Compromised External Validity: Federally Produced Cannabis Does Not Reflect Legal Markets

• DOI: 10.1038/srep46528
• Publication Date: 2017-04-19T09:38:41Z
• Authors: Daniela Vergara; L. Cinnamon Bidwell; Reggie Gaudino; Anthony Torres; Gary Du; Travis C. Ruthenburg; Kymron deCesare; Donald P. Land; Kent E. Hutchison; Nolan C. Kane
• Keywords: Cannabinol; Effects of cannabis; Illicit drug; Chemotype

As the most widely used illicit drug worldwide, and as a source of numerous under-studied pharmacologically-active compounds, precise understanding variability in psychological physiological effects Cannabis varieties is essential. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) designated sole legal producer for use US research studies. We sought to compare chemical profiles that are available consumers states have state-legalized versus what researchers interested studying plant its effects. Our results demonstrate federally-produced has significantly less variety lower concentrations cannabinoids than observed state-legal U.S. dispensaries. Most dramatically, NIDA's contain only 27% THC levels much 11-23 times Cannabinol (CBN) content compared markets. Research restricted using current range thus may yield limited insights into chemical, biological pharmacological properties, medical potential material state Investigation urgently needed full diversity chemotypes known be public.