Stronger Marijuana?

[Ricardo]

I think that the potential problem with marijuana is made more complex because much of it on the market today is a lot stronger than it was a 20 or 30 years ago.

So older people who became tolerant of casual toking years ago are associating toking today with a considerably milder drug than what it actually is.

Do you think that's the case?

[shinningstar]

I heard there are stronger forms of marijuana available to adolescents today. Stronger marijuana means stronger effects. I wonder how cannabis becomes the strongest grade in the market today. Any idea?

[Ricardo]

That's a good question. I think that the plants themselves maybe evolved somehow.

I suspect that the process for growing and drying hasn't changed much. Or maybe the drug is stronger when it's grown in grow operations.

[jimberan]

One of the reasons why weed has become much more potent over the years is due to the growing techniques. The use of hydro systems has created stronger grass and the price of hydro is also considerably more expensive in the US then regular weed.

[mtajim]

One after another every year new drug keep coming . Every new drug is more stornger than the previous one . The more technology grows i think more stronger drugs will be developed

[jimberan]

Actually that it not always the case. Many users state that for example xtc and acid were much stronger before then now. As producers are mixing the drugs with cheap ingredients so as to get higher profits, the drugs in many cases actually end up less strong.

[mtajim]

But whenever any new drug comes it comes harder and its variants are less stonger

[britjojo]

Jim hit the nail on the head; growing operations are simply better. With the advent of such operations, variability dew to such things as a dry season, or an overly rainy season robbing the crops of sunlight have been eliminated. The crops are fed, so low soil nutrient doesn't reduce growth.

The conditions are now perfect and so are the results.

[Dr Green]

You do not get higher on stronger strains of MJ....you just get there faster. What would take you 3 or more hits to achive, you can do in one or maybe 2....its not like alcohol were you get a higher alcohol blood level....were you can die...MJ you cannot exceed a certain level and even that level will become old hat, if you are a daily smoker. Kind of like coffee..........the caffine becomes old hat after a couple of cups...

An addictive personality will advance on to a harder herb or worst yet, a hard core drug...

[mtajim]

I have seen people taking more harder drugs when their current drug levase giving them much pleasure . They just jump onto other

[Ricardo]

As producers are mixing the drugs with cheap ingredients so as to get higher profits, the drugs in many cases actually end up less strong.

Sometimes the cheap ingredients that the drugs are mixed with become a problem themselves. The people making the drugs aren't concerned with their consumer's health.

I have no first hand experience comparing weed from decades ago with today's version, but I've definitely heard other people say that it's more concentrated in potency now.

[ethoms]

Yes growing techniques play a big part in the strength of mj today. However, i think it's more down to cross breading the different strains. These new breads are called hybrids. Mostly they are developed in Holland where it is more legal, they use the same techniques horticulture scientists use. For example hybrid roses are easier to grow, bigger, longer living (in a vase) etc. The irony is that it is criminalisation of mj that has caused growers to develop these strains, just like crack cocaine and even cocaine itself. For thousands of years indigenous South Americans have chewed the cocoa leaves as a relatively mild stimulant. The reason for this is simply if your gonna grow a pound of weed and risk a jail sentence, you might as well make it as strong as possible. Look at what alcohol was like in prohibition, drinkers had to watch where they lit there cigarettes.

As for the old hat theory by Dr Green, this true to some extend, but modern hybrid mj is definitely making a difference and i'm sure we will see more cases of psycosis in years to come. As long as the user is aware of the harmful effects and he or she uses it within reason there is no great problem with stronger mj. It's no different than alcohol, drink a litre of whiskey a day and say goodbye to your liver.

[Ricardo]

Marijuana has nearly been decriminalized in Canada, and part of the argument for that would be to regulate the product and theoretically control the distribution of it.

[ethoms]

Canada sounds like a good place to live, they seem to have a better grip on reality than most countries. Holland has decriminalized mj a long time ago and there isn't actually a lot more regular users than in other western countries. In fact some evidence shows that the use of drugs, in particular hard drugs like heroin have declined since decrim laws were introduced, but it was the 70's and drug culture was prolific then.

Hmmm... have we sidetracked the original thread topic?

[PneumaticMuffin]

I dont think the product being any stronger is a problem. As far as I know, a stronger product will mean you will consume less, so less tar, less carbon dioxide, less toxins, etc.

[MHJ]

I owuld think that the strains from many years ago would be more powerful. You would think they would end up watering the product down over time to earn more money

[james]

Canada sounds like a good place to live, they seem to have a better grip on reality than most countries. Holland has decriminalized mj a long time ago and there isn't actually a lot more regular users than in other western countries. In fact some evidence shows that the use of drugs, in particular hard drugs like heroin have declined since decrim laws were introduced, but it was the 70's and drug culture was prolific then.

Hmmm... have we sidetracked the original thread topic?

I am actually not hostile to legalisation, but have you ever been to Amsterdam? It is not a model of a place I would like people to live in, it is seedy. The rest of the Netherlands rather dislike Amsterdam for its seediness.

[Dr Green]

Californai now has over 400 medical marijuana dispensaries. There are 34 in the city of SF, alone.
LA cannot regulate them fast enough and the feds have all but given up with all the public pressureforcing them to find better use of the federal tax dollar.

While I can only speak of SF clubs, I can tell you there is a wide difference in pricing of MJ...some go for $15 an eight (high grade mexican with seeds) to Bubba Kush for $100 an eight. More common is from a low of $25 to a high of $80.

WE call the expensive stuff "one hitters" and for the most part, 80% of the MJ sold is grown indoors..the product from Nor Cal, is mainly sent to the east coast. The quality and texture just is not there for the lower grade, either is the potency.

The consumer has the choice of getting a range of items based on their needs. Now you can decide which way you want to go. I like keeping mine till the evening and use it to get a good nites sleep. Smoking during the day is usually a lower grade for me but at nite, I want the one hitter product.

Anyone that claims their product is the most powerful weed in the world is just pulling your leg. THC can get as high as 30%, usually runs about 12% or better for Medical Grade and for the Mexician cheap stuff the THC is around 3% and maybe as high as 6%. Canada's product is mainly called beaster for a reason, quality is just a notch above the Mexican.

Anything that is Medical Grade is grown Organically in either hydro or soil. Chemicals just are "not" used. It would be like using cow shit on a tobacco farm, it really kills the taste and is very harsh. Chemicals have not been used for many years here in SF.....

A daily smoker will reach their max in about 10 days, tops. A weekend smoker will get there in a few weeks. Its not like alcohol.....you cannot get drunker if you smoke more or stronger MJ....anyone that claims otherwise should contact me for some excellent research papers that back up this claim. This is NOT a weapons of mass destruction claim its performed by leading Universities and research center around the "world". Not something the Bush administration claims...

[easternbrain]

Well I absolutely agree with what you said. Mj isn't that harmful as compared to the other drugs and I personally wouldn't call as even a drug.

[hazephase]

I would call it a drug but not a type A drug it would come lower down in my list but for sure it is a drug . These days you get things mixed in your water and the air you breath so what the bug deal if it is mixed in the weed