this post was submitted on 03 Sep 2024
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In 2022, the federal government reported that, in samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration, average levels of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC—the psychoactive compound in weed that makes you feel high—had more than tripled compared with 25 years earlier, from 5 to 16 percent. That may understate how strong weed has gotten. Walk into any dispensary in the country, legal or not, and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a single product advertising such a low THC level. Most strains claim to be at least 20 to 30 percent THC by weight; concentrated weed products designed for vaping can be labeled as up to 90 percent.

The high that most adult weed smokers remember from their teenage years is most likely one produced by “mids,” as in, middle-tier weed. In the pre-legalization era, unless you had a connection with access to top-shelf strains such as Purple Haze and Sour Diesel, you probably had to settle for mids (or, one step down, “reggie,” as in regular weed) most of the time. Today, mids are hard to come by.

The simplest explanation for this is that the casual smokers who pine for the mids and reggies of their youth aren’t the industry’s top customers. Serious stoners are. According to research by Jonathan P. Caulkins, a public-policy professor at Carnegie Mellon, people who report smoking more than 25 times a month make up about a third of marijuana users but account for about two-thirds of all marijuana consumption. Such regular users tend to develop a high tolerance, and their tastes drive the industry’s cultivation decisions.

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[–] Pencilnoob@lemmy.world 89 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (4 children)

This article feels like it was written by an old man yelling at clouds. "... Back in my day we smoked mid and we liked it" shakes fist and then uses it as a reason to go back to prohibition. Why can't we just make it legal and let the free market figure it out.

Turns out more THC for the buck means people can make a few months supply of edibles out of a few grams. Cost effective!

[–] matthewmercury@reddthat.com 30 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This is such bad reporting about cannabis that it makes me think The Atlantic probably has very poor standards for all their articles.

[–] SoJB@lemmy.ml 9 points 2 months ago

Leftists have been calling out the Atlantic’s poor reporting for a while now, history just has a weird way of always proving them right.

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[–] Kroxx@lemm.ee 8 points 2 months ago

I do agree with the old man yelling sentiment, but in fairness to the article it has ,imo, become a lot easier to get too high in the last decade. By that I mean becoming uncomfortably high. As a daily user for the last decade I smoke mainly because it has been the only reliable way to help me sleep I've ever tried, but I honestly enjoy being high as well.

I have issues with anxiety though and it definitely is really easy to accidentally overdo it. I've seen this sentiment grow in a minor portion of the community.

Luckily it's a super super easy fix, add cbd bud. When I was reading scientific lit I saw many journal articles that discussed cbds ability to help with thc side effects. I don't feel like digging them up right now.

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[–] jaemo@sh.itjust.works 60 points 2 months ago (6 children)

Sounds like someone has never ever ever set foot in a dispensary and asked for a "low thc high CBD strain".

Total nonsense that contradicts my literal past lived experience, and probably my experience this afternoon.

[–] AlphaOmega@lemmy.world 12 points 2 months ago (1 children)

While the majority of products I see at dispensaries are high THC. There are always some lower options. Currently getting shake at $30 to $40/ounce and it's about little above "mid". 15% THC but I assume because it's shake only, it's slightly lower like 12%.

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[–] loaf@sh.itjust.works 59 points 2 months ago

Because it’s gotten so much stronger, I actually smoke less to get to that “sweet spot,” which saves me money.

Won’t catch me complaining.

[–] z3rOR0ne@lemmy.ml 40 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

This argument shows up every few years and its always been BS. Not that weed doesn't get stronger, but it always fails to mention how the majority of people simply consume less. This happened when growers figured out sinsemilla (seedless) weed. This happened when continued cross breeding techniques and lab testing became more regular in the horticulture aspect of the business. This happened when vape pens, dabbing, and further concentration methods showed up. Ultimately it's up to the adults consuming these products to determine how much is "too much" or "too strong".

Am I for bigger warnings on packages? Yes. Am I for heavier regulation of the industry as a whole? Definitely. Am I for having honest respectful conversations with teenagers and kids about the pros and cons of drugs use that doesn't demonize nor glorify it? Hell yes. And ultimately, am I for responsible use? Absofuckinglutely.

