http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/05/14/marijuana.potency/

marijuana potency surpasses 10 percent, U.S. says


OXFORD, Mississippi (CNN) -- The average potency of marijuana, which has risen steadily for three decades, has exceeded 10 percent for the first time, the U.S. government will report on Thursday.
Mahmoud ElSohly says marijuana's potency will continue to rise before tailing off in the next five years.





Scientists working for the government predict that potency, as measured by the drug's concentration of the psychoactive ingredient THC, will continue to rise.
At the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project, where thousands of samples of seized marijuana are tested every year, project director Mahmoud ElSohly said some samples have THC levels exceeding 30 percent.
Average THC concentrations will continue to climb before leveling off at 15 percent or 16 percent in five to 10 years, ElSohly predicted.
The stronger marijuana is of particular concern because high concentrations of THC have the opposite effect of low concentrations, officials say.
In addition, while experienced marijuana users may limit their intake of potent marijuana, young and inexperienced users may not moderate their intake and possibly suffer from dysphoria, paranoia, irritability and other negative effects.
Potent marijuana also poses significant risk to the developing adolescent brain, said Edward Jurith, acting director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
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Increasing potency is leading to higher admissions to emergency rooms and drug treatment programs, officials say.
The average THC for tested marijuana during 2008 was 10.1 percent, according to the government, compared to 1983 when it was reportedly under 4 percent.
Even drugs seized at the United States' southwest border are showing increasing potency, the Office of National Drug Control Policy says. The median potency increased from 4.8 percent in 2003 to 7.3 percent in 2007. marijuana from Mexico and other southern sources traditionally had lower THC content then other sources'.
"The children I'm most worried about are children who are heavy users ... people who use it on a daily basis," said Dr. Lawrence Brain, a child psychiatrist in Maryland.
Lloyd D. Johnston, a University of Michigan professor who has spent 35 years studying youth drug use, said youth marijuana use has fluctuated dramatically over that period.
"One of the driving forces of that ... is the degree to which young people think that marijuana is dangerous," he said. "Perceived risk has usually been a leading indicator of changes."
News about potency is not likely to change adolescents' behavior, Brain said.
"I'm not advocating the use of marijuana at all," he said. "But in some ways, it is out there. ... Telling them it's 10 percent -- three times more potent than what their parents smoked -- is not an argument they are likely to buy into or to even utilize in any constructive sort of way.
"I think they do what they do today. I don't think they consider or reflect on what it might have been like 30 years ago."

The stronger marijuana is of particular concern because high concentrations of THC have the opposite effect of low concentrations, officials say.

wow that was well said. brilliant deduction.

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(From the link).

Why would we think or even need to care about what the pot was like 30 years ago? Ok, so it's stronger now, less being used is needed for it's medicinal effects.

- No relevance.

That is a craptastic article, completely redundant piece of journalism.

(From the link).

- I'd like to see the documentation of this, but of course the journalist didn't provide it in the story. Why doesn't that surprise me?

I would agree overall. 30 yrs. ago there was no hydro business the public was involved in. Therefore only commercial pot from Mexico etc was being siezed and tested. I am sure very little Maui Wowi, Colombian Gold etc was included in testing. Today guessing 25-50 % of the weed of the seized tested group includes well produced hydro and such weed. Explains it to me and I was around to see the 4 finger bags of yesterday. Anyone remember calling it that?

oh yeah the big old 4 finger bags for 45 bucks back in my day. lol im very happy nowadays to be self sufficient. and have access to better genetics and equipment.

__________________

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Mid 70's...4 finger bag = $20.00 and a elbow was going for $150.00 - $175.00.. the goodoledays

4 fingers for 10 bucks, yep I remember the days, shit really kicked ass too, with nothing to compare it to anyways.. My dad would give me 10 bucks a week for lunch at school (I was 16 then, more than 30 years ago) and would spend every dime on a bag w/ seeds!

My friend (V. KUSCH, was her name) and I bought a bag from her brother and went straight to our very first concert with the bag all rolled into joints, we were prepared. We saw Blue Oyster Cult and Black Sabbath w/ Ozzie on the beach. We were high and we shared. Those were the days, funny to think of now.

Those 4 finger bags were 20-25 dollars round here for really top stuff of the day. Maybe Wahokin gold or colombian gold with lots of hairs. Rolled huge joints maybe 20 per bag. The roaches were all kept and were about the size of todays small joints. Nice memories....