Look out!! It's Super Pot!!

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-07-20 02:30pm

Stronger pot causes policy shift
Kids treated for marijuana dependency up 142 percent
Tuesday, July 20, 2004 Posted: 11:52 AM EDT (1552 GMT)

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Alarmed by reports that marijuana is becoming more potent than ever and that children are trying it at younger and younger ages, U.S. officials are changing their drug policies.

Pot is no longer the gentle weed of the 1960s and may pose a greater threat than cocaine or even heroin because so many more people use it. So officials at the National Institutes of Health and at the White House are hoping to shift some of the focus in research and enforcement from "hard" drugs such as cocaine and heroin to marijuana.

While drug use overall is falling among children and teenagers, the officials worry that the children who are trying pot are doing so at ever-younger ages, when their brains and bodies are vulnerable to dangerous side effects.

"Most people have been led to believe that marijuana is a soft drug, not a drug that causes serious problems," John Walters, head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in an interview.

"(But) marijuana today is a much more serious problem than the vast majority of Americans understand. If you told people that one in five of 12- to 17-year-olds who ever used marijuana in their lives need treatment, I don't think people would remotely understand it."

Jump in pot-related detox
The number of children and teenagers in treatment for marijuana dependence and abuse has jumped 142 percent since 1992, the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University reported in April.

According to the report, children and teenagers are three times more likely to be in treatment for marijuana abuse than for alcohol, and six times likelier to be in treatment for marijuana than for all other illegal drugs combined.

And it found the age of youths using marijuana is falling. The teenagers aged 12 to 17 said on average they started trying marijuana at 13 1/2. The same survey found that adults aged 18 to 25 had first tried it at 16.

For National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) director Dr Nora Volkow the final straw was a report her institute published in May in the Journal of the American Medical Association showing the steady growth in the potency of cannabis seized in raids.

According to the University of Mississippi's Marijuana Potency Project, average levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana, rose steadily from 3.5 percent in 1988 to more than 7 percent in 2003.

Volkow said many studies have shown the brain has its own so-called endogenous cannabinoids. These molecules are similar in structure to the active ingredients in marijuana and are involved in a range of activities and emotions ranging from eye function to pain regulation and anxiety.

Brain cells have receptors -- molecular doorways -- designed specifically to interact with these cannabinoids.

The cannabinoids in marijuana may use these ready-made doorways into brain cells and this is why they cause a high and reduce pain sensations. But Volkow believes the effects may go beyond the general feeling of well-being that most marijuana users seek.

Stronger pot's effect on younger brains
"I would predict that stronger pot makes the brain less likely to respond to endogenous cannabinoids," Volkow said in an interview. The effects could be especially marked in young brains still growing and learning how to respond to stimuli, she said.

While the research so far is inconclusive, Volkow believes that cannabinoids affect the developing brain and that stronger pot, combined with earlier use, could make children and teenagers anxious, unmotivated or perhaps even psychotic.

As an analogy, Volkow said opiate addicts are more sensitive to pain, as their overuse of drugs have raised the threshold at which the body responds and their own bodies produce fewer natural opiates.

NIDA is seeking proposals from researchers who want to investigate such possibilities for cannabis, she said.

Proponents of legalizing marijuana disagree with the official line. Krissy Oechslin of the Marijuana Policy Project disputes the finding that cannabis products are stronger.

"They make it sound like the THC levels in marijuana were almost nonexistent, but no one would have smoked it then if that was true," she said.

"And there's evidence that the stronger the THC, the less of it a person smokes. I don't want to say it's good for you, but I'll say (more potent marijuana) is less bad for you."

While Walters stresses that drug abusers are patients and not criminals, he hopes to crack down more on producers. And he says, there is a way to go in getting cooperation from local law enforcement officials. "For many in enforcement, marijuana is still 'kiddie dope'," Walters said.

He is quick to stress he does not want to overreact.

"We shouldn't be victims of reefer madness," he said, referring to the 1930s propaganda film "Reefer Madness" that became a 1970s cult classic for its over-the-top scenes of marijuana turning teenagers into homicidal maniacs.

No longer the gentle weed of the 60's??? Ok....

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-07-20 02:31pm

oh please, they have been saying that for 20 years now.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-07-20 02:33pm

It's at least nominally true. Modern marijuana has been subjected to selective breeding, and has several times the THC content that marijuana from the 1960's had.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-07-20 02:41pm

NIDA is seeking proposals from researchers who want to investigate such possibilities for cannabis, she said.

The one problem with most of these U.S. Government Funded Studies is that their credibility has been savaged beyond all repair.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-07-20 02:42pm

Oh good, that means we get to smoke a lot less of it for the same effect. Less chance of lung damage.

