[6/12] White House: Pot most potent in 30 years, risk of "addiction" increasing

The Associated Press: Study: Marijuana potency increases in 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marijuana potency increased last year to the highest level in more than 30 years, posing greater health risks to people who may view the drug as harmless, according to a report released Thursday by the White House.

The latest analysis from the University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project tracked the average amount of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, in samples seized by law enforcement agencies from 1975 through 2007. It found that the average amount of THC reached 9.6 percent in 2007, compared with 8.75 percent the previous year.

The 9.6 percent level represents more than a doubling of marijuana potency since 1983, when it averaged just under 4 percent.

"Today's report makes it more important than ever that we get past outdated, anachronistic views of marijuana," said John Walters, director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. He cited baby boomer parents who might have misguided notions that the drug contains the weaker potency levels of the 1970s.

"Marijuana potency has grown steeply over the past decade, with serious implications in particular for young people," Walters said. He cited the risk of psychological, cognitive and respiratory problems, and the potential for users to become dependent on drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

While the drug's potency may be rising, marijuana users generally adjust to the level of potency and smoke it accordingly, said Dr. Mitch Earleywine, who teaches psychology at the State University of New York in Albany and serves as an adviser for marijuana advocacy groups. "Stronger cannabis leads to less inhaled smoke," he said.

The White House office attributed the increases in marijuana potency to sophisticated growing techniques that drug traffickers are using at sites in the United States and Canada.

A report from the office last month found that a teenager who has been depressed in the past year was more than twice as likely to have used marijuana than teenagers who have not reported being depressed — 25 percent compared with 12 percent. The study said marijuana use increased the risk of developing mental disorders by 40 percent.

"The increases in marijuana potency are of concern since they increase the likelihood of acute toxicity, including mental impairment," said Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, which funded the University of Mississippi study.

"Particularly worrisome is the possibility that the more potent THC might be more effective at triggering the changes in the brain that can lead to addiction," Volkow said.

But there's no data showing that a higher potency in marijuana leads to more addiction, Earleywine said, and marijuana's withdrawal symptoms are mild at best. "Mild irritability, craving for marijuana and decreased appetite — I mean those are laughable when you talk about withdrawal from a drug. Caffeine is worse."

The project analyzed data on 62,797 cannabis samples, 1,302 hashish samples, and 468 hash oil samples obtained primarily from seizures by law enforcement agencies in 48 states since 1975.

cool

my dad says it's all a lie. he smokes with me and says the weed is still the same. don't believe ANYTHING the corrupted government says.

Why would the government lie to us?

I smoked real heavy for around 10 years & quit 2 years ago. I believe it all depends on how much you smoke & if your smoking KIND BUD or just REGULAR. it can create an addictive behavior in certain people. & THC the main chemical in weed is a very low compound of the main chemical in LSD. plus it does give people mental disorder's if used heavy over a long period of time like.... anxiety, panic disorder, depression...etc

I still believe it should be legal if people can be more educated on the effects of it. I mean like my Pops said it is a drug so you should use it like medicine.

No, no, no Cinematic that's the thing.

There's a difference between cravings, also known as "psychological" addiction, and REAL, TRUE addiction.

Anything causes cravings if you do it enough. Coffee, food, etc.

you cant be PHYSICALLY addicted to weed.....

no not physical, but it does create addictive behaviors. thats why they call it a gateway drug.

Okay, wow, just stop while you're ahead.

It's called a gateway drug because it supposedly "leads to other drugs''.

And, again, even eating peanut butter can cause these "addictive behaviors"

I said
of course anything can but we're talking about drugs...

this is what leads to other drugs HENCE gateway drug. I really dont care I dont get F###ED up no more anyway

The "gateway drug" theory has nothing to do with addiction.

so really, read about it before you spout off more falsehoods.

thats just your opinion.
you must be stoned now.... jus playin

It's not my fucking opinion.

READ ABOUT THE THEORY.

In fact, it actually says that it's being LED INTO addiction. Not getting addicted.

Shit.

And I didn't catch this earlier but NO.

That doesn't even make any damn sense since LSD is ONE CHEMICAL (see also: Lysergic acid diethylamide - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia not that you care about facts)

KryptoKronika :D............