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European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience

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22.01.2019 | Original Paper

New trends in cannabis potency in USA and Europe during the last decade (2008–2017)

verfasst von: Suman Chandra, Mohamed M. Radwan, Chandrani G. Majumdar, James C. Church, Tom P. Freeman, Mahmoud A. ElSohly

Erschienen in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience | Ausgabe 1/2019

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Abstract

Through the potency monitoring program at the University of Mississippi supported by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), a total of 18108 samples of cannabis preparations have been analyzed over the last decade, using a validated GC/FID method. The samples are classified as sinsemilla, marijuana, ditchweed, hashish, and hash oil (now referred to as cannabis concentrate). The number of samples received over the last 5 years has decreased dramatically due to the legalization of marijuana either for medical or for recreational purposes in many US states. The results showed that the mean Δ⁹-THC concentration has increased dramatically over the last 10 years, from 8.9% in 2008 to 17.1% in 2017. The mean Δ⁹-THC:CBD ratio also rose substantially from 23 in 2008 to 104 in 2017. There was also marked increase in the proportion of hash oil samples (concentrates) seized (0.5–4.7%) and their mean Δ⁹-THC concentration (6.7–55.7%) from 2008 to 2017. Other potency monitoring programs are also present in several European countries such as The Netherlands, United Kingdom, France, and Italy. These programs have also documented increases in Δ⁹-THC concentrations and Δ⁹-THC:CBD ratios in cannabis. These trends in the last decade suggest that cannabis is becoming an increasingly harmful product in the USA and Europe.

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Titel: New trends in cannabis potency in USA and Europe during the last decade (2008–2017)
verfasst von: Suman Chandra
Mohamed M. Radwan
Chandrani G. Majumdar
James C. Church
Tom P. Freeman
Mahmoud A. ElSohly
Publikationsdatum: 22.01.2019
Verlag: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in: European Archives of Psychiatry and Clinical Neuroscience / Ausgabe 1/2019
Print ISSN: 0940-1334
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-8491
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00406-019-00983-5

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