Concern as Aussie cannabis gains potency

[OZ Stoners]

CANNABIS in Australia has gained potency over the years, according to a study that shows high average THC levels could be a mental health risk.        

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Concern as Aussie cannabis gains potency

• July 25, 2013 10:27AM

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According to a study, cannabis in Australia has gained potency and contains high levels of THC. Source: AAP

CANNABIS in Australia has become more potent over the years and contains high levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), according to a study of samples confiscated from recreational users and growers.

The drug has an average THC content of just under 15 per cent, according to the study by University of New South Wales (UNSW) and University of Sydney researchers.

There is widespread international concern that cannabis containing high levels of THC could be associated with increased mental health risks, says study leader Dr Wendy Swift of the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre at UNSW.

There is a strong lobby in the Netherlands to classify cannabis with 15 per cent or higher THC as a hard drug.

Dr Swift's team examined the content of 206 cannabis samples confiscated under the NSW cautioning scheme for recreational users found with 15g or less. They also examined 26 samples seized from large indoor and outdoor cultivation sites.

Both sets of samples had similar potency, according to the study, which is published in the international science journal PLOS ONE.

More than 40 per cent of the samples seized on the street and more than half seized from cultivation sites contained more than 15 per cent THC.

More than 85 per cent overall contained less than 0.1 per cent cannabidiol (CBD).

CBD does not get users high and is thought to counteract some of the negative effects of THC.

Dr Swift says the study is the first to demonstrate that, on average, cannabis in Australia is as powerful as samples measured in other countries.

"It also shows levels of CBD, which may ameliorate some of the harmful effects of THC, are extremely low.

"These results suggest the profile of cannabis currently used in Australia may make some users vulnerable to mental health problems."

More research is needed, however, to understand the full relevance of potency.

"We need to know more about the factors that affect how people respond to the drug," Dr Swift said.

"It is important that we have a national routine monitoring system to assess trends in the profile of cannabis and to better understand its relationship with health outcomes."

[Brimstond]

Should it say retains potency ? .... thought the main reason that canna is so much stronger then cannabis in the 70s is that people now days use better methods for storage and handling and stuff .... dunno .....

 

Cheers Brimstond

[brick]

It is bullshit. 70's cannabis was just as strong/potent. I have smoked some great smoko on the way to work in the 70's and was still smashed 6 hours later.The only difference now imo is that the kids under 20 are getting it much more easily than in the 70's. as well as other hard core drugs. No one did potency tests back then anyway. If you got busted they sent the plant off to make sure it was cannabis not to check the potency.

[louise]

Also, back in the 70's abd 80's we had imports of lovely hash. No one I knew in Melbourne smoked grass back then... that was for the hippies, we all smoked hash and it was stronger than the weed.

[Faith]

You see, we are definitely 'cutting their grass'   Oh, where is this cannabis??  Not on any street up here (maybe in the closet but )  as far as they don't make money and prolong suffering, so will they persecute.  it ain't run by goodness no way.

 

Peace to you. v

[Sir PsychoHashy]

You have to wonder who reaches these conclusions and what reality they base it on?  I too call bullshit, to this day the strongest buds I smoked were in the 80's, and as for the hash don't get me started.  If anything I would say that in my experience the potency of buds on the commercial market has dropped off over recent years, probably due to the production models being employed by some of the larger criminal organisations that have become involved.  But stories like this sound great for governments and anti drug groups, so we shouldn't be surprised.  At least they aren't throwing around ridiculous THC percentages like some that have been stated in the USA

 

At least CBD levels and their importance was mentioned.  If these groups are aware of the importance of CBD, then why can't they see that this is a reason for either legalising a regulated marketplace, or allowing breeding/growing by users combined with promoting awareness of CBD?

[omagee]

Isn't it only cannabis from NSW. Cause if they tested all the Queensland shit it would be average of 5% again.

Edited August 29, 2013 by omagee

[t bone]

more propaganda via jan copeland and the nazis at ncpic or whatever they call the bullshit spreaders  now

probably see more of this propaganda when we have a new prime minster,  Abott when he was health minister kicked cannabis in the head regularly

 

oh well  so long as we smoking more powerful weed guess we dont have to smoke as much to get blasted ... so win , win for us

[MongyMan]

Now that Jan Copeland and the NCPIC have finnished their sativex trials for "cannabis addicts" and are now out to publicise, promote and profit from Sativex we will see alot more of this fear mongering from the media unfortunatly to justify and back up their BS.

If Australians keep sitting back waiting for legal cannabis in America befor they fight for it here on mass we better get used to this kind of crap unfortunatly because pharmacy cannabis is all we will get as a result. Most likley imported from overseas like sativex from the UK.

 

Mongyman

[omagee]

Now that Jan Copeland and the NCPIC have finnished their sativex trials for "cannabis addicts" and are now out to publicise, promote and profit from Sativex we will see alot more of this fear mongering from the media unfortunatly to justify and back up their BS.

 

If Australians keep sitting back waiting for legal cannabis in America befor they fight for it here on mass we better get used to this kind of crap unfortunatly because pharmacy cannabis is all we will get as a result. Most likley imported from overseas like sativex from the UK.

 

Mongyman

 

truer words never been said