Cannabis Potency and Contamination: A Review of the Literature
Jennifer McLaren, Wendy Swift, Paul Dillon and Steve Allsop, "Cannabis Potency and Contamination: A Review of the Literature," Addiction 103, issue 7: 1100-1109.
Government officials have been sounding alarms about rising marijuana potency since the mid-1970s, but should we be as worried as they want us to be? Most likely not, according to this review by a group of Australian researchers. Wide natural variations in potency and small, unrepresentative samples tested raise substantial doubts about the validity of potency estimates. And the assumption that higher potency equals greater harm remains unproven, the authors note: "Additionally, more research is needed to determine whether increased potency and contamination translates to harm for users."
Free abstract and full text for a fee available at http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/journal/120090550/abstract.
