Study: Marijuana potency increases in 2007

[flashl]

WASHINGTON - Marijuana potency increased last year to the highest level in more than 30 years, posing greater health risks to people who may view the drug as harmless, according to a report released Thursday by the White House.

The latest analysis from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project tracked the average amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in samples seized by law enforcement agencies from 1975 through 2007. It found that the average amount of THC reached 9.6 percent in 2007, compared with 8.75 percent the previous year.

The 9.6 percent level represents more than a doubling of marijuana potency since 1983, when it averaged just under 4 percent.

"Today's report makes it more important than ever that we get past outdated, anachronistic views of marijuana," said John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He cited baby boomer parents who might have misguided notions that the drug contains the weaker potency levels of the 1970s.

Yahoo

Yeah???

[ixion]

1. Yeah, they like to drag this ruse out once in a while

the TRUTH of the matter is that no one has EVER over-dosed from smoking pot. It's non-toxic, and non-lethal, hence it impossible.

This increased potency thing is simply a red herring to muddy the waters, to mix metaphors.

[tekisui]

2. Whatever the potency,

It's been working for me for over ten years. The stronger the bud, the less I need to smoke. It is probably better for me.

[PetrusMonsFormicarum]

3. Sure is funny

how they have endless amounts of spare dosh to do these stupid potency studies of marijuana, but all that funding seems to dry up when it comes time to do some serious research into its effects and effectiveness on various conditions.

[Android3.14]

4. This is such a panic idiocy

A higher potency just means a person uses less.

Consider alcohol, even with it's addictive quality. They have shot glasses because most people don't want to end up in the hospital.

In the land of the drug user (as opposed to the drug abuser) they have the equivalent of a shot glass. It's called a pinch hitter.

[droidamus2]

5. Read carefully

If you notice the so called study starts off by saying that 'potency' has risen. That would lead one to believe, if they didn't think too much, that the best pot is even stronger than ever. But wait!!!!! As you read on you see that what they actually said is the AVERAGE potency of confiscated pot has risen. Gee could this mean that there is less dirt weed on the streets. Could this mean that cops focus more on going after high grade pot plantings then busting people bringing in Mexican pot (do they even do that anymore?) or not going after users of the more inexpensive varieties or as usual are they just lying their asses off. I just saw one of the cable news talking heads touting this study as 'proving' how terrible pot is. When you look deeper most these White House studies are just compilations of other studies. Otherwise what they do is go out and find all the studies that claim the worst effects for pot then they compile them into one cumulative study and try to say this shows how bad the 'pot problem' is. Of course they ignore any studies that would indicate that the other studies exaggerate their findings or are not scientifically valid. They roll this shit out (pun intended) every year to try to scare parents into supporting the 'war on drugs' which is just the war on the 60's. The conservatives will never get over what the baby boomers did in the 60's. The liberal boomers had sex, drugs and rock n' roll the conservatives had ... well...well not being one I don't know what they had in the 60's. Watch in the next month or two you will see at least one story that says drug dealers are trying to sell LSD to children by putting cartoon characters on the blotter acid (another of the DEA/governments favorite scare stories). Personally I believe the 'top' potency of pot has been pretty consistent since the late 70's to the early 80's. I grew up in northern California where a lot of the sinsemilla (sp?) varieties were developed and I don't run into anything these days that is any better than what we were smoking back then.

[Asgaya Dihi]

6. That's a point I've been explaining to people for years

It used to be that in the US a large portion of our supply came from Mexico or Columbia, mostly seeded and often heavily seeded. It had to be bricked or compressed which took a toll on potency, the seeds take a toll as well, then it was transported often in trunks of cars or other very hot areas which also take a toll on potency.

When they cracked down on outdoor grows and helicopters to monitor this stuff got more common all they managed to do was to force the grows indoors which was all but unheard of back in the lower potency days. Now it's seedless which is better, doesn't have to travel outside of the town it's grown in much of the time which is better in a number of ways, and without needing to brick it there's no mechanical damage to crush trichomes and degrade it yet again. It all adds up to higher potency based entirely off of environmental conditions and almost entirely as a direct result of drug war pressure itself rather than market forces. If they had just left us alone we might still be smoking Columbian. The pot itself hasn't really changed so much as the environment they've forced people to grow it in has.

[Karl_Bonner_1982]

7. Probably true

During the six years or so that I partaked, there was probably no notable change in our potency. Here in Eugene most of the pot is in the 'chronic' grade while we also get a fair share of the super-chronic (i.e. Humboldt).

Much of the increase could probably be explained by chronic strains taking up more of the market, or at least more of the pot busts. If all the strains are, at the same time, getting slightly stronger, the combination would seem to show a huge increase in potency.

What's interesting is that the prices haven't gone up here since the beginning of the decade. An eighth-ounce of typical Eugene chronic still goes for around $45-50, which means that after adjusting for inflation it's actually about 20% less expensive than back in 2001!

[Agent William]

8. I'm new to this whole

issue of higher potency levels. Well fuck I'm glad its more potent, thats what I pay for. More bang for my buck, eh. I wish these clown shoes would stop trashing pot. dope=good times



:)

[JonLP24]

9. The more THC the better, I have no problem with that finding

I believe it also varies in states and regions, those with more available.

:smoke:

[TxRider]

10. So they finally wised up enough to buy decent pot?

About time.

[BlueStateMind]

11. these stats are so skewed

the pot that is being tested in these findings is ultra expensive, ultra-elite astronaut pot, grown in hydroponic laboratories.

Anyone who seriously thinks that this stuff is getting sold to high school kids, and not millionaire pot smokers, is completely out of their minds.

[Poppy Adams]

13. Hey Man

I am in high-school and that is what i smoke so obviously not. HOWEVER, i do not buy mine i "borrow" it from my rich friends so in a way i suppose you could be right

[machI]

14. I would agree with you

Top dollar pot is definitely stronger that the average stuff I smoke. I only get the top of the line marijuana on special occasions or when it is given to me.

[TxRider]

12. All it means to me

Is that Law enforcement is copping some good smoke for a change...

I did lots of hash in the 70's, as people have done for thousands of years, I have yet to see pot more potent than that.

I sure wish Obama had enough spine to use his pen and take pot off the schedule of controlled substances.

[rcrush]

15. I'm spoiled

I usually only smoke nothing but hyrdo. I would only smoke the regs when it was time to roll a blunt with some friends but lately its been impossible to find regular weed where I live. Its weird.

[clixtox]

16. I'm always happiest when the news is so good! N/T

[Kulza23]

17. this is just economics

Prohibition causes increased potency because large, bulky drugs are easier to interdict. So drug producers have incentives to switch to smaller, more potent drugs, because they are easier to conceal. Hence the switch from cocaine to crack.