THC Potency in New Jersey Cannabis Jumps by Double Digits in Two Years

Between 2023 and 2025, cannabis potency in New Jersey climbed at an unprecedented rate, according to state data. The sharp increase — more than 12% in average THC levels — has prompted the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC) to launch an investigation into whether the spike is a natural trend or the result of fraudulent testing practices. Acting CRC Director Christopher Riggs confirmed that the agency intends to dig deeper into the numbers to determine whether lab manipulation could be a factor.

State Testing Rules Adjusted Amid Nationwide Scrutiny

Earlier this year, New Jersey officials made adjustments to state cannabis testing regulations, responding to growing national concerns about the integrity of marijuana testing labs. Across the United States, cannabis regulators, scientists, and industry insiders have expressed doubts about whether potency labels — along with safety data — can be trusted.

Riggs noted that while the cannabis plant itself has not fundamentally changed in the last two years, the lab results in New Jersey tell a different story. In his view, the scale of the THC jump is unusual enough to warrant closer examination.

Suspicious Trends Emerge in New Jersey Testing Data

State records show that the average tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) content in cannabis flower tested in New Jersey rose from 24.21% in 2023 to 27.21% in 2025 — a 12.4% increase. For an industry where potency has historically climbed only incrementally, the leap is significant.

Alongside the increase in THC levels, another pattern emerged: the fail rate for mold contamination dropped sharply, from 3.7% in 2023 to just 1% in 2025. Regulators also noted a disproportionate number of test results that landed just under the state’s allowable limit for mold. This clustering — referred to by Riggs as a “cliff” raises questions about whether labs might be adjusting results to avoid triggering failures.

Mold Failures and the “Cliff Effect” Raise Red Flags

In a naturally occurring scenario, test results for contaminants like mold would be expected to distribute across a range without obvious clustering near regulatory limits. The “cliff effect” observed in New Jersey’s data could indicate that certain labs are producing results tailored to help products pass.

Regulators stress that mold does not respond to legal thresholds — meaning that consistent spikes just below the fail line could signal human interference. The CRC’s analysis of these patterns is a central element of its investigation.

New Jersey Joins Growing List of States Confronting Potential Lab Fraud

The Garden State is now the latest in a line of jurisdictions facing questions about the accuracy of cannabis testing. Across the country, numerous commercial marijuana testing labs have been accused of inflating THC results or passing products contaminated with mold, pesticides, or other unsafe substances.

In several states, such accusations have resulted in license suspensions, fines, or complete shutdowns of labs found to have manipulated results. Despite this trend, New Jersey regulators have yet to take public enforcement action against any testing facility.

Consumer Demand for High THC Fuels Potential Potency Inflation

A key driver behind possible potency inflation is consumer preference. In the regulated cannabis market, many buyers continue to view higher THC percentages as a proxy for product quality or potency, even though scientific research shows that THC content is not a reliable indicator of the cannabis experience.

This market pressure creates an incentive for growers and retailers to seek the highest THC numbers possible — and for labs to deliver those results in order to keep clients happy. Critics argue that this dynamic is a structural flaw in the cannabis industry’s current lab-testing framework.

National Pattern: Lab Integrity Under Pressure

New Jersey’s investigation mirrors challenges seen in other state-legal cannabis markets. In multiple states, independent reviews and whistleblower reports have revealed systemic issues with cannabis testing, including:

• Inflated THC levels to meet consumer demand.
  
• Passing products that should fail due to contamination.
  
• Inconsistent testing standards between labs.
  

In some cases, the manipulation has been blatant — such as reporting implausibly high THC percentages or clearing products later found to contain banned pesticides.

Independent Testing Raises Additional Concerns in New Jersey

An independent organization recently conducted a “secret shopper” program in New Jersey, purchasing cannabis from licensed retailers and submitting it for third-party analysis. Their results suggested that contaminated products had made it onto store shelves, despite being cleared by state-licensed labs.

While these findings have not yet led to formal regulatory action, they reinforce concerns among lab watchdogs that the sudden potency jump and clustered mold results are possible indicators of fraud.

What Regulators Hope to Achieve with the Probe

The CRC’s investigation will focus on identifying whether the recent potency spike is an artifact of natural cultivation trends, improved genetics, or deliberate manipulation by testing facilities. Regulators will examine historical testing data, compare lab methodologies, and assess whether certain labs are consistently reporting higher THC values or lower fail rates than others.

The goal is not only to verify the integrity of the testing process but also to ensure consumer safety and protect the credibility of New Jersey’s legal cannabis market.

The Stakes for New Jersey’s Cannabis Industry

If the CRC uncovers evidence of misconduct, the consequences could be significant. Testing labs found to be falsifying results could face license revocation, fines, or criminal charges. Growers and retailers relying on fraudulent test results could also face penalties, product recalls, and reputational damage.

On the other hand, a transparent investigation that clears the labs of wrongdoing could help bolster public trust in New Jersey’s cannabis program — provided the state commits to maintaining rigorous oversight going forward.

Broader Implications for National Cannabis Regulation

The New Jersey case could become a touchstone for other states grappling with similar questions. If the CRC’s probe confirms lab manipulation, it could add momentum to calls for standardized national testing protocols. Such standards would aim to reduce inconsistencies between state programs and minimize opportunities for fraud in potency and safety reporting.

Given the rapid expansion of legal cannabis markets and the billions of dollars at stake, maintaining the integrity of lab testing is likely to remain one of the most pressing issues in cannabis regulation nationwide.

What Comes Next

The CRC has not yet provided a timeline for its investigation or indicated whether immediate enforcement actions are likely. For now, cannabis operators, consumers, and industry advocates will be watching closely to see whether the state’s potency spike is the result of legitimate agricultural advances or a symptom of deeper problems in the testing system.

The outcome could determine how New Jersey, and possibly other states, approach cannabis lab oversight in the years ahead.

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