Lyle E. Craker is a Professor in the Department of Plant, Soil and Insect Sciences at the University of Massachusetts, and Executive Editor of the Journal of Medicinally Active Plants. Since 2005, Lyle has been trying to obtain a permit from the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to grow marijuana for research purposes.

In 1963, Lyle received a B.S. degree in agronomy from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. In 1967 he received a Ph.D. in agronomy and plant genetics with a specialty in plant physiology from the University of Minnesota.

Lyle is known for proposing that medical grade marijuana be available for scientific studies into its possible health benefits.

He also works with undergraduate, special problem, and graduate students. He also teaches courses in technical writing and in herb, spices, and medicinal plants, and supervises graduate students and independent study students in research projects. And he organizes University Herbfest for demonstration of student research in aromatic and medicinal plants.

Lyle also editor of "The Journal of Herbs, Spices, and Medicinal Plants", and past Editor, Past-Chairman of International Society for Horticultural Science Section on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants; organizing member of International Council on Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Member editorial board for Herbalgram and Medicinal Plant Abstracts, organizer of Herb, Spice, & Medicinal Plant Working Group, American Society for Horticultural Science (ASHS). Member of International Society for Horticultural Science (ISHS) Working Group on Culture of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants. Active member of the ASHS, ISHS, American Society of Pharmacognosy, American Consortium for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, and Sigma Xi. Honorary member of ISHS.