photo cycles, temperature, humidity, and carbon dioxide concentration”.
NIDA recently announced that they’ll be allowing scientists to use signficiantly more potent cannabis than previously allowed when researching the plant.
“We want to be able to evaluate the claims that marijuana is therapeutically beneficial,” said Nora Volkow, director of NIDA in Rockville, Maryland.
– TheJointBlog
David M
Yeah great where the government grows 3%-4% ditch-weed. Perhaps a better location should be found for these studies in one of the legalized States. Washington, Oregon. Colorado, Alaska or The District of Columbia.
2buds
So – lets do the math. 68 Mil divided by about 30,000 plants of unknown weight (probably 1/4 lb.) is $2,266.00 per plant, or $9,066.00 per pound. That’s 7,500 lbs produced – Of which only about 10 lbs will ever be used – for the 2-3 patients who still receive their monthly mixed stems and ditch.
What a deal – if you’re the dealer!
Does the NIDA also maintain facilities for the continual ongoing testing of Heroine and LSD?
Adwin Caban
I am a HIV postive male. I do smoke. I am interested in this study.