But I get so fucking annoyed by seeing that this kind of scare tactic article shows up every few years, pretty much beat for beat trying to demonize the drug exactly the same bs article, every time...every few years. No new news. No new insights. Just the same old shit with slightly updated data. We get it, the weed is stronger. Its because people started to give more of a shit about the quality of what they were putting into their bodies. That's because the cannabis industry became more legitimate and regulated. That's a good thing.

Now I've got my criticisms of the modern cannabis industry, but it has more to do with my problems with how capitalism encourages oligopolistic practices, which definitely has manifested in the cannabis industry here in the States.

But I'm definitely not complaining about the fact the weed is stronger. I can go out and buy ether alcohol and drink myself to death way quicker than with a bottle of vodka. It doesn't mean I think ether shouldn't be available. If I want to kill myself with ether alcohol, I'm an adult, I'm informed on what ether alcohol is and the dangers of using it. I should have the freedom to use it as I see fit. Same with strong ass cannabis.

The mg and percentages are right there on the package, you've got more research available today from legitimate chemists on the subject you can look up right now. Read that and make your decisions off of that, not this trash. At least then you could truly say you were making an Educated decision.

[–] Dkarma@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Or just admit the worst that happens is you get scared for 39 min

[–] Vathsade@lemmy.ca 4 points 2 months ago

Might puke on a nice shirt...

[–] unexposedhazard@discuss.tchncs.de 36 points 2 months ago (8 children)

Their explanation is pretty dumb. The main driver for more concentrated drugs in general is money. If you can make more money with less material, its going to be easier to transport, hide, trade. Thats what drug cartels care about. To be blunt the reason cannabis is more potent now is because it was/is illegal.

[–] novibe@lemmy.ml 31 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Like exactly the same thing happened during alcohol prohibition. Beer disappeared, and spirits got harder and harder.

Seriously, what is up with us as a species? Are we still adapting to being able to record history?

[–] 0x0@programming.dev 10 points 2 months ago

Are we still adapting to being able to record history?

History? We barely remember yesterday's mistakes...

[–] FireRetardant@lemmy.world 7 points 2 months ago

They also claim that all sour diesel strains are top shelf without considering the quality of the growing process at all.

[–] Steve@startrek.website 5 points 2 months ago

No bro, its “serious stoners”

[–] Glasgow@lemmy.ml 4 points 2 months ago (4 children)

What? But the volume is the same. It’s not like people are buying smaller amounts they’re just smoking stronger stuff.

Best way to balance this is to buy some cbd bud and mix it in to return it to healthier levels.

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[–] Infynis@midwest.social 30 points 2 months ago (2 children)

This is such a wild stance to take. "The quality of recreational cannabis has improved, and we're mad about it!" If it's too strong, just use less. Skill issue

[–] Buelldozer@lemmy.today 6 points 2 months ago

I'm not sure that quality and potency are synonymous.

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[–] 31337@sh.itjust.works 26 points 2 months ago

This is good, IMO. People don't have to smoke as much, so less damage is done to their lungs. Vapes, edibles, and concentrates that are not combusted are probably even less damaging.

[–] gnomesaiyan@lemmy.world 25 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Ugh, they used the word 'marijuana'. Foreshadowing.

[–] Makhno@lemmy.world 5 points 2 months ago
[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 21 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Don't do serial vodka shots if you don't want to get drunk in a hurry. Don't smoke a bunch of 30% weed if you don't want to get way too high.

[–] Jax@sh.itjust.works 10 points 2 months ago (5 children)

The point they're trying to make is that it's pretty fucking hard finding anything below 20% these days.

[–] sploosh@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

At my local weed store this afternoon, they had a special: 2 cent joints. 16.5%. They also have a grandma tier that's just lower concentrations and CBD heavy strains. It sucks that apparently isn't universal.

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I heard this 'marijuana is too strong now' argument back in the 90s i swear to God.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 17 points 2 months ago

Okay who had to write this for their public service hours instead of going to jail

[–] kwomp2@sh.itjust.works 17 points 2 months ago

Since computers are too strong, websites only need seconds to load.

No one can read that fast, so this is a problem.

[–] Got_Bent@lemmy.world 16 points 2 months ago (4 children)

I actually miss the old Mexican brick weed from thirty years ago. It could give you a headache, but otherwise, the high it produced of everything being hilarious doesn't seem to exist anymore. Modern weed pretty much makes me instantly catatonic.

