Propaganda Us: "pot 2.0" Is More Potent

[robert whitfield]

"Pot 2.0" is more potent
By: Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor

Thur Apr 26, 2007 8:59 AM EDT

(Pic)- A close-up image of a dried, potent, Cannabis bud (Enlarge Pic). Ryan Bushby/Wikipedia

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The marijuana being sold across the United States is stronger than ever, which could explain a growing number of medical emergencies that involve the drug, government drug experts said on Wednesday.

Analysis of seized samples of marijuana and hashish showed that more of the cannabis on the market is of the strongest grade, the White House and National Institute for Drug Abuse said.

They cited data from the University of Mississippi's Marijuana Potency Project showing the average levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, in the products rose from 7 percent in 2003 to 8.5 percent in 2006.

The level had risen steadily from 3.5 percent in 1988.

National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Dr. Nora Volkow fears the problem is not being taken seriously because many adults remember the marijuana of their youth as harmless.

"It's really not the same type of marijuana," Volkow said in a telephone interview.

"This could explain why there has been an increase in the number of medical emergencies involving marijuana."

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Adminstration, marijuana was involved in 242,200 visits to hospital emergency rooms in 2005. This means that the patient mentioned using marijuana and does not mean the drug directly caused the accident or condition being treated, SAMHSA says.

The number is up from 215,000 visits in 2004.

The pharmacy department at Mississippi has compiled data on 59,369 samples of cannabis, 1,225 hashish samples, and 443 hash oil samples confiscated since 1975. "The highest concentration of (THC) found in a cannabis (marijuana) sample is 33.12 percent from Oregon State Police," the report reads.

'THIS IS POT 2.0'

Hashish and hash oil concentrations are far higher, as they consist of processed plant product.

"Researchers and treatment experts have argued for some time that today's more powerful marijuana has more harmful effects on users. This report underscores that we are no longer talking about the drug of the 1960s and 1970s -- this is Pot 2.0," John Walters, director of National Drug Control Policy, said in a statement.

Volkow said demand has driven growers to cultivate the stronger stuff. "It is the market," she said. "Like in the market you favor the best tomatoes. When people buy marijuana, they don't want a weak cigarette."

Volkow's institute has been studying the effects of cannabis, whose active ingredients are very similar to important brain chemicals called endogenous cannabinoids. "It clearly is addictive," she said.

If children and adolescents use marijuana, it could affect their still-developing brains, she said.

The report said more than 60 percent of teens receiving treatment for drug abuse or dependence report marijuana as their primary drug of abuse.

"Although the overall number of young people using marijuana has declined in recent years, there is still reason for great concern, particularly since roughly 60 percent of first-time marijuana users are under 18 years old," Volkow said.

According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health 4.1 million Americans, or 1.7 percent of the population, report they use marijuana.

http://maconareaonline.com/news.asp?id=17049

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thanks for posting

[MrG]

Great, it was only a matter of time I suppose.

The good ol' USA has pretty much decided to copy the UK's, highly questionable, claim about everything being "super skunk" and so much higher in THC than before.

"This is Pot 2.0" - Which translates as "I came up with the greatest friggin slang name for modern weed and I'm gonna say it to as many people as I can until everybody starts using it!"

Just another excuse to keep the hype rolling for the WoD.

[concerned parent]
This Pot 2.0 has me so worried about little Johnny.
I need a beer to calm my nerves, maybe something a little stronger like a shot of bourbon.
[/concerned parent]

[old hippie 56]

How in the hell does a person that consumes this so-called potent pot ends up in the hospital? Swim smoke some killer bud with higher THC levels before and never went to a ER. Might have went to a store to get something to cure the munchies.

[enquirewithin]

Hashish and hash oil concentrations are far higher, as they consist of processed plant product.

Not very well informed. These have been around for many, many years. Hash oil is a good example of very strong cannabis which has been around for a long time without causing schizophrenia or ER visits.

[Lunar Loops]

Originally Posted by old hippie 56

How in the hell does a person that consumes this so-called potent pot ends up in the hospital? Swim smoke some killer bud with higher THC levels before and never went to a ER. Might have went to a store to get something to cure the munchies.

Exactly, what the hell are these "medical emergencies"?

[Lehendakari]

^^ I don't want to be the "pig" here, but I do know about certain cases of people freaking out very strongly in their first MJ trips. This was unexperienced people and generally underage and possibly they had a previus mental disorder bla bla bla.... but it happens.

Please don't flame me for posting this.

Reputation Comments on this post:

Thanks for adding this data point

[veRGe]

What do they do at the hospital? "You are mega-stoned, son. Eat this hamburger and go to sleep."

Reputation Comments on this post:

LOL - Nice one.

[Digemlo]

I can't even begin to talk about how much it bothers me when people say that THC is the (implied only) active ingredient in weed.

[acolon_5]

Most likely many of these "medical emergencies" are parents coming home to find little Tommy and Betty stoned out of their minds, giggling, laughing, and otherwise having a fun time....Mother dearest freaks out because her "babies" are high on evil, devil drugs that came straight from the hands of Osama so she rushes them off to the ER.

