DRUGS, DRUGS, DRUGS ... WHICH ARE GOOD, WHICH ARE BAD?

So, how much THC really is in that grubby little baggie you keep
hidden at the back of your freezer? According to Richard Laing,
analytical specialist for Health Canada, high-quality weed contains
anywhere from 10 to 15 per cent THC.

"That's good bud," Laing said, and while he states that his lab does
not track statistics on geographical origin of the drugs they are
analyzing, he does say that his results are in keeping with national
averages for purity. BC bud? It's a myth.

However, Laing does say that marijuana is rarely found with introduced
impurities in it.

"There are no contaminants in marijuana," he assured. "There might be
pesticides in trace quantities, but we're not looking for it."

Harder drugs can range wildly in purity, based on means of production
and contaminants introduced. According to Laing, cocaine is typically
around 80 per cent. Heroin purity has fluctuated, but these days is
usually at about 50 per cent purity. Ecstasy contains around 65-80 mg
MDMA per tablet, with the rest comprised of binder and impurities cut
into the drug.

Curiously, Laing notes that crystal meth, notorious for being
synthesized by drug addicts in run-down bedroom labs, is very
pure-usually around 90 per cent. However, Laing is quick to point out
that this statistic might be misleading. As a specialist frequently
called by police to examine clandestine labs, Laing states that meth
labs are hellish.

"It's a toxic environment. They're all bad," he said. "They're dirty,
disgusting. There's no such thing as a clean lab producing drugs."