Citation

Potter DJ, Hammond K, Tuffnell S, Walker C, Di Forti M. Drug Test. Anal. 2018; 10(4): 628-635.

Affiliation

Institute of Psychiatry Psychology and Neuroscience, Dept of Social Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry (SGDP), Kings College London, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/dta.2368

PMID

29441730

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In 2005 and 2008, studies reported that cannabis in England had become dominated by the sinsemilla (unseeded female) form. The average potency (Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] content) of this material had doubled over the previous decade. Cannabis resin then circulating contained approximately equal ratios of THC and cannabidiol (CBD), whereas sinsemilla was almost devoid of CBD. Despite raised health concerns regarding sinsemilla use and the development of psychotic disorders, no update on street cannabis potency has been published since 2008.

METHODS: A total of 995 seized cannabis samples were acquired from the same five constabulary areas included in the 2005 study. The differing forms were segregated and a representative 460 samples analyzed to assess their cannabinoid content using gas chromatography.

RESULTS: The resultant median sinsemilla potency of 14.2% THC was similar to that observed in 2005 (13.9%). In each case, sinsemilla contained minimal CBD. Compared with 2005, resin had significantly higher mean THC (6.3%) and lower CBD (2.3%) contents (p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS: Although the average THC concentration in sinsemilla samples across the five constabularies has remained stable since 2005, the availability of this potent form of cannabis has further increased. Moreover, the now rarer resin samples show significantly decreased CBD contents and CBD:THC ratios, leaving the United Kingdom's cannabis street market populated by high-potency varieties of cannabis, which may have concerning implications for public health.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

cannabidiol; cannabinoid; cannabinol; herbal cannabis; potency; psychosis; resin; sinsemilla; Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol