Drug Czar's Pot-Potency Claims Go Up In Smoke

A newly released report about marijuana potency undermines previous claims by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) that the drug's potency has hit record highs.

In May, the media ran wild with stories of highly potent pot sweeping the nation, as the ONDCP announced that their testing showed average marijuana potency had topped 10 percent THC-level for the first time ever. THC is the active ingredient in marijuana.

"According to the latest data on marijuana samples analyzed to date, the average amount of THC in seized samples has reached a new high of 10.1 percent," reads the announcement by Gil Kerlikowske, the Drug Czar.

But the full report is now available and it shows that the 10-percent bar is only crossed by throwing hash into the equation. Without hash, the average potency was 8.52 percent. The average potency of hash was 20.76 percent.

The Marijuana Policy Project obtained the full report, which is produced by the Marijuana Potency Monitoring Project at the University of Mississippi.

Connoisseurs would enjoy reading the whole thing, which is available here, as it breaks seizures and potency-measurement into "Buds," "Kilobricks," "Loose leaf," "Loose other," "Thai Sticks" and other categories.

There is also debate over whether there is actually a problem with higher-potency marijuana, with advocates arguing that stronger pot means that users end up smoking less for the same effect, thus sparing their lungs.

If you find anything else noteworthy in the full report, let me know at [e-mail].

Read the report here (PDF).

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[Harrier]

The DEA is running out of reasons why Pot is a gateway drug. Every reason they put up is refused by the governments' own research

[sunbeltvoter]

The government, via the DEA, claims cannabis has no medicinal value.

The government, via the US Patent Office, has issued Patent 6,630,507 for the medical use of cannabis: "Cannabinoids as Antioxidants and Neuroprotectants"

Wow one US gov. agency says NO, one US gov. agency says YES.

How can we break this tie?

http://www.google.com/patents?id=0pcNAAAAEBAJ&printsec=abstract&zoom=4&dq=6630507

Be sitting down when you read the Assignee who OWNS the Patent for Medical Marijuana.

[senorlou]

You can grow this plant anywhere - backyard, windowsill, it's a beautiful plant. They can try to patent it all they like, but it's not like alcohol, heroin, or meth. You don't have to go through some crazy process to get the drug. You just rip off the buds and toke away. Good luck to anyone trying to patent that.

[3dtrix]

MILK is the original gateway drug - name an addict that didn't start there. No wait a minute - it's SUGAR, you know - the fine white crystals that perk you up and every kid craves...

[ConradMazian]

The United States Government claims to be fighting Organized Crime. Yeah, right. In that case why is it's Drugs policy so supportive of Organized Crime?

You think I'm crazy? Where does Organized Crime make most of it's profits. From the sale of "illegal drugs". As long as the drugs are illegal, Organized Crime members can afford to drive Mercedes.

Make Marijuana legal, and Organized Crime will suffer. Many groups could end up going into the criminal equivalent of bankruptcy.

So why doesn't the U.S. government make marijuana legal? A paranoiac would tell you it's because this would also cause private prison operators fiscal problems. The companies who build the prisons would suffer as well, throwing more Americans out of work.

But we aren't paranoid. Are we?

[doug108]

Damn it. You're harshing my buzz, man.

[senorlou]

Prison guards would lose their jobs, cops would be put to work to catch more violent criminals, but Republican lawmakers would lose one of their favorite boogeymen. There's a ton of money in this drug war business and a lot of those involved don't want to kill their golden goose. We all have to pay the price for these people to have their pointless jobs. It's a lot like the health insurance agency. Totally unnecessary and a burden on us all.

[doug108]

And, how many people have you killed on your crazed marijuana highs??

[doug108]

Whoops. Posted this in the wrong place. It's still pretty funny as a stand alone comment, though.

[senorlou]

I hear ya and I know what you're saying. When people are high on pot, they're usually happy, smiling, laughing, etc. The last thing most stoners would want to do is hurt anyone.

[Modok]

stoner! :D

[kobio]

My dad drank vodka and kicked the living s#*t out of us. My neighbors dad got stoned and ate ice cream with us. I never could fathom why one was legal and the other wasn't.

