Weed is getting stronger as San Diego's cannabis scene grows
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U.S. cannabis has way more THC than it did decades ago.
Why it matters: As more people go "California sober," new or returning cannabis users may underestimate the potency — and get dangerously high.
By the numbers: According to National Institute of Drug Abuse data, cannabis samples seized in 1995 averaged less than 4% THC. In 2022, they averaged more than 16%.
- The percentage has only increased since, experts say.
- Today, "it's very difficult to find cannabis that's less than 20% THC" in a Los Angeles dispensary, said Ziva Cooper, director of the UCLA Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoids.
The intrigue: THC levels aren't limited to what can be produced by the highest-THC cannabis plant because manufacturers can extract THC to make superficially potent products, like THC-infused prerolls and dabs.
Zoom in: Older adults — who favor cannabis edibles — are inadvertently eating too much THC, which can cause cannabis poisoning.
- A study in California found a 1,808% relative increase in the rate of cannabis-related trips to the ER among adults 65 and older from 2005 to 2019. The state legalized medical marijuana in 1996 and recreational cannabis in 2016.
State of play: In San Diego's evolving weed scene, new boutique-like dispensaries are opening and drawing customers from college kids to retirees for recreation and pain relief, San Diego Magazine reports.
- The city recently raised the retail cannabis tax — a revenue stream that's been declining — from 8% to 10%.
- The county's first cannabis lounge, Sessions by the Bay, opened Friday in National City, offering a menu of weed products to smoke, eat and drink on-site.
Yes, but: While legal dispensaries have made buying cannabis safer and more transparent with testing, labels and guidance from budtenders, there are still industry-wide concerns around label accuracy, per SD Magazine.
- Some safety tips: See if the brand has had labeling violations, check the California cannabis recalls portal, and look for a certificate of analysis (COA) that's often a QR code on the label.
Between the lines: Last year, California banned hemp-derived THC products — sold in retail stores not dispensaries — to protect children based on research that consuming them can negatively affect cognitive functions, memory and decision-making abilities in developing brains.
- These lab-made cannabinoids, such as delta-8 THC, have been called the "junk food" of cannabis. They often aren't tested for purity and could contain strong acids and solvents, and their effects may be unpredictable.
What we're watching: President Trump's tariffs could disrupt cannabis market economics, leading to higher costs for consumers.