Federal Funding Cut Hits Longtime Marijuana Monitoring Program
The U.S. government has abruptly canceled a long-running research program tracking marijuana potency in seized drugs—marking another swing of the budget-cutting axe under the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), now headed by Elon Musk.
The contract, historically awarded to the University of Mississippi, funded analysis of confiscated cannabis samples for their THC and CBD content. The university has been central to federal marijuana research since the 1960s and was the sole legal supplier of cannabis for scientific studies for decades.
What the Program Tracked—and What’s at Stake
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) confirmed the canceled program focused on identifying potency trends in cannabis plant material, hashish, and hash oil through gas chromatography. The goal: assess how the psychoactive chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) has changed in illicit markets over time.
And it has—dramatically. THC levels in seized cannabis have soared from an average of 3.96% in 1995 to over 16% in 2022. But those updates may no longer be tracked. On May 1, the federal government quietly terminated the $143,000 contract “for convenience,” citing its ongoing cost-cutting initiative.
In a post on X, DOGE claimed the cut is part of a broader effort that terminated 148 federal contracts worth nearly $420 million. DOGE framed the move as eliminating “wasteful spending,” though critics argue it may hobble public health knowledge and scientific transparency.
Critics Say Research Is Being Targeted, Not Enforcement
The cancellation follows similar cuts, including the elimination of a separate federal grant for a study on cannabis use among LGBTQ+ and non-binary populations—raising concerns that the administration is selectively defunding cannabis research rather than drug enforcement.
Meanwhile, the DEA, which sends cannabis samples for analysis, is doubling down on drug enforcement, even appealing to civilians—like baristas—to join the war on drugs.
Adding to the concern, internal memos at the National Cancer Institute reveal marijuana is now considered a “controversial topic” requiring clearance before public discussion.
Despite hopes that Musk’s DOGE would streamline enforcement agencies like the DEA, the efficiency campaign appears to be falling hardest on research, not policing.
Related Stories and Broader Cannabis Coverage
For more reporting on cannabis policy shifts and federal research cuts, check out our related stories:
- DOGE Cancels OSU Cannabis Research Grant
- New Hampshire Cannabis Legalization Rejected in 2025
- Czech Republic to Cover Medical Cannabis Under Insurance
