The Legitimate Concern over THC Levels in Pot

With the legalized sales of marijuana fast approaching a reality in the U.S. Virgin Islands, attention must be focused on a number of factors, not the least of which is the THC levels, in other words, the various strengths of the marijuana being sold.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the United States as well as many parts of the world. At this point in time, there are relatively no established guidelines on how much Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient in cannabis that produces the ‘high,’ is safe to consume. 

In comparison, we find alcohol levels on gin and vodka, wine and rum. These are gauges by which the consuming public can make intelligent judgements to effectively understand what they are getting into when they imbibe such alcoholic liquids. If we drink a wine with a 9.5% alcohol level, such as a white zinfandel, we know that we are most likely to get little more than a ‘soda pop high,’ no matter how much of it we consume. But if we go and have three or four glasses of a good Cabernet Sauvignon, like a California Rodney Strong (14.5%) or a Chilean Clos Apalta (15%), we can bet pretty heavily on the fact that we are not getting off that bar stool in the most graceful of manners.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), recently established a standard unit of THC to be used for research purposes only. That standard unit of THC is 5mg. This standard helps researchers design and interpret marijuana studies more accurately. By universally using the same standard of measurement, researchers can more effectively draw conclusions and compare findings from different studies. However, there are no current guidelines on how many units of THC make up a standard dose when dealing with recreational use. In other words, there are no guidelines for what constitutes a safe amount of THC to consume when someone is just sitting around and getting high. 

For now, the question seems as difficult to answer as a couple of verses from the famous Irving Berlin song, “How deep is the ocean/ How high is the sky?” 

Cannabis manufacturers and some ‘pot organizations’ do offer their own recommendations for how much THC is the proper or safe amount to ingest into your system. These so-called experts recommend starting off with 2.5mg of THC, which is one-half of the research standard. They also suggest not exceeding 40mg of THC per day. Granted, that’s quite a spread. The amount of mg that falls in between could make the difference between being safe with your consumption levels and finding out exactly how deep is the ocean and how high is the sky. Probably not a good place for some people to be.

Bob Dylan may best have described a little too much of a good thing in his iconic song, Stuck Inside of Mobile with the Memphis Blues Again: 

“Now the rain man gave me two cures, then he said jump right in, The one was Texas medicine, the other was just railroad gin, An’ like a fool I mixed them, And they strangled up my mind, An’ now people just get uglier, An’ I have no sense of time..”

So it is ultra important to remember that THC concentrations in marijuana can vary widely, depending on the type of weed. It also depends on how the cannabis is ingested. Smoking pot through a Bong (water pipe), by way of a joint, or a pipe, does make a difference in the type of high and the power of the high. Let’s forget about eating cannabis laced brownies for right now. But taking a quick look at CBD products (Gummies, et al), even though they do indicate the level of THC on the label, there is no regulating agency (as in medicinals) to guarantee that information is correct. In fact, it is widely known that many of these products contain either less or more THC than is stated. But at least some quantity is listed. In comparison, when was the last time you smoked a joint that listed the THC level on the Zig Zag or Bambu rolling paper? Or did you even care?

Nevertheless, the THC matter has become a crucial issue since very little scientific evidence as of late is advocating against legalizing marijuana. With 24 states already having legalized marijuana, along with the Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington DC, and another 11 states chomping at the bit, due to the expected tax revenues, there needs to be a more detailed playbook as to how this wildly controversial drug, of which legalization has been a festering topic in the  public’s mind for decades, can be brought forth and dealt with in a rational 21st Century manner.

There are all sorts of rules and regulations being formulated as to how and where cannabis should be sold, how it should be taxed, where the proceeds should be spent, how the income should be divided.  Still, the question about the make-up of the product itself, as to its various strengths and components, the THC levels that will be sold to the public, continues to be a relatively unexplored subject. Nor has there been any real dialogue on what legal ages should be allowed to purchase THC levels that exceed the 5mg research level.

The potency of marijuana has increased enormously since the 1960’s when the drug first became popularized in American hippie culture. Strains like Acapulco Gold, Panama Red, Jamaican ganja, were very popular with the hip crowd. They were smuggled into the U.S. with ease. Maui Wowie, one of the most potent strains of that day, for example, carried only a 13% THC level. It wasn’t until growers, primarily out of Northern California, started to cross-breed the marijuana plant, calling it Sinsemilla, did THC levels begin to take off. 

The strains of the 1970’s brought on a race amongst growers to see who could cross-breed the most potent strain. It proved to be a win-win situation for that segment of the consuming public that desired to get higher and higher.

The National Center for Natural Projects Research (NCNPR) at the University of Mississippi has been testing cannabis levels for decades. Their results show today’s weed is 57-67% more potent than the cannabis of the 1960’s. No doubt a portion of the marketplace demanded the more potent brew. Yet, even though many states are starting to demand of growers an accounting of how much THC is in each strain sold at dispensaries, it is unlikely that the consuming public, which has been offered little education on the matter, understands what exactly they are getting into when they light up a joint. Certainly not in the manner that is understood when someone downs a half dozen shots of tequila.

In a study of nearly 40,000 samples of cannabis preparations conducted by the Biological Psychiatry Journal between 1995 to 2014, it showed that cross-breeding advances in THC levels tripled during that time period. In comparison, alcohol content in beer remained the same between 3 percent and 7 percent; wine ranged from 9 to 14 percent, as it has always; and spirits continued to begin at around 20 percent.

Former Virgin Islands Senator Kurt Vialet, who was an esteemed educator before serving four terms in the Virgin Islands Legislature, was one of those Senators who were totally opposed to legalizing marijuana. 

“I saw the effects on teenagers on a daily basis. Coming into class, bobbing and weaving from the drug. How could they possibly learn anything of value being so high,” Mr. Vialet told the St. Croix Times. “There has been no meaningful discussion on THC levels. They have rushed to legalize the drug and haven’t thought about its various effects on people. The Virgin Islands law advocates for smoking lounges. But who will work in those lounges? Breathing in the smoke all day. Similar to workers in a cocaine factory,” Mr. Vialet questioned the process.

Ingesting too much THC by itself rarely causes an overdose or death. However, for some people taking too much THC can cause a number of unpleasant side effects, including anxiety, panic, paranoia, high blood pressure, increased heart rate, nausea, and vomiting. Psychotic symptoms of hallucinations and delusions have been reported. 

The St. Croix Times reached out to former VI Senator Positive Nelson, an early proponent of marijuana legalization, who currently sits on the VI Cannabis Advisory Board, which oversees the Office of Cannabis Regulation (OCR).   

“I am quite certain there can be rules enacted that will deal effectively with THC levels,” Mr. Nelson stated. 

There is a great deal of benefit in knowing your tolerance level when ingesting any alcoholic beverage or drug. By establishing specific guidelines and informational and educational outposts, individuals can drink and smoke safely and ‘enjoy the high’ with the assurance they are keeping within their own individual comfort zone.