cannabisnews.com: Don't Buy The 'Potent Pot' Hype










  Don't Buy The 'Potent Pot' Hype

Posted by CN Staff on June 16, 2008 at 16:09:33 PT
By Paul Armentano  
Source: Huffington Post 

USA -- Government claims of highly potent pot must be taken with a grain of salt. As is the case with any black market commodity, definitive facts are difficult if not impossible to come by.That said, even by the University of Mississippi's own admission, the average THC in domestically grown marijuana -- which comprises the bulk of the US market -- is less than five percent, a figure that's remained unchanged for nearly a decade.**
By contrast, the average strength of imported cannabis has grown in recent years. Nevertheless, non-domestic marijuana comprises only a small fraction of the domestic market. To imply that this rare, unusually potent cannabis is reflective of what is typically available on the US market is highly (and purposely) misleading.Furthermore, it must be noted that THC -- regardless of potency -- is non-toxic and incapable of causing a fatal overdose. Currently, doctors may legally prescribe a FDA-approved pill that contains 100 percent THC, and curiously, nobody at the University of Mississippi or at the Drug Czar¹s office seems particularly concerned about it.It should also be noted that most cannabis consumers actually prefer less potent pot, just as the majority of those who drink alcohol prefer beer or wine over hard liquor. If and when consumers encounter unusually strong varieties of marijuana, they adjust their use accordingly and smoke less.Of course, if lawmakers and government researchers were really concerned about potential risks posed by potent marijuana, they would support regulating the drug, so that its potency would be known to the consumer.So if today's pot is essentially the same plant it's always been ­ with any marginal increase in potency akin to the difference between a cup of tea and an espresso ­ why is the government claiming otherwise? Mainly to scare parents, particularly those millions of parents who may have, without incident, experimented with marijuana in the 1970s, when they were about the same age as their children are today. Fortunately for them, while the feds' latest "reefer rhetoric" may sound alarming, there's little substance behind the hype.** See: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/pdf/FullPotencyReports.pdf page 12Author's note: The author is the Deputy Director for NORML and the NORML Foundation in Washington, DC. He may be contacted at: paul norml.orgSource: Huffington Post (US Web)Author: Paul Armentano Published: June 16, 2008Copyright: 2008 HuffingtonPost.com, LLCContact: paul norml.orgWebsite: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Related Articles & Web Site:NORMLhttp://www.norml.org/White House Returns To Stoking Fears About Pothttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24005.shtmlPotent Pot Worries Officialshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24004.shtmlStudy: Marijuana Potency Increases in 2007http://cannabisnews.com/news/thread24002.shtml 

Home    Comment    Email    Register    Recent Comments    Help





Comment #9 posted by tintala on June 18, 2008 at 18:47:16 PT:
You will not Believe this video on cnn.com
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/health/2008/06/18/cohen.potent.pot.cnnPROPAGANDA AT IT"S worst!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
[ Post Comment ]


Comment #8 posted by JohnO on June 18, 2008 at 08:24:19 PT:
The University of MIssissippi is no expert. 
After the years of trial and ultimately perennial error, the University of Mississippi has utterly failed to produce a quality product under contract with the government's *experimental cannabis* growing program. It is widely reported that their shwag is not good enough to qualify as shwag. So much for their opinion. 
[ Post Comment ]

 


Comment #7 posted by FoM on June 16, 2008 at 19:21:43 PT

mykeyb420
I read on a blog that FEMA was there. The water is so contaminated. I just don't know how people can repair their homes after being flooded like that. If the wood gets soaked it will rot or termites will move in.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #6 posted by mykeyb420 on June 16, 2008 at 19:11:30 PT

off topic
Has anyone called FEMA about iowa? 
And where is GW Bush??,,oh,,he's on vacation
its katrina all over again
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #5 posted by FoM on June 16, 2008 at 18:23:19 PT

 charmed quark 
They did that in Ohio too. Terrible tactic. 
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #4 posted by charmed quark on June 16, 2008 at 18:13:52 PT

Of course, in 2000 it helped lose the election
In 2000, the court rulings that legalized gay marriage in some states helped motivate the republican base and were considered one of the things that gave Bush significant votes.But somehow, I don't feel that this will resonate this time.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #3 posted by FoM on June 16, 2008 at 17:52:29 PT

 mykeyb420
This is the live stream of the event tonight and I like the music they are playing before it all gets started.http://www.cnn.com/video/live/live.html?stream=stream3
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #2 posted by FoM on June 16, 2008 at 17:38:44 PT

mykeyb420 
The times they are a changin' PS: Soon Al Gore will endorse Obama. I am really looking forward to seeing this tonight.
[ Post Comment ]


 


Comment #1 posted by mykeyb420 on June 16, 2008 at 17:30:45 PT

OT gay weddings
I am happy to report that two lesbians just got married in San Francisco,,and we are no where near Hell in a Handbasket,,nor have we fallen of into the ocean. And as of 5:25 pm PT,,the world has not come to and end.
[ Post Comment ]





  Post Comment