Potency Trends of Δ 9 ‐THC and Other Cannabinoids in Confiscated Cannabis Preparations from 1993 to 2008*
Abstract
The University of Mississippi has a contract with the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) to carry out a variety of research activities dealing with cannabis, including the Potency Monitoring (PM) program, which provides analytical potency data on cannabis preparations confiscated in the United States. This report provides data on 46,211 samples seized and analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detection (GC-FID) during 1993-2008. The data showed an upward trend in the mean Δ(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ(9)-THC) content of all confiscated cannabis preparations, which increased from 3.4% in 1993 to 8.8% in 2008. Hashish potencies did not increase consistently during this period; however, the mean yearly potency varied from 2.5-9.2% (1993-2003) to 12.0-29.3% (2004-2008). Hash oil potencies also varied considerably during this period (16.8 ± 16.3%). The increase in cannabis preparation potency is mainly due to the increase in the potency of nondomestic versus domestic samples.
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As levels of THC in cannabis have altered over the past few decades, results from earlier studies could be underestimating the impact of the effects of cannabis on psychosis that exist today.
“These studies have increased concern that as levels of THC in cannabis have altered over the past few decades (50)(51)(52), results from earlier studies could be underestimating the impact of the effects of cannabis on psychosis that exist today.”
From Association Between Cannabis and Psychosis: Epidemiologic Evidence (2016) · cites this paper as [51]
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- Authors
- Mehmedic, Z., Chandra, S., Slade, D., Denham, H., Foster, S., Patel, A. S., Ross, S. A., Khan, I. A., & ElSohly, M. A.
- Affiliations
- University of Mississippi (US)
- Corresponding author
- ElSohly, Mahmoud A.
- Venue
- Journal of Forensic Sciences
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-09
- Volume
- 55
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 1209-1217
- ISSN
- 0022-1198 (ISSN-L)
- 1556-4029
- OpenAlex
- W2098582456
- Cited by
- 475
- References
- 38
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 22 · 2023: 21 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 35 · 2019: 36 · 2018: 43 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 46 · 2015: 49 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 12 · 2012: 25
- FWCI
- 24.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Forensic Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institutes of Health
- National Institute on Drug Abuse (N01 DA 57746)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pharmaceutics › Toxicology › Forensic Toxicology and Drug Analysis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance
- Keywords
- cannabis potency, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinoids, hashish
- MeSH terms
- Cannabinoids, Cannabis, Flame Ionization, Plant Oils, Illicit Drugs, Dronabinol
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