Throughout history, higher THC percentages have translated to higher prices and competitive advantages. This has driven an obsessive pursuit by cultivators and breeders to constantly push for more and more potent cannabis strains. Consumers seem to be happy about this as we are spending more than ever on these strains, but is that a good thing?
First off, higher THC potency does NOT always mean you will get higher
Colorado University released a recent study showing that smoking high-potency marijuana concentrates spikes blood levels of THC, but doesn't necessarily get you higher than conventional weed.
The likely reason for this is that what cannabis ennthusiasts have been preaching for years actually has a glimmer of truth to it. That the effects of weed have more to do with freshness, terpene profiles, and cannabinoid profiles, than they do THC content.
For instance, small amounts of CBD have been shown to increase THC highs and terpenes are big factors in determining whether a strain is relaxing, or uplifting.
Other than that, high potency weed increases the risk of over-consuming which we feel is the primary reason for some of the health concern around weed.
POTENTIAL MENTAL HEALTH RISKS
Research has linked frequent cannabis use to poorer mental health outcomes, with high potency cannabis increasing the risk.
In low doses, THC may offer feelings of euphoria as well as reduced anxiety and pain. In higher doses, it can cause anxiety, reduced cognitive function, memory loss and even psychosis. The prevalence of extremely potent products means that many people are ending up on the “higher dose,” end of the spectrum, sometimes unintentionally. While this usually leads to no more than an uncomfortable high, in some cases it can be more serious.
POTENTIAL PHYSICAL HEALTH RISKS
While much less pronounced than the mental health risk, a mysterious physical condition called “cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome” has arisen that causes violent, uncontrollable vomiting. It was first discovered in 2004, a time when it was extremely rare, and as THC levels have risen, cases have too.
POTENTIAL RISK OF DEPENDENCE
Surprisingly, research cited by the CDC asserts that 10% of those who use cannabis will become addicted. Yes, you read that right. Marijuana addiction, believe it or not, is a real thing referred to by medical professionals as cannabis use disorder (CUD), or “the continued use of cannabis despite clinically significant impairment.”
This may not seem like it has much to do with potency, but a 2015 study done in the UK found that high-potency cannabis use is associated with severity of dependence, especially in young people.
Severe dependency usually leads people to develop tolerances, consistently requiring larger doses of THC to achieve the same “high,” as before. This may increase the chances of experiencing the negative risks associated with high doses of THC such as problems with anxiety, attention, memory, and learning.
WHERE CAN I GET LESS POTENT WEED?
If you decide high-potency THC flower isn’t right for you, you’re definitely not alone. The best way to find low-THC cannabis is on the internet, or by asking your bud tender.
CBD flower is cannabis with less than 0.3% THC and can be mixed with weed to reduce the side-effects of THC. Our flower is third-party lab-tested, rich with terpenes and cannabinoids, and the freshest hemp on the market.
