[parineum]

> People say "let doctors prescribe", but that ignores how in order for that to happen, a pharma company will need something they can patent, pay for the years of testing, get sole control over it for a period, and years later a generic can come about.

Is there not universies that could just do this research on the leaf itself?

[Avicebron]

Without an official blessing from a pharma company the insurance won't pay for it and doctors are unlikely to prescribe it.

[lotsofpulp]

Official blessings come from government officials (such as those working at the offices of the Food and Drug Administration), not pharma companies.

Pharma companies have to apply for official blessings, just the same as universities would have to.

However, taxpayers do not want to spend money on expensive trials to prove efficacy.