The Straight Toke - THE Marijuana Blog

One of our readers pointed us to a link in the news today -- one that is sure to make headlines in both the pro-legalization/anti-legalization camps. The article, published in Reuters, talks about the strength of modern-day weed, particularly about how much stronger it is than the "grass" of the 1970's. Actually, it does more than that -- it paints a rather scary picture, portraying today's marijuana as a far more dangerous drug. First, we will agree with Reuters on one thing: the average THC content of today's marijuana is higher than it was in the past. Today, according to the DEA, US-grown marijuana has an average THC content of 4-6 percent. If anything, that estimate is a bit low -- most US growers tend to favour strains in the vacinity of 9-10%. So there's no doubt that the potency of marijuana in the US has gone up -- but the question remains: is it now more dangerous because of that?

Hi Julius!
I was told that marijuana has been linked to an increased rate of schizophrenia. Is this true, or is it just propaganda? I love the blog, BTW!

I'm glad you like the blog -- we try hard to make it a useful resource, and it's always nice to hear from a fan.

Now, on to your question. In the 1950's and 1960's, there was a considerable amount of government-sponsored propaganda against marijuana, most famously the "Murder! Insanity! Death!" phrase made famous by the public service film Reefer Madness. The first and last parts of that slogan are completely false (there has never been a marijuana overdose in all of medical history,) but the middle part still gives some people pause. Does marijuana cause you to be schizophrenic (i.e. insane)?

Dear Julius:
A lot of the people that I know who smoke frequently (several times a day) seem to be "burnouts", i.e. they seem to perpetually be in a daze, even when not high. Their reactions seem slowed, and they have trouble remembering things. This is due to their frequent marijuana use, right?

To date, there have been no studies that prove that frequent marijuana use results in permanent mental impairment. There has, however been an overwhelming amount of anecdotal evidence that suggests otherwise. So how does a (potential) user know what's really going to happen if he lights up frequently?