Marijuana stronger than in the 70s

It doesn’t matter whether marijuana is bought on the legal market or from the criminal underground. A study notes that it is 25% stronger than it was more than 50 years ago.

Researchers at the University of Bath in the United Kingdom recently examined 80,000 cannabis samples from various locations around the world, including the United States, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, France, Denmark, Italy and New Zealand. They found that cannabis users today are likely consuming much more than they did when Presidents Nixon, Ford and Carter ruled the country.

The results, published in the journal Addiction, show higher concentrations of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) since the early 1970s. THC is the psychoactive compound in the cannabis plant that is responsible for causing a person to get stoned. Researchers claim that grass has become increasingly stronger over the past fifty years. The team found a 14% increase in flower potency between 1970 and 2017 and a 24% increase in resin potency since 1975.

The concentration of the active ingredient CBD, which is popular in America, is now the same as always.

The latest study is evidence that growers sometimes try to increase potency to give consumers the illusion of a quality product. But stronger doesn’t always mean better, especially when cannabis is used to treat various conditions, including anxiety and insomnia. Many cannabis users over the years have reported better results with higher CBD strains.

Why does grass keep getting stronger?

This is primarily because cannabis growers now have a better understanding of what makes the plant thrive during the growing process. And as a result, cannabis plants are healthier than they were back then. This is also worth mentioning 1970s weed probably only contained about 2% THC – not nearly enough to get people as stoned as they have been since legalization began in the United States.

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There is also something to be said about understanding the genetics that allow breeders to essentially dictate different outcomes from the plant. The science surrounding cannabis cultivation is simply more advanced than it was fifty years ago.

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However, researchers fear that stronger marijuana could force more people into addiction as legalization increases. “As the potency of cannabis has increased, the number of people seeking treatment for cannabis use problems has also increased,” said Dr. Tom Freeman, Director of the Addiction and Mental Health Group at the University of Bath. “More Europeans are now seeking drug treatment for cannabis than for heroin or cocaine.”

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In the US, President Biden has promised to decriminalize marijuana possession nationwide but has been slow to act. This is the same man who once said that comparing the weed of the ’60s to what kids smoke today is like “comparing buckshot in a shotgun shell to a laser-guided missile.”

But is increasing potency a bad thing?

Well, some state-funded studies show that marijuana use is becoming increasingly widespread, especially among teenagers and young adults. Legalization is intended to reduce these numbers, and in some cases it does. Despite reports of stronger weed, the addiction rate remains fairly consistent at 9%. That’s about the same amount associated with consuming caffeine.

So even if more people use marijuana as legalization increases, it is unlikely that this will lead to a significant increase in addiction rates. Still, more research is needed to help the country better manage the potential risks that lie ahead.