Has marijuana gotten stronger over the years?

[crpwilliam]

i was just wondering if all this super strong pot that is so in demand theses days has been altered to become stronger. i mean i can not even find good swag any more. its all the high dollar nugs. is this good stuff the result of genetic modification or has it been this potent since the dawn of life?

 

[ChronicHD]

I think the short answer would be "yes", but I have seen many threads in the past that argue against this point. I have seen some people (veteran smokers from as far back as the 70's) that have argued that weed back then was just as strong. But I have also heard that the government/DEA is claiming today's weed to be "stronger" and thus, more "dangerous" than it was when our parents might have been experimenting with it in an effort to further demonize Marijuana.

I personally think that it doesn't matter much because I'm sure people found ways to get just as stoned back then as the younger generation does now.

 

[debaser]

It's always been potent. A good Durban Poison, Thai Stick, you name it... Now it's all the same weed, indica or sativa, same smell, same taste. Back in the seventies it was much more rich.

 

[Artificial Emotion]

What do you mean by 'stronger'? Higher Δ9-THC levels? Are we taking into consideration the levels of other cannabinoids (which many government agencies seem to assume are essentially inert components)?

Indoor growing techniques and lighting technology have improved over the years, however outdoor growing techniques are pretty much the same as they have always been. So, indoor-grown weed will often be better as a rule of thumb nowadays, whereas outdoor grown weed will be more or less the same as it's always been.

What's certain is that the quality of cannabis will continue to detiorate as we aren't protecting the diversity of genetics. Unfortunately different government have decided that cannabis as a life form doesn't have a right to continue to exist or be protected, unless it's a government sanctioned low Δ9-THC/high CBD strain of their choosing, used to make drugs like Sativex (with some exceptions). Because of closet hack breeding, good genetics will continue to be diluted by unscrupulous seed vendors who have no clue how breeding is meant to be done.

There are some good strains on the market, but they are few and far between. Unfortunately they will become more of a rarity in future years, so generally the quality won't be as good as it used to be. Just to be clear, I am talking about quality rather than strength.

 

[debaser]

^ Spot on, man. Couldn't have said it better.

 

[Vader]

Short answer-yes, and for several reasons. The popularisation of the sinsemilla technique (growing unfertilised females which are seedless) greatly increased the potency of cannabis, as the plant produces many more flowers (buds) and does not "waste" resources producing seed.

Selective breeding has also played a role. Although cannabis has been selectively bred for centuries, modern scientific understanding, and the capacity for people to cross strains from different geographical areas, have allowed the creation of varieties that have many desirable attributes, including higher potency. When you say "genetically modified", if you mean the kind of high-tech splicing in a lab that Monsanto do, no, this is not done with cannabis. However, the kind of "genetic modification" that people have practiced since before history, that has produced (for instance) different breeds of dog, has played a part.

However, much of the increase in potency is seen with indoor-grown weed, and is due to improved growing conditions (in terms of limiting factors). Indoor growing is very modern compared to the history of cannabis as a whole, and high-powered lights and fertilisers have greatly increased the strength of the average street cannabis, as production has moved from extensive outdoor farms in foreign countries to domestic, indoor production. This is largely due to the ever-rising likelihood of seizures, as well as the soaring price available for cannabis.

Even a landrace variety of cannabis (one that is not intentionally improved by humans) will produce relatively potent bud if grown with modern techniques indoors). So, in answer to your question, cannabis has always had the potential to be as potent as it is now, but it has never before had the opportunity to realise that potential. The weed being smoked today is not some mutant superskunk, the difference between it and the schwag you are used to is one of degree, not of kind. The fact that you cannot find it is more due to economics than it is to technology.

Hopefully that all makes sense, feel free to ask if something is unclear.

 

[crpwilliam]

this is what i love about this site. i can count on very inteligent and well thought out answers. thank you!

What do you mean by 'stronger'? Higher Δ9-THC levels? Are we taking into consideration the levels of other cannabinoids (which many government agencies seem to assume are essentially inert components)?

Indoor growing techniques and lighting technology have improved over the years, however outdoor growing techniques are pretty much the same as they have always been. So, indoor-grown weed will often be better as a rule of thumb nowadays, whereas outdoor grown weed will be more or less the same as it's always been.

What's certain is that the quality of cannabis will continue to detiorate as we aren't protecting the diversity of genetics. Unfortunately different government have decided that cannabis as a life form doesn't have a right to continue to exist or be protected, unless it's a government sanctioned low Δ9-THC/high CBD strain of their choosing, used to make drugs like Sativex (with some exceptions). Because of closet hack breeding, good genetics will continue to be diluted by unscrupulous seed vendors who have no clue how breeding is meant to be done.

There are some good strains on the market, but they are few and far between. Unfortunately they will become more of a rarity in future years, so generally the quality won't be as good as it used to be. Just to be clear, I am talking about quality rather than strength.

i did not think about all the other compounds and such . thank you.