A university that for decades held a monopoly as the only institution federally authorized to grow marijuana for study purposes has confirmed that the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has ended a partnership through which the school provided cannabis for research.
"NIDA has chosen not to award the current year task order to the University of Mississippi for cannabis production," Jacob Batte, the director of news and media relations at Ole Miss, told Marijuana Moment in a statement Friday.
"The university has two years remaining on its federal contract," Batte added, "and stands ready to leverage its more than 57 years of cannabis research experience to advance the field of cannabis science and meet any future needs NIDA may have."
Mahmoud ElSohly—who has long helmed the university's cannabis cultivation and research division, contracted as part of NIDA's drug supply program—declined to offer additional comment. The cancellation was first noted by Cannabis Wire, which reported that although the government contract with Ole Miss for "production of cannabis and related materials for research" is active until 2028, NIDA told the school it won't be placing another order.
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