NO LONGER A SACRAMENT –
Aug. 14, 2023 – But despite these dangers, the potency of the products currently on the market is largely unregulated. In 1995, the average concentration of THC in cannabis samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration was about 4 percent. By 2017, it was 17 percent. And now cannabis manufacturers are extracting THC to make oils; edibles; wax; sugar-size crystals; and glass-like products called shatter that advertise high THC levels in some cases exceeding 95 percent. Meanwhile, the average level of CBD – the nonintoxicating compound from the cannabis plant tied to relief from seizures, pain, anxiety and inflammation -has been on the decline in cannabis plants. Studies suggest that lower levels of CBD can potentially make cannabis more addictive.
The Food and Drug Administration has sent public warnings about various cannabis products, including edibles, but to date, federal regulators haven’t taken action to curb potency levels because cannabis is federally illegal. California lawmakers are now considering adding a mental health warning label to cannabis products specifying that the drug may contribute to psychotic disorders.
