Has Colorado THC Potency Become Too High?

[Jambi619]

“A cookie probably shouldn't have six regular doses in it because, seriously, who the fuck eats a sixth of a cookie?”

https://news.vice.com/article/has-colorado-thc-potency-become-too-high?utm_source=vicenewsfb

Idk about flowers being too strong, but I agree with the above quote that edibles may be too strong.

 

[Euphoria]

Well the article does hit on a good point that doses should be better graded in consideration of the complete newbies. I've heard so many stories first hand of intelligent, open-minded people being completely thrown off weed due to a bad experience. And that bad experience is nearly always down to an incorrect (and huge) dose due to a lack of knowledge.

Sometimes that leads those people openly bashing weed because they think of it purely on that select experience. It's like comparing 2 or 3 beers to being black-out drunk. But because general information like ABV percentages with alcohol is widely known, if you get black-out drunk it's your own damn fault!

Anyway I ramble...but the less weed bashing due to incorrect information, the better!

 

[grokit]

Tolerance can be a tricky thing

 

[herbivore21]

I actually do think that dispensary staff has a duty to disclose the potency of their products, as well as gauge their customer's needs in terms of potency. This is a psychoactive substance, with extremely low potential for negative experiences. However, give someone who has never tried cannabis in any form some of the epic strong edibles you guys can buy and watch them go completely bananas.

I am all for legalised reefer available at all strengths, but, let's be responsible with selling it. For fuck's sake, let's not start giving people the impression that cannabis is a harder drug than it is by feeding newbies gargantuan doses!

 

[meduser#420]

hmmm... what exactly would be considered a "Dose"? 1 bong hit? A whole joint? Sorry for the combustion reference. Like @grokit said above, we all have different tolerances. Do we go by designated weight divisions, like hey I just ate two 100lb bars for a 200lb person but you weigh 185lbs. How do you determine the dosage?

 

[grokit]

"Dowd Was Warned" About Dangerous Effects Of Edible Marijuana, Tour Guide Says
The Huffington Post | By Catherine Taibi

“As my paranoia deepened, I became convinced that I had died and no one was telling me,” she wrote.

If only someone had told the New York Times columnist that eating that much edible marijuana could have such drastic effects.

But apparently, someone did.

The Cannabist reported Wednesday that Dowd was warned of the effects of the drugs by an expert in the area, Matt Brown, co-founder of a tourism company known as My 420 Tours. Brown claims that he was asked by Dowd's assistant to give her a "behind-the-scenes tour," and in doing that, he says they discussed at length the varying effects of the edibles.

"She got the warning,” Brown told the Cannabist. “She did what all the reporters did. She listened. She bought some samples... I don’t remember what exactly. Me and the owner of the dispensary we were at and the assistant manager and the budtender talked with her for 45 minutes at the shop."

Brown added that just hours before her column was published in the Times on Tuesday, Dowd called him to ask if her reaction was normal. The phone call lasted for about 45 to 60 minutes, Brown said, but none of their conversation or his previous warning made it into her piece.

"All of the problems that happened in her hotel room as she’s breaking off pieces of the infused candy bar... there’s something missing," he said. "When she was learning how to drink alcohol she could have seen other adults using moderation and other adults in bars puking and making an ass out of themselves — because it’s enjoyed communally and legally in bars."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/...dible-marijuana-pot-matt-brown_n_5452119.html

 

[Gunky]

I have a pretty high tolerance. I find most of the edibles sold in dispensaries in CA are too weak! Unable to get off on them. The only one with a real kick that I have found is Aunt Sandy's Lemon Bars, but they are hard to find.

 

[thisperson]

I had the sensation that my life was running on two parallel tracks that were growing further and further apart with each passing second: On the inner orbit, where I was, everything was moving very slowly, and the outer orbit, which I could both see and feel just beyond [my husband], was populated with the faces and voices and activities of everyone I’d ever met and was a great, gibbering mass that moved at lightning speed past us in a deep, blue vortex.

[…]

I was certain we were going to die; I was certain something terrible was going to happen; I was certain I wasn’t going to be the same in the morning, that I would almost certainly be institutionalized because my mind was breaking.

It sounds like she had her entire mentality reworked from this experience. I get the sense that she's talking like she's survived some great ordeal and maybe to her she has, but as far as I'm concerned I had a similar thing happen where I consumed a shitton of cannabis when I first started smoking. All that did was work out some kinks in my personality and it was like I could suddenly talk human.

 

[aj0125]

I have a pretty high tolerance. I find most of the edibles sold in dispensaries in CA are too weak! Unable to get off on them. The only one with a real kick that I have found is Aunt Sandy's Lemon Bars, but they are hard to find.

Yeah this is a tough one because tolerance varies so dramatically. I know people who can have 15 mg of THC in an edible and be gone for hours but it takes me a whole gram of Rick Simpson Oil (500mg THC) to get to the same place. They don't make edibles strong enough for me but other people are completely losing their shit off almost nothing. I am so jealous of those light weights...

