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A recent study conducted by Mahmoud ElSohly, one of the few individuals authorized by the federal government to grow cannabis for research, has found that marijuana available in the U.S. market has a consistent cannabinoid profile, primarily shaped by genetics rather than regional factors.
The research indicates that THC levels in cannabis samples seized or sourced from state-legal programs are similar, typically falling between 10 and 20% THC content.
The study, published in Frontiers in Public Health Journal, presents a possibly contentious claim: that cannabis available in state-legal dispensaries is chemically similar to the marijuana provided for research by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) through its Drug Supply Program (DSP). This assertion might surprise some, as researchers have historically criticized the NIDA cannabis supply for being subpar in quality.
In 2017, researchers studying cannabis as a treatment for PTSD in veterans raised concerns over the NIDA-supplied cannabis, claiming it lacked quality. Sue Sisley, one of the researchers, noted that some samples didn’t have the requested potency, while others contained mold. At that time, Sisley remarked that the substance provided by NIDA “does not resemble marijuana” in smell or quality.
However, the NIDA DSP remains the only legal source of cannabis for federally funded clinical research in the United States. Cannabis for this program is cultivated at the University of Mississippi under the oversight of ElSohly.
Addressing the similarity between cannabis from state-legal markets and NIDA’s research supply, ElSohly suggested that past concerns about cannabis quality from NIDA were overstated. He mentioned that much of the criticism at the time came from advocates of cannabis legalization, who may have misunderstood the context and constraints surrounding federal research cannabis.
Historically, federal research marijuana offered by NIDA contained lower THC levels, typically capped at around 6%, which was closer to the THC potency found in illegal cannabis decades ago. This allowed research participants to consume a full joint without overwhelming effects.
However, as cannabis has become more potent in legal markets, researchers began seeking stronger samples. Today, NIDA’s program now offers higher-potency cannabis, with options of 10, 15, 20, and even 25% THC to better align with current demands.
ElSohly noted that despite initial tensions, many researchers are now satisfied with the cannabis provided by the NIDA program. He added that his relationship with Sisley, who had been vocal about the program’s shortcomings, has improved, indicating progress in NIDA’s approach to research-grade cannabis.
The entire marijuana industry, including leading entities like SNDL Inc. (NASDAQ: SNDL) would be glad to see a time when any research conducted in the U.S. accurately reflects the impact that state-legal marijuana has on its users. Variations between commercially available cannabis and federally-sourced research cannabis don’t help to get the answers that researchers seek.
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