DEA Report Shows Reduced Cannabis Testing Amid Legalization

A recent DEA report highlighted a significant decrease in cannabis testing conducted by drug analysis laboratories, coinciding with the growing wave of marijuana legalization across the U.S.

As reported by Marijuana Moment, the DEA's National Forensic Laboratory Information System (NFLIS) compiled the report using data from 2022, offering valuable insights into evolving drug testing trends nationwide.

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About The Report

• Despite cannabis remaining among the top five substances most frequently identified in testing analyses, the report revealed a consistent decline in recent years.
• Notably, 2022 witnessed a substantial reduction in seized cannabis testing, along with other drugs such as methamphetamine, heroin, alprazolam and buprenorphine.

According to the DEA report, “Cannabis/THC reports slightly increased from 2008 to 2009, then decreased through 2022.”

Furthermore, in 2022, “methamphetamine was the most frequently identified drug, followed by cocaine, fentanyl, cannabis/THC and heroin. These five most frequently identified drugs accounted for approximately 73% of all drug reports.”

Regional Changes

While the Midwest was once a hotspot for cannabis reports in 2008, by 2019 numbers in the Midwest were similar to those in the Northeast and South. This shift may be attributed to progressive cannabis reforms in states like Illinois and Michigan. Meanwhile, Western states, pioneers in cannabis legalization, consistently reported lower numbers.

Read the full article at Marijuana Moment.

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