I have personally seen something like this happen before. Medical Emergency my ass. Concerned parent, who is horribly misinformed and inudated with WoD propaganda, emergencies would be more accurate.

[Purest]

The medical emergencies mentioned do not mention wether they were caused by cannabis useage alone or if it was cannabis and alcohol, the latter of course is generally the more common.

This is the same argument that the UK have been throwing around for ages now, its a good way to create a moral panic with overprotective parents and gives more fuel to anti-drug groups who start quoting all these figures that say that people are more at risk, when really it just means people smoke less to get the same desired effects.

[guncow]

So where can my cat find the weed with 33% THC? That would be ridiculous.

[enquirewithin]

Originally Posted by Lehendakari

^^ I don't want to be the "pig" here, but I do know about certain cases of people freaking out very strongly in their first MJ trips. This was unexperienced people and generally underage and possibly they had a previus mental disorder bla bla bla.... but it happens.

Please don't flame me for posting this.

Yes, freaking out, but that's it.

[veRGe]

"Freaking out" doesn't require a visit to the ER lol.

[Senor Gribson]

this kind of article has been going around for years. what i read from it is;

"we *might have* lied to your parents when we told them all these same stories we're telling you, but this time we're telling the truth. honest."

[Nature Boy]

This article may exaggerate the potency of today's cannabis but it doesn't seem to include the same ridiculous psychological damage accusations the British campaign uses.

[Nacumen]

This is the third time I've seen an article on this subject within the past few years.

"many adults remember the marijuana of their youth as harmless."

I think the MSM (mainstream media) used that line every time, too.

[elpatto]

Yea SWIM hears alot about youngsters goin to hospital after getting a real intense trip off weed. It is possibly with some strains to have visuals, trips and sometimes very physical trips. For example, SWIM has before felt like his breathing was becoming depressed an after smoking alot of this super strong bud, it probably was in all honesty, but swim is quite hard to worry.

I think this comes from a change in drug culture aswell though, it seems that more and more people are "Heavy smokers" rather then "Constant smokers". It probably comes from all the strains coming out, crosses of marijuana that bring alot of different effects. It is quite probable that alot more Indica grass was smoked in the past.

Peace.

[Rhin]

Hmm well it's nice to see that the media still sucks. Hash is going to be more potent than any Marijuanna anyone will find and even that doesn't send anyone to the hospital.

SWIM smoked about a quarter of hash without stopping and he didn't have to go to the hospital. These people going to the hospital probably just freak out because they are inexperienced and it was one of their first times. The media always picks out the bad examples.

[cosmicruler]

Quote;"Most likely many of these "medical emergencies" are parents coming home to find little Tommy and Betty stoned out of their minds, giggling, laughing, and otherwise having a fun time....Mother dearest freaks out because her "babies" are high on evil, devil drugs that came straight from the hands of Osama so she rushes them off to the ER."

Very well said swiacalon!!!

yet another BS marijuana propaghanda story from the good ol US of A!!!

What too many youngsters buying premiem bud instead of your afghan heroin Georgie boy!!?cutting into ya profit margins aye!!!

[Swimster]

Well, it dosn't matter how much you smoke because of the "tolorance factor" (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...306#post471306).

Simply, higher potency means less to take in for desired effects.

[cosmicruler]

Originally Posted by Swimster

Well, it dosn't matter how much you smoke because of the "tolorance factor" (http://www.drugs-forum.com/forum/sho...306#post471306).

Simply, higher potency means less to take in for desired effects.

Exactly.

Or in other words,'harm reduction'.
The less smoke needed for desired effects the less damage to 1s lungs and less cost to the taxpayer if 1 needs hospital treatment etc ,thus potentially saving the country money.

[blahaha]

A few years ago when my friend was new to smoking, he got ahold of some killer nugs. He was used to smoking stress. Anyways, the first time he tried smoking the 'nugs' he got so stoned he could barely move. He could barely even keep his eyelids open. So he lied down on his bed and closed his eyes. He saw random shapes like triangles, squares, circles, etc. with very bright colors. Swim can see how that might scare some kids into going to the hospital. Swim really hates this propaganda though. Swim wonders if they really believe weed is that dangerous?

[Alfa]

No Super potent skunk: THC content of Dutch cannabis decreases from 20% to 16%

[fiveleggedrat]

I've read lots of american gov propaganda on marijuana levels, saying that in the 70's and 80's, concentration of thc in marijuana plants was around 4% maximum, average being 1-2%. That's laughable. So is saying that concentrations today are often as high as 35% THC.

Government resources are full of lies.

[cra$h]

I believe weed's a lot stronger than it was in the 60's. Like mentioned in the article, it's the market. In the 50's and 60's, weed wasn't really viewed as a money maker like today, but it's durring the 60's when things changed. People wanted something between lsd and weed, and so they just made stronger weed. Stronger weed=more money. Every market changed durring the 70's, and people got greedy. I'm starting to ramble now, but in it's simplest: Weed is obviously more stronger (exact numbers unkown) than before it was popularized.