NOT YOUR GRANDFATHER'S POT

When Motown stars the Temptations recorded "Cloud Nine" back in the
1960s, chilled out users had no idea how powerful the drug would
become for future generations.

Marijuana potency has increased to its highest level in more than 30
years, according to an analysis conducted by the University of
Mississippi's Potency Monitoring Project, and released by the White
House in 2008.

The study tracked the average amount of THC, the active ingredient in
marijuana, via samples seized by law enforcement agencies between
1975 and 2007. It found that the average amount of THC reached 9.6
percent in 2007, compared to 8.75 percent the previous year.

"This potency level presents significantly more risk to the
developing adolescent brain than past levels of marijuana," said
Kevin Friedrich, prevention director for CARE, Community Assessment
Referral and Education in Fraser. "And as potency levels continue to
increase, we've seen increased admissions to emergency rooms and drug
treatment programs."

John Walters, director of the National Drug Control Policy and
President George W. Bush's "Drug Czar," expressed serious concerns
regarding this trend.

"Baby boomer parents who still think marijuana is a harmless
substance need to look at the facts," Walters said. "Marijuana
potency has grown steeply over the past decade, with serious
implications in particular for young people, who may be not only at
increased risk for various psychological conditions, cognitive
deficits and respiratory problems, but are at significantly higher
risk for developing dependency on other drugs, such as cocaine and
heroin, than are nonsmokers."

Rick Thompson, director of Michigan Compassion Care, has a different
perspective.

"It's my fervent hope that today's marijuana is more potent,"
Thompson said. "It's like comparing aspirin to Vicodin. To achieve a
higher level of pain relief, we need more potent varieties."

And with marijuana use now legal in Michigan for medical purposes,
it's important that users know what they are buying.

Though some strains of marijuana appear to be more potent than
others, said Thompson -- who also operates Big Daddy's Hydroponics in
Chesterfield Township and Detroit -- the key for those in need of its
medicinal benefit is to work with a "professional," someone who
understands the difference between the strains.

For more visit:
http://www.bigmacc.com/news/daily-tribune-not-your-grandfathers-pot

Rick Thompson, who is not the Director of anything and does NOT
operate two dispensaries