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- THC content in seized cannabis increased over 300% between 1995 and 2022.
- Federal marijuana potency testing was cut in 2025, ending decades of national data collection.
- Experts warn that inconsistent state testing creates gaps in public health and research oversight.
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) canceled over $420M in federal contracts, including cannabis research efforts.
- Without federal support, cannabis R&D on medical uses and cannabinoid profiles faces major setbacks.
As cannabis culture and sales grow fast across the United States, reliable data is very important. But the federal government recently decided to stop a long-running marijuana potency testing program. This has caused concerns among researchers, consumers, and people who support cannabis.
The government said it was cutting the budget. But stopping this program could cause big problems for cannabis research, public health plans, and making sure products are safe for people to use.
The Contract That Was Canceled: A Quick Breakdown
For decades, the federal government used the University of Mississippi to test how strong seized cannabis products were. This was part of a contract paid for by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The program tested samples of marijuana, hash, and hash oil. These samples came from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other federal police agencies across the U.S.
The University of Mississippi was key because of its long work with NIDA. The university didn't just measure tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). That's the main compound in cannabis that makes you feel high. It also watched levels of cannabidiol (CBD) and other cannabinoids. This gave a clear picture of the kinds of cannabis products being used in the U.S. The goal wasn't just about catching criminals.
These results helped shape public policy, academic research, and health checks for many years. It helped researchers understand how cannabis was changing. And it showed what its growing strength might mean for people who use it.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, this data went back to the 1970s. It let public health workers and scientists see the changes happening in the illegal market and, more recently, the legal one.
DOGE and the Push for “Efficiency”: What Changed?
In May 2025, the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) announced big cuts. This new federal group canceled $420 million worth of contracts. Among the 148 federal projects stopped was the $143,000 deal with the University of Mississippi for testing marijuana strength. DOGE said the marijuana testing project wasted money and was not needed.
Elon Musk helped push for federal "efficiency," and DOGE is partly his idea. On social media, DOGE said this move was about cutting unneeded government parts. The department shared news about stopping the contract with a joke picture. This made cannabis experts across the U.S. criticize it and feel confused.
DOGE said the reason for ending the contract was the government's right to cancel "for convenience." But critics say the funny way the decision was shared hid the fact that the government didn't seem to care about the cannabis research setup that took many years to build. Money problems are real for all government areas.
But good, full information about marijuana strength matters in many ways. It affects lab rules, police work, medical research, and keeping people safe when they use products. The decision basically stopped one of the only long-term national programs that watched how cannabis strength has changed.
Decades of Data, Now Disconnected
What the government stopped wasn't just any research. It was the oldest ongoing study of cannabis strength in the country. Between 1995 and 2022, the average THC levels in tested marijuana went from 3.96% to 16.14%.
That's an increase of more than 300% in 27 years. Watching this data helped inform talks about risks with cannabis, what it might be used for in medicine, and why people need to be taught about it. Knowing the amounts of THC and CBD was especially key for:
- Medical research: Studies on mental health, sleep, and pain often need exact numbers for what's in cannabis.
- Public health: Seeing changes in strength helps health groups give better advice about safe use.
- Law makers: People making rules for cannabis use need data to set limits on THC. And it helps decide rules for licenses.
- Police & work safety: Knowing if cannabis is low or high strength can affect rules for testing if someone can drive or is safe to work.
Losing this national check means cannabis research is now broken up. Right now, there isn't another official, government-backed way to get this data. In short: we don't know what's going on just when more people are using cannabis than ever before.
Why This Matters for You
If you use cannabis for health reasons, or just for fun, or run a cannabis business, losing federal data means you have fewer ways to make good choices.
No Clear Picture
Without national data, you can't see bigger trends about pot. For example, how THC levels are changing for different groups of people, in different areas, or for different types of products. That makes it harder to know how much you use compared to others or how your use has changed.
People Get Confused
Weed with a lot of THC isn't always better. Some strains with over 20% THC might make you feel active. But others might make you feel stuck on the couch or anxious. If you don't know more about the cannabinoids, people can't figure out why buds that look similar make them feel very different.
You Have to Figure it Out Yourself
Patients who use cannabis for health reasons need to find specific strains to help with their symptoms. Now they have to depend more on different state systems or labs that aren't connected to the government.
And people who roll their own, especially using tools like Purple Rose Supply’s CannaMold, have to guess how strong the weed is and how it will affect how the roll burns. In the end, when there's no official data for the whole country, you have to do more work to figure things out. And in a business that needs trust, losing data is a big problem.
Smarter Rolling Starts With Potency Awareness
When you make a weekend cannagar or use cannabis to feel better, the amount of THC makes a big difference in how it feels.
How it Burns
Weed with high THC usually burns faster and hotter. This depends on the strain and how it was dried and prepared. If you are slow-smoking big rolls, especially with layers of concentrates or dry herbs, using a mix of high and low THC can help air move better. It also helps the roll burn evenly.