Most of the jump is due to more enforcement of the Drug War anyway. Judges giving kids a choice between detox/rehab and prison time is the mechanism causing this jump.

Nice strawman, U.S. Government. Try again...

P.S. If weed was legalized and regulated like alcohol/tobacco, kids would have a harder time getting it. No freely accessible black market on every street curb in town due to stores selling it, and the stores that do sell it would CARD the fuckers before letting them have it, screening out almost everyone who shouldn't have it barring fake IDs.

P.P.S. It's only natural that marijuana will get even stronger after it's legalized in response to demand. Hashish might even be sold in high-quality tea/tobacco shops.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-07-20 03:30pm

The black law of prohibition in effect. People are breeding stronger pot for the same reason people made 150 proof bathtub liquor instead of beer during Prohibition--you can stretch a supply of raw materials further and you can smuggle smaller amounts. This is 70 years of Federal idiocy and hysteria about pot blowing back in their faces.

I await the "Ha ha, I told you dirty potheads so!" from the prohibitionist side.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-07-20 03:38pm

RedImperator wrote:The black law of prohibition in effect. People are breeding stronger pot for the same reason people made 150 proof bathtub liquor instead of beer during Prohibition--you can stretch a supply of raw materials further and you can smuggle smaller amounts. This is 70 years of Federal idiocy and hysteria about pot blowing back in their faces.

I await the "Ha ha, I told you dirty potheads so!" from the prohibitionist side.

You'd figure that one of these days they'd realize that all the bad things about the drug culture is precisely because of Prohibition and that not only has it failed, but it's spreading death and destruction far in excess of what it's supposed to prevent. It needs to be completely repealed, but that entails lessening the power of government and making it smaller and more efficient; something that seems to be total anathema in this day and age to Democrats and Republicans alike! And they wonder why we hate them so!

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-07-20 04:07pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote: You'd figure that one of these days they'd realize that all the bad things about the drug culture is precisely because of Prohibition and that not only has it failed, but it's spreading death and destruction far in excess of what it's supposed to prevent. It needs to be completely repealed, but that entails lessening the power of government and making it smaller and more efficient; something that seems to be total anathema in this day and age to Democrats and Republicans alike! And they wonder why we hate them so!

The problem is, no one's told them that. And they refuse to believe it, because to them, the option of "Let's go against feeling good!" seems to be the only logical choice available.

Illuminatus Primus · Post by **Illuminatus Primus** » 2004-07-20 04:32pm

Master of Ossus wrote:It's at least nominally true. Modern marijuana has been subjected to selective breeding, and has several times the THC content that marijuana from the 1960's had.

And the price hasn't changed, and people still only smoke more than a joint or two a night.

And people who are smoking that much aren't twelve years old.

Mayabird · Post by **Mayabird** » 2004-07-20 04:48pm

Einhander Sn0m4n wrote: P.S. If weed was legalized and regulated like alcohol/tobacco, kids would have a harder time getting it. No freely accessible black market on every street curb in town due to stores selling it, and the stores that do sell it would CARD the fuckers before letting them have it, screening out almost everyone who shouldn't have it barring fake IDs.

Einy, don't forget that if it was legalized and regulated, it could also be taxed. Not only would they save money and prison space and police could spend their time enforcing more useful laws and little kids would be kept from getting their hands on it (to a better degree, anyway), but they'd also generate a good amount of revenue. Everybody wins.

(North Carolina got its great colleges from tobacco money. Georgia's biggest cash crop is marijuana. This state's educational system is in the shitter. Note to self: start the email campaign. Save the schools; legalize pot!)

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-07-20 05:04pm

Oh, this again? As I understand things from reading various marijuana publications THC content has topped out at around 10-12% and there's no real interest from growers to push it any higher. Rather, what they're doing these days is tailoring the mix of THC & other cannaboids to provide distinctive types of highs. Some growers go for a more relaxing high while others aim for a more visual or auditory trip, in other words you have a weed for every mood, a designer high if you will.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-07-20 06:19pm

aerius wrote:Oh, this again? As I understand things from reading various marijuana publications THC content has topped out at around 10-12% and there's no real interest from growers to push it any higher. Rather, what they're doing these days is tailoring the mix of THC & other cannaboids to provide distinctive types of highs. Some growers go for a more relaxing high while others aim for a more visual or auditory trip, in other words you have a weed for every mood, a designer high if you will.

From reading Various Marijuana Publications. Right.
Anyhow, yeah, now they're messing around with flavor, intensity, and how much of a mind versus body high you want by crossbreeding indica and sativa to the desired levels. They have ones that'll knock you out quick, ones that'll last a while, ones that don't reek as bad, onces that do reek as bad... You can get Blueberry flavored marijuana, for Christ's sake! Blueberry!

