Pubdate: Thu, 05 Sep 2002
Source: New Times (CA)
Copyright: 2002 New Times
Contact:  http://www.newtimesslo.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1277
Author: Jo-D Harrison
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n1567/a10.html

MORE DRUG NONSENSE

The article Oral Drugs and SLO County Kids (New Times, 08/22/02) "reported" 
a discrepancy between the reality of SLO County's teen drug use and our 
perception of it. The "reality" this article talks about is from surveys. 
So-called anonymous surveys that rely on the self-reporting of drug use are 
virtually worthless in this age of zero tolerance.

The kicker, though, was the closing quote alleging that marijuana today is 
10 times stronger than marijuana in the 60's and 70's. This new myth is 
intended to scare adults who understand that reefer madness claims are 
untrue. Anyone who uses a bit of logic knows that cannabis is an ancient 
plant which has not suddenly developed into turbo psycho weed.

Government potency testing of cannabis did not begin until the early 1970's 
and no private testing is currently allowed. Strike the 60's comparison.

In 1972, the first year of official government testing for the THC level, a 
small sample of marijuana of unknown origin, but probably Mexican, averaged 
only 0.18% THC. This is below the level of industrial hemp, but this number 
is often used as the base for comparison to justify the high multiples.

Jo-D Harrison, DrugSense, Santa Maria
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D