[senorlou]

My mom was a drunk too and I always hated booze, especially what people did and said when on it. My friend's parents who smoked out were always nice, happy, and gave out plenty of grub.

[ge971]

LMAO (Sorry about your Dad)

[senorlou]

The war on drugs is really a gravy train for certain law officials, gangsters, and politicians, but 99.99% of us are harmed by it. What will the gangsters do if we legalize drugs, starting with marijuana? They'll have to get day jobs. Our streets will be safer, our jails will hold half as many inmates, and we'll actually have to deal with our drug problem - medically. That's what drug addiction is - it's a medical problem. We could spend more money on drug education. Marijuana is different from the rest in one respect. It is not at all physically addictive. You can smoke it for years and stop suddenly and you won't have to go to the hospital. There is no other drug like this, as far as I know. plus, you can't overdose if you tried. Marijuana is truly a miracle drug. The majority of Americans want it legalized, and now is the time.

[smchp]

Good hydroponic bud (which is what most connoisseurs smoke now a days) easily tops 10%. Nobody smokes loose leave stuff anymore. Growers just throw that stuff out.

[Atmus]

wtf are you talking about????

[smchp]

Marijuana...what did you think?

[gurukalehuru]

smchp is right. I'm not an expert, I don't question too deeply where my pot comes from, but I haven't seen loose leaf in years.

[MossyOak]

Sorry, the train left the station without you.

[senorlou]

If they're smart, they turn it into water hash.

[doug108]

Are you a DEA mole trying to wreck our weed?

[FilthyHarry]

Umm... where do they throw it out?

[senorlou]

I was thinking the same thing. I'd be right over.

[yappnmutt]

that's not true. the best is still grown outdoors. friends and i did a study in the 80s, scientific mind you, that compared the physical characteristics of the resin from different types of weed including hydroponics. the resin on hydroponic weed is clear to milky white. the resin on outdoor weed was more like the color of maple syrup ranging from a clear light golden colored brown to dark, almost black opaque. the best weed, by far, was the clear light to honey brown color grown outdoors. this was(is) a multi decade study.

[doug108]

Really multi-decade, or just the last couple of hours that feel multi-decade?

[senorlou]

You are 100% right. that hydro pot is good, but the best is still outdoor. In southern California, we get a lot of the outdoor from farms up north. It's stronger and less expensive. That's most people's #1 choice. You can get the same strain for $20 cheaper an eighth, plus it's stronger. Price has to do with the fact that the outdoor grown plants put out way more bud per plant.

[senorlou]

BTW, I believe that even hydro will have trichomes that turn amber. You just have to give the plants a few extra weeks before you harvest. Most growers that grow hydro are growing for the $ and usually harvest early so they can begin another crop.

[doug108]

It's silly that we're still having this debate about marijuana. People can buy 100% pure alcohol and drink it if they want. Who gives a sh*t that modern weed makes some dude watch Family Guy for two more hours than he would have under weaker weed?

[LeftRight]

Actually, 100% alcohol is pretty difficult to make, and therefore pretty difficult to buy. On the other hand white lightning, or whatever else it's called is 190 proof, or 90% alcohol, and it's perfectly legal anywhere alcohol is itself legal....

[Bongborg]

Personally speaking, I have no problem with high potency pot, especially with some hash thrown in.

[chinacatsunflower]

When was the last time anybody saw a thai stick????

[Bongborg]

1975.

[bluize]

Ya bong, that is 70ish, todays pot is much better than thai stick,at least as far as I can remember.

[BertrandRussell]

Pretty. Sparkly. Sweet. Ahhhh, yes, I remember it well.

[oxygen]

what a poor scientific "study" ....... I love how the big PHD director signs his name to a bunch of stats that include this year??? weighted in and everything - and I thought I was bad in statistics -

check out page 12's graph -can you smell government workers?

maybe he figured he should add in this year since the war will soon be over anyways or he's been a little taste testing himself

never any discussion of the varieties or any scientific construct really

for those with slightly brighter bulbs on check out the thc pages on wikipedia

[filo]

Dave's not here Man !!!

