- Three to five times as much THC is present in cannabis extracts and resins, concentrated forms of the drug taken from the marijuana plant.
- The THC content of some marijuana concentrates, such as dabs and waxes, may reach 80%.
- Side effects from using marijuana with a greater strength can force some users to seek medical attention in emergency departments. For example, THC at high levels might cause psychotic episodes. One of the main reasons for marijuana use-related trips to the emergency room is this.
- Because cannabis edibles don’t give off a high as rapidly as marijuana smoked does, a person who tries them can get dissatisfied. To get the desired effects, the person may consume increasingly more edibles, which results in a far higher dosage of THC than is advised and longer-lasting impacts.
Cannabis evolved with time; the strains that are currently available now are more potent than those that were in the past. The average THC concentration in cannabis sold in dispensaries in various jurisdictions ranges from 17.7 percent to 23.2 percent. The THC concentration in regularly cultivated marijuana plants grew significantly between 1995 and 2014 (4 percent and 12 percent, respectively).
Today, recreational users have easy access to concentrated products, which can range in THC content from 23.7 to 75.9 percent, and go by dabs, waxes, concentrates, crumble, and live resin.
How marijuana potency is measured?
THC concentration is the most typical metric used to assess marijuana strength. The Hebrew University in Israel’s Dr. Raphael Mechoulam and his team created this method of determining potency for the first time in 1964. The researchers measured the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in several marijuana products produced at varying moments of the year and under diverse circumstances using a technique known as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
The conclusions were integrated with other scientific information, including information on plant physiology, phytochemistry, and genetic analysis, to calculate the proportion of cannabinoids present in each strain at a particular stage of their life cycle.
Are weed and concentrates more vital today?
The question of whether cannabis is more powerful now has been contested for a long time. There are various views on this matter, but no correct or incorrect response. Cannabis has grown more effective from a legal perspective over time.
The most current data indicate that THC levels in marijuana are higher than ever. However, although potency has increased, this does not necessarily imply that cannabis is more potent now than it was 10, 20, or 30 years ago. Your marijuana product’s strength may vary depending on various circumstances, such as how old it was, when it was harvested, where it was produced, and even how you used it.
Marijuana Use during Pregnancy
Cannabis is the addictive substance that pregnant women use the most. Nevertheless, based on the most recent data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, this trend might start to reverse. According to a study done in an extensive health system in California, marijuana usage among pregnant women increased by 69 percent (from 4.2 to 7.1 percent) between 2009 and 2016, with women under 25 having the most outstanding use rates.