What Else is in it?
Cannabis has more than just THC. Things called terpenes and smaller cannabinoids like CBG, CBC, and CBN affect how it tastes and feels. If you don't have detailed tests, you don't know everything about your buds. And people who roll well miss the chance to make sessions that are balanced and taste good.
Why Knowing Everything Matters
The best cannabis isn't just about how strong it is. Flower called "full-spectrum" has a lot of THC and other cannabinoids that work well together. This gives clearer highs, smoother feelings as the effects change, and experiences you can tailor. Knowing what's in your weed helps you get the most out of your session.
So, rolling smarter isn't just about how you do it. It's also about knowing what you're using. Tools like Purple Rose Supply’s molds help make the best use of good flower. But what you start with is still important.
Who Steps Up When Federal Data Steps Back?
Now that the federal government isn't doing this, state testing labs are trying to help. But without a system for the whole country, there are big problems:
No Standard Rules
Every state makes its own rules for how labs should work, how they measure things, and what THC levels are okay. A cannabis sample tested in one state might show a different THC number than the same strain tested in another state. This makes things confusing for companies that sell in many states and customers who buy in different places.
No List for the Country
There is no single list that tracks how strong cannabis products are on average across the country. Because of this, companies, customers, and researchers have to try and put together results that are broken up and don't match.
More Risk of Lies and Wrong Labels
Some studies have shown that cannabis sellers lie about THC levels to charge more. When there isn't good checking, things aren't clear. And customers suffer because of it.
States like California and Colorado have done a lot. They require labels that show how strong the cannabis is and set minimum quality levels. But how these rules are checked and how much they cover is very different in each state.
For now, people who care about what they buy should buy from dispensaries with good reviews. And they should ask for lab results from a separate company.
Innovation Dead Ends: Why Research Still Needs Support
Stopping federal research on cannabis causes big problems for new ideas:
Less Research on Cannabinoids
The cannabis plant has over 100 cannabinoids. We still don't know much about many of them. The government isn't paying for studies on cannabinoids other than THC and CBD anymore. This stops new ideas for possible medical uses.
Slower Medical Discoveries
Cannabinoids have shown good results for problems like epilepsy, PTSD, and long-lasting pain. But the government doing nothing makes it harder to move studies forward, find people to be in them, or get money for them.
Affects Rolling Tools and Tech
Things used for rolling have gotten better as the cannabis market has grown. Tools like the CannaMold and curing tubes need scientific research to make them better. This research can help improve how things burn, how to add other things, or how to mix different strains.
New ideas need data to grow. If we don't learn more about cannabinoids, how materials work, and how strong weed is, products for both experts and regular users will stop getting better.
Mixed Signals from the Feds
The federal government keeps sending unclear messages about cannabis. Some politicians and groups want more public knowledge and more staff. But on the other hand, important cannabis research programs are being stopped.
Police Work vs. Teaching People
The DEA is reportedly hiring more people, even for jobs like “coffee baristas.” This is happening while they are strongly pushing to stop drug use by force.
And then the Department of Veterans Affairs asked for people to help teach doctors and veterans about the good and bad points of using cannabis for health.
These actions don't line up. They confuse regular people and scientists. Is cannabis bad, or is it medicine?
Musk and DOGE: Culture vs. Control
The Department of Government Efficiency is linked to Elon Musk's ideas for changing the government. It says it wants to make government simpler. Yet DOGE’s moves show something else.
On one side, the department wants more drug testing for workers and stricter rules for controlled substances. On the other, it cuts important cannabis data programs. These programs are key for keeping people safe and making rules based on facts.
This difference shows a fight between two ways of thinking. It's about wanting rules but not helping with the research needed for those rules. If marijuana is getting stronger, but we spend less time studying it, we are risking more than just wasting money. We are risking how safe people are and if they can trust products.
What You Can Do: Roll With Confidence
If you use cannabis, it's becoming more up to us to stay informed and ask for things to be clear.
Buy Weed That's Tested
Look for papers called certificates of analysis (COAs). These should come from labs that are not part of the company selling the weed. These papers show THC/CBD levels and if there are bad things like pesticides or heavy metals.
Use the Right Rolling Tools
Purple Rose Supply’s molds let you make cannagars that burn slowly. You can match them to how strong your weed is. If your flower has a lot of THC, using a good mold is key to managing how fast it burns. It also helps control how easy it is to pull smoke through, making it smoother.
Help Push for Research
If you care about what you put in your roll, you should support rules that help more research on cannabis. Call the people who represent you in government. Join groups that work for this cause. Share information to help make sure using cannabis is safe, smart, and can keep going for a long time. When you know about your flower and how it was tested, you're not just getting high. You're making smart choices.
Want to roll smarter? Shop Purple Rose Supply’s CannaMold and make your sessions better.
