The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has for years only allowed a single growing facility at the University of Mississippi to produce cannabis for data analysis. However, a recently released analysis found that cannabis from the university is biologically different from that which is sold by dispensaries in legal states, casting doubts regarding the effectiveness of research methods that rely on cannabis from the federally permitted supplier.
Analysts examined the chemical makeup of wild-grown hemp, farmed hemp, federally sourced “research-grade” cannabis, and numerous cannabis cultivars currently on the market.
The study found that the cannabis from the university sanctioned by the National Institute on Drug Abuse was biologically closer to wild-grown hemp versus cannabis marketed in states where it is legal, which is similar to previous studies on the matter. The DEA has declared that it is undergoing actions to authorize more producers, which activists and academics see as a welcome move. However, the current monopolistic hold on government approved cannabis remains an area of tension.
