Strong increase in total delta-THC in cannabis preparations sold in Dutch coffee shops

Pijlman, FTA; Rigter, SM; Hoek, J; Goldschmidt, HMJ; Niesink, RJM

Addiction Biology, Volume 10, Number 2, June 2005, pp. 171-180(10)

UKCIA has a copy of this study here.

Abstract:

The total concentration of THC has been monitored in cannabis preparations sold in Dutch coffee shops since 1999. This annual monitoring was issued by the Ministry of Health after reports of increased potency. The level of the main psychoactive compound, Delta 9 -tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is measured in marijuana and hashish. A comparison is made between imported and Dutch preparations, and between seasons. Samples of cannabis preparations from randomly selected coffee shops were analyzed using gas chromatography (GC-FID) for THC, CBD and CBN. In 2004, the average THC level of Dutch home-grown marijuana (Nederwiet) (20.4% THC) was significantly higher than that of imported marijuana (7.0% THC). Hashish derived from Dutch marijuana (Nederhasj) contained 39.3% THC in 2004, compared with 18.2% THC in imported hashish. The average THC percentage of Dutch marijuana, Dutch hashish and imported hashish was significantly higher than in previous years. It nearly doubled over 5 years. During this period, the THC percentage in imported marijuana remained unchanged. A higher price had to be paid for cannabis with higher levels of THC. Whether the increase in THC levels causes increased health risks for users can only be concluded when more data are available on adjusted patterns of use, abuse liability, bioavailability and levels of THC in the brain.

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Adam Medcalf
[www.ukcia.org]
UK Cannabis Internet Activists
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whats happening like, lot of the young people useing this stuff knows its bad but are still taking it,it seems as always that this problem is brushed under the carpet like everything else,im from n.i and this type of dirt,grit call it what u want is still mostly avalible than any thing else

came in ere by mistake, wont be in ere again!
God my brain hurts now! 2 much info, does not compute, does not compute, does not compute, ahhhhhar bang!

Time is never wasted. When your wasted all the time!

Hmm well what is not clear is this, is this report on all cannabis sold or simply that stronger high quality is being made/sold ? when you consider somthing like Icolator hash which was the most expensive hash when i was in amsterdam 80 euro per gram, compared to the cheapest purple haze or leb (5g 5 euros) the strength difference is going to be vast. *sidenote* this is simply down to the fact that new techniques for sifting the trichomas is now possible thus ofcourse the strength per gram is going to be increased. However another thing this article lacks is how many people are paying 80 euros as oposed to the average joe buying some 5 euro leb(5g)? Simply because the strength is up doesnt mean everyone will buy the stronger stuff, e.g we could all drink absinthe but most people are happy with a can of fosters even when compared by price as absinthe is legal and pretty damn cheap when u buy by the litre. (sorry to use a poor comparison such as that but the fact remains simply because its stronger doesnt warrent the asumption that everyone will buy it)

If people want to get high they will find a way! simply putting it, if there is only weeker stuff availible to them won't they simply smoke more to get the desired effect?

using less strong stuff, or more weeker stuff.