Now We Have Stronger Weed Than the Hippies Did
source: http://www.thevillagenews.com/story.php?story_id=31374
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- huffamoose2k
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Think marijuana is a harmless drug with insignificant effects?
A recent study into the psychoactive strength of marijuana was conducted by the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project and the findings were released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The result of the study points to a sharp increase in the THC levels (psychoactive component) in the plant-based drug. These findings have raised concerns over the mental health effects on adolescents using marijuana.
“The potency of marijuana in the United States has doubled since the mid-1980s,” said Rafael Lemaitre, spokesperson for ONDCP.
In 1983 the THC level was just under four percent, but Lemaitre said the current samples indicate the level has swollen to 9.6 percent.
According to their most recent quarterly report, the University of Mississippi used marijuana samples obtained by law enforcement in the confiscation process. In one sample, the THC level registered 37.2 percent.
The THC level has risen due to different reasons, Lemaitre said.
“There are more sophisticated growing techniques [being] used by drug traffickers,” he said, “and we also think there’s a concerted effort by drug gangs to take over the market share, because a better product has the higher potential for addiction and is better business for the bad guys.”
Lemaitre called the recent THC potency analysis in marijuana “troublesome.”
“Today, we are seeing more teenagers in treatment for marijuana addiction than for any other illegal drug, including alcohol,” he explained. “Marijuana is a different drug than what was around in the 1970s and we are seeing it as a very serious health threat.”
An adolescent brain, Lemaitre related, has not finished developing, so there is great concern about those smoking the drug with high THC levels.
“New research in the last four to five years shows troubling links between marijuana use and different kinds of psychosis, depression and schizophrenia,” he said.
Emergency rooms have seen their fair share of patients whose use of marijuana has led to paranoia, increased heart rate and panic/anxiety attacks.
“According to the California Healthy Kid Survey, marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug of youth in San Diego County,” said Clark Kiser, program manager for Mental Health Systems and North Inland Community Prevention Program.
A recent survey showed 17 percent of eleventh-graders in San Diego County admitted to using marijuana in the past 30 days. Nearly two-thirds of new marijuana users each year are between the ages of 12 and 17.
A recent study into the psychoactive strength of marijuana was conducted by the University of Mississippi’s Potency Monitoring Project and the findings were released by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA).
The result of the study points to a sharp increase in the THC levels (psychoactive component) in the plant-based drug. These findings have raised concerns over the mental health effects on adolescents using marijuana.
“The potency of marijuana in the United States has doubled since the mid-1980s,” said Rafael Lemaitre, spokesperson for ONDCP.
In 1983 the THC level was just under four percent, but Lemaitre said the current samples indicate the level has swollen to 9.6 percent.
According to their most recent quarterly report, the University of Mississippi used marijuana samples obtained by law enforcement in the confiscation process. In one sample, the THC level registered 37.2 percent.
The THC level has risen due to different reasons, Lemaitre said.
“There are more sophisticated growing techniques [being] used by drug traffickers,” he said, “and we also think there’s a concerted effort by drug gangs to take over the market share, because a better product has the higher potential for addiction and is better business for the bad guys.”
Lemaitre called the recent THC potency analysis in marijuana “troublesome.”
“Today, we are seeing more teenagers in treatment for marijuana addiction than for any other illegal drug, including alcohol,” he explained. “Marijuana is a different drug than what was around in the 1970s and we are seeing it as a very serious health threat.”
An adolescent brain, Lemaitre related, has not finished developing, so there is great concern about those smoking the drug with high THC levels.
“New research in the last four to five years shows troubling links between marijuana use and different kinds of psychosis, depression and schizophrenia,” he said.
Emergency rooms have seen their fair share of patients whose use of marijuana has led to paranoia, increased heart rate and panic/anxiety attacks.
“According to the California Healthy Kid Survey, marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug of youth in San Diego County,” said Clark Kiser, program manager for Mental Health Systems and North Inland Community Prevention Program.
A recent survey showed 17 percent of eleventh-graders in San Diego County admitted to using marijuana in the past 30 days. Nearly two-thirds of new marijuana users each year are between the ages of 12 and 17.
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spoonieday
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if THC was really so bad, the government wouldn't allow marinol to be distributed. (marinol is nothing but synthetic THC in pill form)
the fact that people who have psychosis are more likely to smoke weed does not mean that the weed caused pyschosis. the mentally ill are also more likely to drink alcohol but we don't ban the sale of it (which is strange because alcohol can actually kill very easily while weed can't kill you at all) or say that it makes people schizophrenic. schizophrenia is a brain disorder you either have it or you don't, smoking may potentiate its emergence but it does not cause it. - 3 years ago
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spoonieday
