From the onset of cannabis criminalization, prohibitionists have sought to advance their agenda — to unduly influence public opinion — by sensationalizing the supposed strength of cannabis.
In the 1930s, while lobbying for the first-ever federal ban on cannabis, Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger alleged that the marijuana of a century ago was so uniquely potent that it was “entirely the monster Hyde, the harmful effect of which cannot be measured.”
In the ensuing years, prohibitionists have continued to ramp up their rhetoric. Starting in the 1970s – and continuing each successive decade — prohibitionists have claimed that cannabis is exponentially stronger, and therefore inherently more dangerous, than ever before.
Strategically, there’s a method to the prohibitionists’ madness. Historically, younger generations have experimented with marijuana – typically with few if any lasting ill effects – and then ceased their use by middle age. By alleging that today’s marijuana differs significantly from the cannabis of yesteryear, prohibitionists are trying to convince older adults that their prior first-hand experiences with it are no longer relevant because it has become ‘an entirely different drug.’
Fortunately, most people know better.
Let’s set the record straight. First, while the average THC potency of marijuana has grown somewhat over time (largely because of more sophisticated growing techniques), the availability of higher potency cannabis products is not a phenomenon unique to today’s state-legal markets. In fact, more potent products like hashish have always been publicly available.
Typically, when consumers encounter higher-strength marijuana, they ingest smaller quantities of it. This self-regulatory process is known as self-titration.
Second, higher potency marijuana products do not dominate state-legal markets. In fact, retail sales records from legal states show that most consumers tend to prefer and gravitate toward lower-strength products.
Third, unlike alcohol (which is readily available in a variety of potencies, including highly potent formulations like grain alcohol and absinthe), THC is incapable of causing lethal overdose — regardless of its potency or the quantity consumed.
That’s not to say that cannabis products cannot be over-consumed. They can. But in such instances, consumers typically experience only temporary dysphoria (commonly referred to as a panic attack) — the effects of which dissipate within a few hours. (By contrast, alcohol overconsumption is associated with some 2,200 overdose deaths annually.)
Nonetheless, in order to discourage overconsumption, most state markets regulate certain cannabis products, like edibles, to single-serving sizes. All legal states require that products’ potencies appear on their labels so consumers can make informed decisions prior to consuming them.
In some instances, overexposure to higher-strength products might induce temporary psychotic-like symptoms. However, such incidents are exceedingly rare and are typically exclusive to those who are either predisposed to or have a preexisting psychiatric disorder. (Notably, exposure to high-potency alcohol also triggers psychosis in certain consumers.)
Specifically, an exhaustive study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association determined that “state medical and recreational cannabis policies were not associated with a statistically significant increase in rates of psychosis-related health outcomes.”
Overall, most Americans are happy with cannabis legalization. Thirteen years into states’ marijuana legalization experiment, public support for making marijuana legal nationwide has never been higher. To date, 24 states have legalized the adult-use market. None of these states has ever repealed their legalization laws. That’s because these policies are working largely as voters and politicians intended — and because they are preferable to cannabis criminalization.
Ultimately, any legitimate concerns over cannabis potency and the potential impact of higher strength THC products on consumers’ health and well-being are best mitigated by a policy of legalization, regulation and education. Conversely, any potential risks are exacerbated by criminalization, sensationalism and stigmatization.
Paul Armentano is the Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, America’s oldest cannabis consumers’ lobby. To become a member of NORML or to support NORML’s efforts, please consider making a donation here.
Photo by Gabriel Tovar on Unsplash
