Archive for September, 2009
What Does This Talk Regarding Pot Potency Really Mean?
I am sure most of us have heard that Cannabis is much “stronger” than it used to be. There are some cannabis strains with over 20% THC. There are also plenty of strains with 6 or 7% – similar to 20+ years ago. So, the most we can say is that some strains have been bred to produce more THC.
This elevated level of THC, in both Sativa strains and Indica strains, does not necessarily mean that the THC always has some increased “high” associated with it. It certainly does not mean that it is better, more potent or anything else, other than there is more THC in the strain. In some studies, high levels of THC has been found to be much less “potent” if the Terpenes in the cannabis are removed.
So, we are very far from understanding what the various levels of THC, CBD and CBN mean clinically.
I hope that in this era where we are beginning to study strains and their clinical effects, we must do this in at least a single blinded manner, else assumptions of higher levels of THC or other assumptions will contaminate our attempt to obtain clean and meaningful data.