[GoodGuysandBadGuys]

speaking of pot potency....

[filo]

Yet The Netherlands are closing prisons.


http://blog.mpp.org/uncategorized/netherlands-to-close-prisons-not-enough-criminals/05262009/

[doug108]

Are you coming on to me? Oh, wait. No. Nevermind.

[Chris Berry]

Marijuana potency is a huge problem, just like liquor. So many alcohol deaths out there because of all the dumb people who drink 5 glasses of liquor as though it were just beer.

[stylenease]

Last Nov. I attended the 2008 Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam -- the premiere event in the world for the very best in Cannabis. Last years winner was an entry from Green House Seeds that boasted 22.5% THC content.

Trust me on this one, marijuana potency is hardly a problem, it is FABULOUS!!!!!!!!

lol

[doug108]

Damn it. That sounds like fun.

[MJinCanada]

Pot smokers are less likely to drive recklessly or commit violent crimes than people who drink alcohol. Pot is also less addictive than alcohol, tobacco and many prescription drugs.

[senorlou]

Marijuana is nothing like liquor. You can smoke pot every day for years and quit it just like nothing happened. I don't know of any other drug with that quality. All that happens if it's really strong is you smoke half a joint instead of the whole thing. You smoke less pot. Cancer and AIDS patients need strong MJ so they can survive their illnesses. People with depression use it to keep themselves from falling into crippling depressions. Pain patients toss out their morphine pills and use it because you can function better on it than painkillers. It is physically impossible to overdose on marijuana, no matter how strong it is. Believe me, I've tried. The biggest problem with marijuana is that it makes you lethargic, and it makes you eat everything in the house. It's cheap, effective, and safer than coffee, especially if you eat it in a cupcake, brownie, etc. No smoke. The problem is all in your mind. Drunks end up living in alleys. Pot smokers end up on midnight runs to 7-11. That's the difference.

[doug108]

Well put, senor.

[senorlou]

No it's not the truth. It does not turn you into a zombie, unless you're sitting there eating 5 pot cupcakes a day. If you find the pot is too strong for you, try not smoking the entire bag next time. A zombie? Please. Ever hear of a pipe? Just take a few hits. It's called moderation.

[senorlou]

How the heck did my post end up here? Didn't mean to reply that one to you, but as for what you said, it's not true. It's nothing like alcohol. Alcohol can ruin your life and many drunks end up in jail or on the street homeless. Weed will just make you order more pizza than you usually do. It's crazy to equate the two. I've lived with drunks and pot heads. I'd take the pot heads over the drunks any day.

[senorlou]

this post went into the wrong spot. Never mind.

[The Ghost]

STOP THE WAR OF TERROR AGAINST THE AMERICAN CITIZEN.

REPEAL PROHIBITION, ELIMINATE NIXON'S FASCIST DEA AND ELIMINATE THE TOTALITARIAN POLICE STATE.

[doug108]

Yes, Munching Woodchuck.

[senorlou]

It is a war of terror. Millions of people who are not even criminals have been arrested for nothing. Many of them have had their lives ruined, all because they didn't feel like downing booze and chose a non-addictive, non-toxic plant to smoke instead.

[woodcut]

Today's pot is a lot stronger than even 10 years ago! In the 1960's our pot had seeds in it, stems, & was like smoking a broom.
I live in San Francisco & believe me, the pot is stronger now. Most people have been cloning the strong stuff, so no seeds. It's a science now.
Go into any pot club here & there are 10-20 different types of pot. Some are for nausea, some give you energy, some turn you into a zombie. And that's the truttthhh.

[ErnestineBass]

Herb is like any other plant (or animal for that matter).

For better or worse, it can all be genetically modified.

[TomFox]

your analysis reminds of a Cheech and Chong bit from 1973

[Jaladeno]

"no stems, no seeds that you don't neeeeeeed,

Acapulco Gold is bad@$$$$ weeeeed!"

[MossyOak]

8.52 percent... 10.1 percent... who cares? The government should be more worried about the mortgage rate and the debt rate. Phluff piece!

[doug108]

Puff please?