Here’s the original link to the story, as posted by Telluride News:

What fascinates me is the corporate history behind the use of Aspartame, Equal and other sweeteners:

1965: Aspartame discovered and patented by the G.D. Searle & CO

1967: Dr. Harold Waisman, a biochemist at the University of Wisconsin, conducts aspartame safety tests on infant monkeys for G.D. Searle & Company. Of the seven monkeys fed aspartame mixed with milk, one dies and five others have grand mal seizures. The seizures stopped when it was discontinued.

1977: Reagan supporter Donald Rumsfeld made head of G. D. Searle & Company. Federal attorney Sam Skinner assigned to prosecute the G. D. Searle Co. for their fraudulent tests used to get Aspartame approved.
Skinner hired by law firm representing Searle.

1980: Head of the FDA, Jere Goyan refused to approve the legalization of Aspartame, due to the studies documenting increase of cancers in rats. (see the Bressler Report)

1981: Goyan removed from his post on the first day of Reagan’s presidency. Reagan appoints Arthur Hayes, MD., Commissioner.

1982: Hayes legalizes Aspartame.

1983: Head of the FDA, Arthur Hayes, under fire for accepting corporate gifts. Quits and joins Searle’s public-relations firm as senior medical advisor. Aspartame renamed “NutraSweet.”

1985: Monsanto purchases G.D. Searle & Co. Rumsfeld receives a $12 million bonus.
1991: Several members of the FDA board left their jobs after banning stevia (aspartame’s main competitor at that time) for legalization as a food additive. Stevia, which is herb-derived, is used as a sweetener in Japan and represents 40 percent of the sweetener market.*

1992: All ex-FDA members hired at Nutrasweet in higher paying jobs, according to national records.

This stuff should be watched more closely thaan marijuana!! But then, only a few companies have the refining plants to make sweeteners. Weed can be grown by anyone!