cannabisnews.com: Euro Pot Packs More Potent High Euro Pot Packs More Potent High Posted by CN Staff on June 28, 2004 at 10:25:29 PT By The Associated Press Source: Associated Press Brussels, Belgium -- Homegrown marijuana is getting more potent in the European Union, raising new health concerns and sending more people to drugs treatment centers, the EU drugs monitoring agency said Monday. Homegrown cannabis is estimated to be up to three times more potent than that imported from North Africa, the Caribbean and the Far East, it said. The potency is measured by the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, in cannabis, which decomposes over time making imported marijuana weaker than the homegrown variety. On average, marijuana consumed in EU nations contains up to 8 percent THC, but in the Netherlands — which has a lax attitude toward soft drugs — the rate is double, said the study by the EU's Lisbon-based Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction. It said at least half of the marijuana smoked in the Netherlands is produced locally. The Netherlands is already feeling the effects of the more-potent marijuana. Dutch officials say their policy of tolerance has not triggered higher drug use but raised concerns about health problems related to stronger cannabis. Users of more powerful cannabis may be more prone to panic attacks and minor psychological problems, the EU study said. It also said treatment for drug dependence is more becoming more "available, accessible and diverse" across the EU. "Since we began monitoring in the mid-1990s, we have mapped a constant growth in all types of drug treatment in the EU," said Georges Estievenart, the drugs agency's chief. Outpatient services rose in France by 25 percent, Greece by 30 percent and Austria by 60 percent in the past four years. In Britain and other countries waiting times for patients have fallen by as much as six weeks. Also, addicts are now treated for different types of drugs, Estievenart said. "In the past, demand for drug treatment centered largely on opiate dependence. Nowadays, we are seeing more individuals seeking treatment for other substances, such as cannabis and cocaine." In 2003, 410,000 people were used for heroin addiction, up from 320,000 in 1999, the report said. Source: Associated Press Published: Monday, June 28, 2004Copyright: 2004 The Associated Press Related Articles & Web Site:Santa Cruz - Dutch Study in PDFhttp://freedomtoexhale.com/amsterdam.pdfExtra-High Cannabis Theory Goes Up In Smoke http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread19066.shtmlCannabis Use Not Linked with Psychosocial Harmhttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18868.shtml S.F., Amsterdam Similar in Pot Use http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread18802.shtml Home Comment Email Register Recent Comments Help Comment #6 posted by FoM on June 28, 2004 at 22:41:06 PT Related Article from Reuters And the Award for the Most Potent Pot Goes To...Monday, June 28, 2004 LISBON (Reuters) - Cannabis in the Netherlands is almost twice as strong as in the rest of the European Union, where the drug's potency has remained stable, the EU drugs agency said on Friday. Politicians' worries over the health risks of stronger cannabis prompted the Lisbon-based European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction to examine marijuana and hashish available in the bloc. "Today's report shows that effective potency of cannabis in nearly all EU countries has remained quite stable for many years," the center said. The potency of cannabis in most EU countries has remained at about six to eight percent tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active ingredient. The only exception was in the Netherlands, where potency had reached 16 percent by 2001-02, mostly because of supplies of intensively produced home-grown cannabis. However, this did not affect the EU average since most cannabis consumed there was produced outside the bloc. Copyright: Reuters 2004 [ Post Comment ] Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 28, 2004 at 11:03:32 PT RasAric I'm slowly settling down! LOL! CNews will be 6 years old this December. I find it hard to believe that they haven't given up knowing that people are serious about this issue. [ Post Comment ] Comment #4 posted by Agog on June 28, 2004 at 10:57:23 PT They don't read the paper From C-News of June 26 Guardian Unlimited UK report:The effective strength of cannabis consumed in Britain has remained stable for the past 30 years, according to a European Union study published today. The research says there is no evidence for claims that most cannabis consumed in Britain and the rest of Europe is now 10 times or more stronger than it was in the 70s. Now we have this report with its fear mongering and completely repugnant practice of shilling for the drug warriors.... Ahh another unintended consequence, people growing it at home are successful. Breed for shorter flowering cycles, higher yields, and other desirable characteristics such as reduced risks of LEO encounters .... DUH!Agog [ Post Comment ] Comment #3 posted by RasAric on June 28, 2004 at 10:47:12 PT FoM Settle Down FoM Sheesh, you'd think that after the government has been scamming and scheming this long that people would get used to it and stop fighting it...lolOK now seriously, do they really think that smoking more schwagg is less of a risk than a smaller amount of quality herb? Last I checked the potency and toxicity were not related.Thanks to Bushies lil poodle boy Blair, Johnny Pee is influencing the UK with this potency BSOK I need to relax. This is really beginning to piss me off. [ Post Comment ] Comment #2 posted by Truth on June 28, 2004 at 10:41:16 PT what a stupid statement "Homegrown cannabis is estimated to be up to three times more potent than that imported from North Africa, the Caribbean and the Far East, it said."Wow, where's my closet. [ Post Comment ] Comment #1 posted by FoM on June 28, 2004 at 10:38:43 PT If There is Any Truth To This The way society deals with cannabis can make a sane person seem like they've lost it. It's the laws that drive people crazy!There I feel better. [ Post Comment ] Post Comment