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-07-20 07:14pm

Where is this so-called "stronger" weed that everybody's smoking? If anything, I've seen weed decline in quality and potency since the 80's!

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-07-20 07:22pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:From reading Various Marijuana Publications. Right.

My local bookstores carry High Times, Redeye Express, Cannabis Culture, and several other mags. Takes up an entire row on the bookshelf.

Frank Hipper wrote:Where is this so-called "stronger" weed that everybody's smoking? If anything, I've seen weed decline in quality and potency since the 80's!

Canada, or more specifically BC & Ontario where it's a rather large cottage industry. BC is known for its high potency weed and the hydroponic grow-ops in Ontario are catching up to them, though BC still has a lead in "designer" weed and sheer volume. Quebec is also starting to produce some good stuff.

Einhander Sn0m4n · Post by **Einhander Sn0m4n** » 2004-07-20 07:25pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:
aerius wrote:Oh, this again? As I understand things from reading various marijuana publications THC content has topped out at around 10-12% and there's no real interest from growers to push it any higher. Rather, what they're doing these days is tailoring the mix of THC & other cannaboids to provide distinctive types of highs. Some growers go for a more relaxing high while others aim for a more visual or auditory trip, in other words you have a weed for every mood, a designer high if you will.
From reading Various Marijuana Publications. Right.
Anyhow, yeah, now they're messing around with flavor, intensity, and how much of a mind versus body high you want by crossbreeding indica and sativa to the desired levels. They have ones that'll knock you out quick, ones that'll last a while, ones that don't reek as bad, onces that do reek as bad... You can get Blueberry flavored marijuana, for Christ's sake! Blueberry!

I think I need to start a research program to determine which types are best for me. I predict I'll require a cubic shitload of Munchies...

Stravo · Post by **Stravo** » 2004-07-20 07:51pm

Does Canada have strict anti drug laws or is it more lax up there?

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-07-20 08:31pm

aerius wrote:
Xenophobe3691 wrote:From reading Various Marijuana Publications. Right.
My local bookstores carry High Times, Redeye Express, Cannabis Culture, and several other mags. Takes up an entire row on the bookshelf.

Damn. I don't think I'd find any of those at my local bookstores, the South is a bit more uptight about that sorta stuff...

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-07-20 08:40pm

aerius wrote:
Xenophobe3691 wrote:From reading Various Marijuana Publications. Right.
My local bookstores carry High Times, Redeye Express, Cannabis Culture, and several other mags. Takes up an entire row on the bookshelf.

We have High Times here. Well out of view, but if you know where to look in the store...

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-07-20 09:15pm

Stravo wrote:Does Canada have strict anti drug laws or is it more lax up there?

I believe enforcement is more lax, but I'm not sure...

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-07-20 09:53pm

Frank Hipper wrote:
Stravo wrote:Does Canada have strict anti drug laws or is it more lax up there?
I believe enforcement is more lax, but I'm not sure...

Unofficially, and off the record, the police in my area and quite a few other areas don't care too much about weed, they have more important things to do. If they find weed on you they'll likely let you off with a warning after tossing the baggie down the nearest sewer grate...unless you have a several ounces on you or you've pre-packaged it into bags suitable for distribution, or you just decide to be an ass and give the officer a hard time, then you get your ass busted.

Officially speaking, going by the letter of the law, possession of any amount of marijuana is a criminal offence, but in practice unless you get caught with over an ounce or 2 they won't bother charging you in most cases. In other words, don't ask, don't tell, and don't smoke dope in front of the cops.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-07-20 10:55pm

Stravo wrote:Does Canada have strict anti drug laws or is it more lax up there?

I think both enforcement and the actual law is more lax in Canada. Though it depends on what part of the US you're comparing. Ohio and New York, for example, just give you a ticket for simple possession, while New Jersey and Florida give you 6 months and 1 year, respectively. And enforcement varies by municipality.

Howedar · Post by **Howedar** » 2004-07-21 03:37am

Does this strike anyone as the Govt. crying wolf yet again with regards to PowerPot?

Post by **The Yosemite Bear** » 2004-07-21 03:51am

Well fuck it's only a matter of time before there are Marlboro Greens, Native American Brand MJ, and My mom's out hawking genuine Hippie Organic Pot......

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2004-07-21 08:59am

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Well fuck it's only a matter of time before there are Marlboro Greens, Native American Brand MJ, and My mom's out hawking genuine Hippie Organic Pot......

i can't wait to see the ad campaign for Winnipeg Wheelchair. lol

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-07-21 10:25am

The Yosemite Bear wrote:Well fuck it's only a matter of time before there are Marlboro Greens, Native American Brand MJ, and My mom's out hawking genuine Hippie Organic Pot......

Too Late, they've already got their bases covered. Plus half of North America'll reek like nothing else