American Morning
Marijuana potency surpasses 10 percent, U.S. says
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/14/art_marijuanaelsohly_cnn.jpg caption= "Mahmoud ElSohly says marijuana's potency will continue to rise before tailing off in the next five years."]
By Jeanne Meserve and Mike M. Ahlers
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.
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.
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HIGHER THE POTENCY THE BETTER ID SAY! only an idiot would try to use the higher potency theory to be more dangerous only to be more stupid and ignorant to the facts. END THIS PROHIBITION ALREADY!
we end marijuana prohibiton and mexico can even benefit from this>!? how? well if we legalized hemp we would cut off the mexican cartels that fuel,thrive from MARIJUANA PROHIBITION. CARTELS dont want america to legalize weed cause they make half there money from the distribution of marijuana aka cannabis sativa indica. GG K THANKS mexicans make crappy brick seedy weed. while American Hydroponics deliver stunning impressive percentages in improving the quality of this medicine . NO MORE PROHIBITION ! NOMORE UNLAWFUL ARRESTS! NOMORE WASTING MY TAX DOLLARS ON ARRESTING WEAK PATIENTS AND Young americans . AND MEN AND WOMEN WHO CONSUME THIS HARMLESS VICE. TO THE END of PROHIBITION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i bet the drug dogs go crazy when they walk by this guys place from the looks of him he could proubly use a couple of tokes to smile on his face.
I would like for reporters to start asking the question. Do you consider pot in the same group with heroin, cocaine, etc?
I'm 55 years old, back in the 70's and 80's there was Cannabis available from all over the world. It was multicolored and had various potencies depending on where it was grown. As a horticulturist, I know that potency can be grown into a plant, just as color in flowers. Much of the stuff we moked 2-30 years ago seemed as potent as anything I've had lately. But beyond th THC part, Cannabis grows anywhere with little care and has tons of industrial uses, from soap to skin cream to rope. It needs to be decriminalized and made available as it is in Canada.
This ridiculous marijuana issue should have been resolved a long time ago. This harmless plant has been vilified by ignorant people for far to long. ALCOHOL alone causes many billions each year in crime, accidents, hospitalization , courts, prisons, treatment, loss work time, many deaths ,and a host of other problems. TOBACCO does the same almost. YET these two vices are legal. The hypocrisy is staggering ,about marijuana which if legal would not really have any detrimental effect on society, and would not only create a great new source of revenue, but WE would quit locking up people for this harmless plant..
THC potency is 10% of what? The mass of the entire plant? The mass of a 5 microgram swab of oil taken off the plant's surface? 10% of a concentration that is 10 times more potent than what the 10% potency value is being compared to?
"10% potency" is an utterly meaningless term. It's like advertising where you take the price that you want to charge for something, double it, write that number down, cross it out, write down the price, and then say "50% off!"
I am finally pleased to see that this subject is "on the table" after all these years of tyrany. We the people should have the choices all to ourselves without a "daddy" telling the adults what they should be doing ..or not doing. I do not need another father here, what I need is for my rights to be re-established so I can make the choice ALL BY MYSELF!! This plant is the most wonderful and versital plant that ever was created. It not only can help in the financial recovery of the USA, but also can feed, clothe, and produse products for our public that are not only made cheaper, but also stronger and better. Isn't that the reason it was illegalized to begin with?? Dupont did not want this plant legal!! Look into the history of this plant and you will be surprised at all that you discover! They took our rights off of us...for money.. Pure and simple! It would not have killed anyone, just maybe the plastic industry among others! END PROHIBITION! Prohibition is just unamerican.. Our country may not have ended up in all of this financial devestation if we just were allowed to KEEP OUR AMERICA RIGHTS! It could have done sooooooo much for our communities and anyone who does not think so -well, they just need educated on the REALITY of the plant and not all of the mumbo-jumbo fed to them by our govt. Thier realities are really not reality.
Oh please! Scare stories like this are nonsense.
Back when I was young, we smoked that "weaker" marijuana in massive amounts. I'm sure we got as much THC as today's users.
Oh, and the effect of a marijuana "overdose" is – you fall asleep!
Potency is up but Gail is right there is no "toxicity" for marijuana unlike alcohol and nicotine. The government can continue to parade the "Reefer Madness" argument to the remaining Baby-boomers but I think the "Just Say Nancy" generation is losing traction.
To Gail – but then what would we do with all the DEA agents, lawyers, judges, treatment centers etc. that have been developed by the illegal status of this plant? We certainly couldn't then start to fix some real problems, that would just be wrong.
I am not saying that we should feed cannibas to our children but instead of putting the childrens parents in jail for it make it legal and TAX it. This could pay for treating the really sick – alcoholics and heroin addicts, free up the court system, and let our police focus on victim crimes like rape, murder, assault etc.
When you air these stories I would also like it noted that in spite of the fact cannabis is stronger it still does not kill you, unlike our societies chosen and protected vices alcohol, tobacco and prescription drugs.
People are sent to the emergency room not because the effects are life threatening, but because the plant may cause paranoia in some people. This can actually be a good thing because if it scares the hell out of some kid without causing harm there is a chance that kid won't try it again.
The reason more people are showing up for cannabis treatment is not because more people are having problems with cannabis it's because more people are being mandated for treatment by the law. This is another example of our system continuing to capatalize on the money it makes from keeping this plant illegal.
It is time to end cannabis prohibition. It is time to let Americans utilize all aspects of this magnificient plant: food, fuel, fiber, medicine and recreation. You do not die from this plant. In fact, you can literally live on this plant.
Please represent the truth about this plant instead of continuing the 70 plus years of lies and misrepresentations about the cannabis plant as is indicated by this article today.