# People in custody are patients with rights, never exact laboratory controls

Program commitment · Initial studies use consenting civilians. The proposed cannabis initiative excludes a prison-based cognitive-enhancement experiment. Incarceration does not eliminate genetic, medical, psychological, or environmental differences. Custody also creates pressures that can compromise consent; access to detailed government records does not itself authorize research use. The initial Philippine and US programs should recruit voluntarily consenting civilians without dependence on the sponsor for liberty or basic necessities.

Canonical page: https://givegigs.com/wiki/necro-chapter-cannabis-prisoner-protection
Last updated: 2026-11-09T18:58:12.584Z
Parent topic: [necromancer-cannabis](https://givegigs.com/wiki/necromancer-cannabis)

## Contents
- [Overview](#wiki-section-overview-1)
- [Chapter notes](#wiki-section-chapter-notes-2)
- [Dossier section](#wiki-section-dossier-link-3)

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## Overview

Program commitment · Initial studies use consenting civilians. This page expands the “People in custody are patients with rights, never exact laboratory controls” chapter in the cannabis collection.

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## Chapter notes

The proposed cannabis initiative excludes a prison-based cognitive-enhancement experiment. Incarceration does not eliminate genetic, medical, psychological, or environmental differences. Custody also creates pressures that can compromise consent; access to detailed government records does not itself authorize research use. The initial Philippine and US programs should recruit voluntarily consenting civilians without dependence on the sponsor for liberty or basic necessities.

The Mandela Rules protect prisoner autonomy and contemplate community-accessible health research under applicable law, with free informed consent and an expected direct, significant health benefit. Being convenient to observe does not satisfy that justification. Any future proposal addressing an actual prison health need would require separate legal and independent ethical assessment, meaningful advocacy, and protection of ordinary care.

For US research subject to HHS prisoner protections, Subpart C adds restrictions, review requirements, and potentially OHRP authorization. Applicability must be assessed rather than assumed universal. Across both countries, the program should prohibit linking participation to parole, sentencing, privileges, food, or access to ordinary treatment. Declining cannabis research must leave those entitlements intact.

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## Dossier section

[Open this exact section in the Necromancer dossier](/necromancer#cannabis-prisoner-protection). The original chapter status is “Program commitment · Initial studies use consenting civilians.”

## Sources

- [Nelson Mandela Rules: Rule 32](https://www.unodc.org/documents/hiv-aids/2016/Standard_Minimum_Rules_-_Nelson_Madela_Rules_-_Eng.pdf)
- [Prisoner Research FAQs](https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/guidance/faq/prisoner-research/index.html)

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