 

[Magic9]

I thought that Dowd piece was clearly BS when I first heard it.

They should slap a basic warning on all edibles and be done.

As far as I know, these people over doing it, can only blame themselves. Do a quick google search. Don't down 20 jello shots. Don't drink that bottle of bleach. Don't eat too many portions of an edible (or any if you don't use cannabis).

 

[Jambi619]

I thought that Dowd piece was clearly BS when I first heard it.

They should slap a basic warning on all edibles and be done.

As far as I know, these people over doing it, can only blame themselves. Do a quick google search. Don't down 20 jello shots. Don't drink that bottle of bleach. Don't eat too many portions of an edible (or any if you don't use cannabis).

But that goes back to the quote I pulled from the article, why have 6 "standard doses" in a cookie cause who eats 1/6 of a cookie. I think they should have less potent products made for lesss experienced people as well as stronger stuff for the veteran cannabis consumer.

 

[Gunky]

Clearly the consumer of these packaged edibles is changing. Originally these were eaten by medical patients who got them at dispensaries. Typically these would be people like us: well informed, with plenty of experience and relatively high tolerance. In post-legalization Colorado the consumer could be a pot virgin. The packaging should reflect this and the rap given at point of sale should look more like the careful instructions you get from a pharmacist.

The curious thing is that Dowd was given the full on mmj dispensary rap and should have known better.

 

[thisperson]

It's obviously a pot set up.

Blaring on the news all over soon. Weed. That hard drug thing.


Oh wait, has that already happened?

 

[RUDE BOY]

I believe they should leave premade edibles for medical use and let recreational users make their own.

Seems right now Edibles and Oils are really giving MJ a bad image in the public awareness, most are way over the top with potency for the weekend warrior/lightweight user. I still abide by "people are stupid and will always fuck up a good thing".

I'm around a group of pretty conservative seniors who will back MMJ all day every day as long as it's flower and Hash.

When they see video of people dabbing or hear dumb "stories" of people overdoing edibles they are prone not to vote to legalize MMJ here in Florida or eventually fully legal recreational use.

The childish stupid behavior of a few Will fuck it up for the rest of us.

 

[grokit]

It's like dumping hard booze into candy, potentially fun but dangerous and in need of regulation. It shouldn't be packaged for kids, and it needs big fucking lettered warnings for inexperienced or idiotic adults.

 

[Magic9]

It very much reminds me of the line they were using years ago (probably still using) about how much stronger this "new" cannabis is.

Has THC Potency Become Too High? No.

Everyone agrees that some standard should be in place. I also haven't heard anyone come out against labels/warnings. The more legalization becomes widespread, the sooner these will happen.

The bad press will never stop. Cannabis is a hot topic no matter which side you are on and that always equates to views/clicks. I expect their propaganda machine to really kick up in 2016.

New users will always have a learning curve. Its up to them to be responsible. If you want to drink a whole bottle of booze, your choice. You pay the consequences. Same if you want to eat the whole cookie. Or do a monster dab.

The only alternative I see, is to make them illegal. For their own safety of course.

 

[aesthyrian]

I thought that Dowd piece was clearly BS when I first heard it.

They should slap a basic warning on all edibles and be done.

As far as I know, these people over doing it, can only blame themselves. Do a quick google search. Don't down 20 jello shots. Don't drink that bottle of bleach. Don't eat too many portions of an edible (or any if you don't use cannabis).

You bring up a good point, there needs to be better education on cannabis and especially edibles. You don't start with edibles or concentrates just like you wouldn't start with high proof whiskey or everclear.

Good thing is, this is cannabis and no one will need to get their stomach pumped or worry about overdosing and dieing.

And I know they sell chocaltes that have liquor in them, how is that any different from a choclate with cannabis in it? I mean, the liquor can actually kill you but you'd probably have to eat pounds of those chocolates to get to that point.

Still, no one makes an issue about those types of liquor infused candies.

With all the money that is being made in Colorado from the cannabis tax revenue, the state needs to seriously consider using some of that money to start a statewide, if not nationwide campaign on responsible cannabis use and education.

 

[Bouldorado]

And I know they sell chocaltes that have liquor in them, how is that any different from a choclate with cannabis in it? I mean, the liquor can actually kill you but you'd probably have to eat pounds of those chocolates to get to that point.

The difference is the ease of moderation. Well-made edibles taste like gourmet sweets, with little to none cannabis taste. They're often packaged like a candy bar which most people eat in one sitting. If you buy a delicious tasting edible (which you perceive as a single serving, despite potency labeling and possibly a budtender warning) you'll likely be tempted to eat the whole thing.

The problem is exacerbated by the potency of THC. There aren't really standard edible doses, but 100mg is pretty common. I have a decently high tolerance and 100mg can get me high enough where I would question my ability to drive safely. With such a small amount of active ingredients, the hashy taste can easily be concealed in something smaller than a Reeses' cup.

