Cannabis Can

From Government Weed to Industry Roots: How America’s First Cannabis Co-Packer Inspired Hummingbird

When people think about cannabis today, sleek dispensaries and flashy packaging often come to mind. However, the industry didn’t begin with polished branding or celebrity strains. Instead, it grew from protest, persistence, and patients who had nothing left to lose.

At Hummingbird, we proudly carry that legacy forward. We don’t just build pre-roll machines — we continue the story of cannabis as medicine, advocacy, and community. That’s why we welcomed an artifact into our HQ that speaks louder than words: a real federal cannabis tin from the now-closed Compassionate Investigational New Drug (IND) program.

This isn’t merely a piece of history. It’s compelling proof that, long before legalization gained momentum, the U.S. government served as the country’s first cannabis co-packer.

Lunch With Legends

More than a decade ago, I shared lunch with three extraordinary women. The setting felt calm, yet their stories carried a weight that never left me.

Elvy Musikka, who is legally blind, explained how cannabis preserved her vision. Doctors had warned she might go blind from glaucoma. Nevertheless, she refused to surrender without a fight. Turning to cannabis for relief, she sued the federal government for legal access — and won.

That legal victory placed her in the IND program. Every month, she received a tin containing 300 pre-rolled joints from the U.S. government. Sitting beside her that day, Debby Goldsberry shared decades of organizing experience. Across the table, Aundre Speciale reflected on years of equity work and underground access programs.

These women didn’t just talk the talk — they paved the road we now walk. Years later, Debby handed me one of those tins. In that moment, past and future connected in my hands.

A Lawsuit That Sparked a Program

To understand how radical that tin is, we must revisit the beginning. In 1976, Robert Randall became the first person in U.S. history to win a medical necessity defense for using cannabis. Like Elvy, he had glaucoma. Similar to her case, he turned to marijuana when nothing else worked. Randall’s court victory forced the government to create the IND program.

Initially, only a few patients qualified. They battled serious conditions like glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, or HIV/AIDS. As the AIDS epidemic escalated, hundreds of new applicants overwhelmed the system. In response, the federal government abruptly shut the doors. Consequently, the IND program froze in place.

The U.S. Government Rolled Weed — For Real

Following Randall’s case, the federal government built a functioning medical marijuana pipeline. The setup wasn’t ad hoc — it followed a full-scale production model:

• The University of Mississippi handled cultivation.

• A government-contracted lab in North Carolina, widely believed to be RTI International, processed and rolled the joints.

• Each tin held 300 joints per patient, distributed monthly.

• Shipments went out by mail or through designated pharmacies.

In essence, the government became America’s first vertically integrated cannabis operator. It didn’t innovate or promote. Instead, it focused on control, containment, and consistency.

Eventually, in 1992, President George H. W. Bush’s administration froze new admissions. Thirteen patients remained in the program. As of today, only Elvy Musikka survives from that original group.

The Collapse of a Pipeline

Despite its legal standing, the program’s logistics unraveled. Although the IND technically still exists on paper, the supply chain quietly crumbled. No more rolled joints arrived. Scheduled deliveries stopped. Patients received no formal explanation.

Elvy never received a termination letter. Technically, she remains enrolled. However, the service simply faded away. In practice, she now depends on Florida’s state medical cannabis program. While the federal government initiated her journey, it no longer walks beside her.

This quiet failure highlights more than bureaucratic neglect. It reveals how institutions collapse without warning or responsibility. Much like countless others, Elvy experienced abandonment — silent and systemic.

The Tin That Tells the Truth

That tin now lives front and center at our headquarters. We don’t store it in a glass case or archive it in a drawer. Instead, we place it where we see it — every single day.

Why do we do that? Because it reminds us who fought. Furthermore, it honors patients who risked everything. It reflects caregivers who filled gaps when the system failed. Most importantly, it celebrates a grassroots movement that kept cannabis alive.

Every time we operate our machines, that tin grounds us in purpose and reminds us who we serve. As a result, it stands not just as a relic, but as a beacon of perseverance.

From Government Cheese to Government Weed

Everyone’s heard of government cheese — dense, overprocessed, and widely distributed. Similarly, the weed in those tins didn’t impress anyone with its quality. The THC tested below 7%. Rolling consistency lacked polish. Smoking experience often felt harsh.

Even so, those joints changed everything. They served as proof that the government acknowledged cannabis had medical value. That single recognition cracked open the door. Consequently, the entire industry now walks through it with confidence.

Because of that proof, we keep pushing. In every joint, there’s a trace of protest. With every pre-roll, there’s a history of resilience. Each tin carried more than medicine — it carried legitimacy and proof of concept.

Hummingbird Rolls Onward — With Intention

This is why Hummingbird exists.

We design tools for those who fight — growers, operators, caregivers, and creators. Our machines deliver speed, accuracy, and operational freedom.

While big corporations may grab the spotlight, small teams do the hard work. Hummingbird helps them grow without compromise. We support builders who reflect the values of Elvy, Debby, and Aundre.

We don’t just produce equipment. Instead, we empower independence. Additionally, we celebrate resilience through every product we release.

Moreover, we believe stories build systems. That’s why we remember. That’s why we share. That’s why we roll — because the work continues.

Explore our system of fill kits, loaders, and closers. Discover how we’re shaping the next era of pre-rolls — one cone at a time.

The Story Keeps Rolling

Maybe you’ve got a relic of your own. Perhaps it’s a memory, a movement, a handmade tin, or a life-changing moment.

We want to hear it. Reach out. Share your story. Help us preserve the roots. After all, stories build the bridge between generations.

This movement didn’t emerge from nowhere. People built it. Furthermore, communities nurtured it. Advocates passed it on. Ultimately, their hands shaped the future.

At Hummingbird, we roll with them — and for them.