Further, I don't know if it's age, but a single bong rip will send me into violent fits of coughing that frequently render me running outside to puke.

I've stopped smoking entirely in favor of edibles due to the coughing thing. The edibles still knock me the hell out. I don't know how the younger set wakes and bakes and carries on with their day with the modern stuff.

[–] hex@programming.dev 10 points 2 months ago

Tolerance is kind of the only reason I've been able to enjoy ridiculously strong weed. Otherwise, like you said, I'm just catatonic. These days, I need to consume such a small amount (I'm talking 5mg edible) when I don't have a tolerance.

But I take 1 puff off a joint and that's when I find that beautiful high where everything is funny, and I still am able to talk to my friends.

Seriously, with this strong ass weed, less is more.

[–] the_post_of_tom_joad@sh.itjust.works 9 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

I don’t know how the younger set wakes and bakes and carries on with their day with the modern stuff.

It was tough lemme tell ya. I hadta set goals, show up every day and give it 110%.

Im no hero, i just care, yaknow? You too can achieve, just do what i did. Set your mind to it and put in a little work daily and greatness will come

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[–] CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world 13 points 2 months ago

They can fuck right off, I enjoy going to outer space on half a joint.

[–] Crismus@lemmy.world 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I love it. Instead of using portion control like filling smaller bowls, smaller joints, or one-hitter pipes, everyone needs to change.

Talk about entitlement.

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[–] django@discuss.tchncs.de 11 points 2 months ago

Marijuana has been getting stronger for a long time according to news outlets. I remember seeing a collection of reports on stronger marijuana from different decades. Multiplying those "x times stronger" tells us, that marijuana is now 2000 times stronger and consists of at least 200% THC or something like that.

Does anyone have the original calculations and references? It was hilarious.

[–] YeetPics@mander.xyz 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

It's almost like it was illegal to do any research on cross breeding strains for potency for a long time.

Sorry our science got better while cannabis was prohibited over some racial bs for 80+ years.

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[–] HEXN3T@lemmy.blahaj.zone 10 points 2 months ago

Nay, the people are too weak.

[–] bizzle@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (3 children)

If you can't handle your weed it's a skill issue.

[–] DarkCloud@lemmy.world 17 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (3 children)

It's really not. Most strains you get, even ones claiming to be landrace strains ARE NO LONG what they claim to be.

Most stains are hybrids, focusing on high THC and because of this, they don't work on as wide a spectrum of receptors.

You, and all weed users should be worried about the homogenization of weed strains. It comes from commercialization and Capitalism. Capitalism aims for fast growth and high THC claims, rather than quality of the character or purity of heritage. It's not good, because we lose out on less well studied effects, and weed that works with specific states and conditions.

You're being scammed out of the variety of highs your parents and ancestors had access to (it's all focused on getting a high THC stat now). We need to protect the landrace stains against Capitalism and the homogenization and false advertising Capitalism is doing.

It's destroying the traditional strains.

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[–] 4lan@lemmy.world 9 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Do any of these journalists realize you can just smoke less?

Potent weed is better for you, because you have to inhale less plant matter for the same effect.

If I have to smoke a whole blunt of 15% weed to get high I am doing way more damage than a single hit of 35% weed from a bong.

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[–] olafurp@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

Another point on this. CBD and THC content are inversely correlated. So high TCH will almost always result in very low CBD. So instead of getting the high + relax you just get high.

One of the best weed I've ever smoked was "shit weed" which put me into a "relax and enjoy life" mood. I really want weed to be legalised so that people will start producing weaker weed with high CBD content.

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 months ago (1 children)

It exists.

I can go to the dispensary down the street and get it if I wanted it.

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[–] Whirling_Cloudburst@lemmy.world 8 points 2 months ago (3 children)

I prefer some delta 8 for that reason now days. If you shop around for CBD strains, you can score some single digits D9 THC occasionally. What I miss is some old school creeper weed.

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[–] some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org 5 points 2 months ago

with consequences including hospitalizations for chronic vomiting

This was me learning to set my limit when I was 15yo. Every time I smoked, I puked. Same thing when I started drinking alcohol. Puked every time.

I can now smoke (cautiously) and drink (mightily) without issue. I think the real issue is changing cultural expectations about how much THC can be consumed at what rate. No more huge bong rips.

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