 

[aesthyrian]

The difference is the ease of moderation. Well-made edibles taste like gourmet sweets, with little to none cannabis taste. They're often packaged like a candy bar which most people eat in one sitting. If you buy a delicious tasting edible (which you perceive as a single serving, despite potency labeling and possibly a budtender warning) you'll likely be tempted to eat the whole thing.

This is why I always thought that edibles should come in two packs, one medicated, and one not. Because many times they do taste fucking amazing and that can be a dangerous combination. I know I would buy non-mediated Incredibles bars because they taste better than any other candy bar I've had.

The problem is exacerbated by the potency of THC. There aren't really standard edible doses, but 100mg is pretty common. I have a decently high tolerance and 100mg can get me high enough where I would question my ability to drive safely. With such a small amount of active ingredients, the hashy taste can easily be concealed in something smaller than a Reeses' cup.

And this brings up another issue with edibles, the issue of proper dosing. I have a high tolerance and have eaten 6 100mg incredibles bars(they were one of the few companies to test over their advertised thc content) and after waiting several hours I still felt nothing and ended up taking a few dabs which got me to where I needed much quicker, and easier to dose. I would expect 600mg to completely annihilate many people, though.

Edibles are weird in the way that 100mg of THC can make you stoned enough to not drive, where 600mg really did nothing for me except maybe give me a deeper night's sleep, and a lot of extra calories. Fucking metabolism..

 

[syrupy]

I imagine it's next to impossible to create any kind of standard about potency with edibles. Recently went in to check out a new vendor that makes shatter-based edibles. The budtender knew me (or my tolerance) and said I should take half an 8-dose cookie. Then the customer next to me is told to divide that same cookie into 4 or 6 doses. The whole 'dose' idea doesn't work well with edibles. Just tell me how many mg's of THC, and I'll figure out how much works for me.

 

[CarolKing]

Maureen Dowd wanted to cast legal mj in a bad light. Anyone could have a bad experience with edibles. It tastes so good, I don't feel anything yet, so you eat more. I know I have a bad experience at least twice and it's not pleasant. Edibles need to be packaged responsibly and given directions to make sure the customer knows the risks of too much.

Last night I was watching Bill Mahr, he said, "Colorado be the Jackie Robinson of Pot. Don't fuck it up and go Cheech and Chong on us." It probably goes for WA state too. Be responsible folks. The world is watching how this turns out.

 

[SD_haze]

Clearly the consumer of these packaged edibles is changing. Originally these were eaten by medical patients who got them at dispensaries. Typically these would be people like us: well informed, with plenty of experience and relatively high tolerance. In post-legalization Colorado the consumer could be a pot virgin. The packaging should reflect this and the rap given at point of sale should look more like the careful instructions you get from a pharmacist.

The curious thing is that Dowd was given the full on mmj dispensary rap and should have known better.

Agreed on all counts!

A bar the size of your hand should not contain 2g of hash for sale to recreational consumers

 

[Gunky]

Agreed on all counts!

A bar the size of your hand should not contain 2g of hash for sale to recreational consumers

I would probably eat half of that, have a good time and maybe kill the other half after a few hours when the first started winding down. For the Maureen Dowds of this world that package is killer weed. This is all temporary, until the culture takes it on board and this becomes something everybody takes for granted.

Originally I was inclined to think Dowd was being a bit economical with the truth and staged the thing for drama and clicks. But thinking it over I guess I buy it: she over-medicated with chocolate edible. It's easy to do with edibles; who among us hasn't done it? The next day she realized she could milk it for drama.

 

[grokit]

The whole 'dose' idea doesn't work well with edibles. Just tell me how many mg's of THC, and I'll figure out how much works for me.

Even this will present issues, as I know that edibles affect me very differently depending upon what is already in my stomach/gi tract, or not; it's a metabolism thing imo. So dosing by amount provides inconsistent results even for a single person, and experience or guidance is required.
And as the dummy dowd has shown us, don't ignore this guidance!

Maybe they will have to require wrapping individual doses, with childproof wrappers for safety.
A standardized labeling system like this would also work wonders:

THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS A SINGLE 100MG DOSE;
or
WARNING!
** THIS PRODUCT CONTAINS EIGHT (8) 100mg DOSES **
DO NOT CONSUME ALL OF IT ON AN EMPTY STOMACH,
OR YOU WILL SEE BATS IN THE DAYTIME!
​

 

[syrupy]

Even this will present issues, as I know that edibles affect me very differently depending upon what is already in my stomach/gi tract, or not; it's a metabolism thing imo. So dosing by amount provides inconsistent results even for a single person, and experience or guidance is required.
And as the dummy dowd has shown us, don't ignore this guidance!

All true, but a producer of edibles can only quantify the amount of THC. What's in a patient's stomach, metabolism, etc. are factors the buyer has to account for. I totally agree that dosing is just too problematic.