Dutch mayor wants to ban ‘too strong’ cannabis

The city of Leeuwarden is looking for ways to prevent cannabis with ‘too high’ THC amounts making its way onto the shelves of coffeeshops. The city mayor, Fred Crone, hopes that this will bring down the number of cases of psychosis induced by cannabis amongst young people.

Crone has submitted a proposal to the city council which would see coffee shops eventually lose their licence if they sell marijuana with more than an agreed level of the active ingredient THC.

While THC levels of cannabis available in Dutch coffeeshops indeed saw an increase between the 80’s and early 00’s, it stabilized since. In addition, no scientific research exists that proofs that a higher THC amount is related to more cases of psychosis.

Leeuwarden cannabis cafe owner Gerrit-Jan ten Bloemendal told the paper the plan was well meant but impossible to enforce. There is no evidence stronger levels of THC are worse for health, he said. 'If you know something is strong, you smoke less,' he told the paper.

Many coffeeshop owners are reluctant to have their product tested, as they fear that police might use this data as proof in investigation on suspected growers. Besides, the tests are still relatively expensive and time consuming.

Neverthess, from a consumer's point of view it would be useful to be able to add THC and CBD percentages as additional product information on the menu, as happens with alcohol. Medicinal users would benefit from this as well, because they would be able to select a strain that suits their needs.

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Comments

Meskaman - 2010-09-16 12:03:41

I dont get it, the last time I was in Amsterdam I had found quite a few coffeeshops where you could find the percentege of the THC level on the menue...

I would realy like to know how high the limit would be though....

tzaa - 2010-09-16 12:18:11

The thing is, that those percentages are a rough estimate from that specific strain. It can vary greatly because of growing techniques, different pheno types etc. It would be awesome to have an accurate cannabinoid profile for each strain that is sold.

Sensireport - 2010-09-16 14:45:33

+20

More thc = use less, Stupid old excuse that does not make any sense at all. A beer 7% alcohol, Vodka 40 % alcohol you won't see me drinking a pint of vodka because it's also alcohol and sold as alcohol. The plant material itself causes more health problems than the thc it self. stronger weed = smaller dose = less plant material =less health risk. That's why I vape. accurate cannabinoid profile (thumbs up) thc limit (fuck off, put your time in regulating the back door)

Toitoi - 2010-09-16 16:46:23

In what way are THC levels measured? In percentages? What is high, what is low?

Don Jia - 2010-09-17 01:25:19

So what, they want to ban dope that gets you 'too high?' By whose standards, the same gouvernment that managed to weezle through a ban on 'shrooms? Hellz no, see, this is how they go about rolling back a progressive drug legislation which, while the Netherlands is turning into a bitching, everythingphobic culture of idiots, have finally caught on in other parts of the world, with even in the US voices being raised to full-on legalize the herb.

What happened to teaching kids how to handle their high? Shit, if I had a say, I'd have pot-smoking as well as 'shroom trippin' on the high school curiculum. It's not as if the ignorant-ass parents who vote for the current gen of politicians are ever going to sit down with their children and have a sensible talk about the drug issue, they could probably use a good trip themself, so as to unplug from the mindless jibber jabber passing as politics today.

It's really not that difficult: if you're up for some adult grade transcendent dope, go for a good haze weed. I you're more into a mellow, chilled out kind of high, go for less potent weed, or better yet, stick to the hashish, which contains canaboids which are calming (i.e. less prone to induce that 'wacky' feeling).

hubbabubba - 2010-09-17 10:02:00

-10

i think this is a smart choice, depending
on peoples acceptance. i dont know if
this will really have an significant impact
on the rate of psychosis, but it will stress
the importance of safer use and health
issues.

Caduceus - 2010-09-19 21:33:53

Mixed feelings about this one. I'd say first fully legalize the production of cannabis (and encourage outdoor cultivation). Then implement such measures.

wietvis - 2010-09-20 19:43:31

F*cking right you are Don Jia!

Edd - 2010-09-21 11:02:12

What about hash??? Are they gonna ban ban it for good? Or maybe they talk to morrocan farmers to make it lighter. I assume now they gonna genetically modify the ganja again to make it less concentrated?

"And did you know the pen is stronger than the knife?"