By: Chloe Huang

Today’s marijuana is not the marijuana of your grandparents. Multiple studies show that THC levels in marijuana have increased in the last few decades, putting heavy marijuana users at risk of various health conditions. Teenagers, with their underdeveloped brains, are especially vulnerable to these health conditions.

THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, is the psychoactive component in marijuana. High THC levels in the human body can result in cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, a condition that causes frequent vomiting. Other symptoms of high THC levels include anxiety, agitation paranoia, and psychosis. Psychotic symptoms include both visual and audio hallucinations, as well as trouble distinguishing between fantasy and reality.

As THC content in marijuana rises, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome has increased with it. “The typical patient uses [inhales] about 10 times per day … and they come in with really difficult to treat nausea and vomiting,” says Andrew Monte, an associate professor of emergency medicine and medical toxicology at the University of Colorado’s school of medicine. “Some people have died from this … syndrome, so that is concerning.”

Teenagers are especially vulnerable to these disorders, and marijuana use amongst teenagers has increased in the recent years. According to the New York Times, in 2020 35% of seniors and as many as 44% of college students reported using marijuana in the past year. Now, in addition to psychosis, poor memory, and an increased likelihood to depression and suicidal ideation, cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome is also possible.

According to the New York Times, in 1995 the average concentration of THC in cannabis samples seized by the Drug Enforcement Administration was around 4%. In 2017, it was 17%. “That’s an increase of more than 300% from 1995 to about 2017,” says Staci Gruber, director of the Marijuana Investigations for Neuroscientific Discovery (MIND) program at the Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital in Belmont, Mass. “I would say that’s a considerable increase.” In addition, there are now products in the marijuana market that have THC concentrations of more than 95%.

THC is closely linked with disorders related to heavy marijuana use. For example, according to the New York Times, in one study the likelihood of developing a psychotic disorder was 5 times higher for daily high-potency marijuana users in Brazil and Europe compared to those who don’t use marijuana. Another study published in 2021 in JAMA Psychiatry reported that in 1995, 2% of schizophrenia diagnoses in Denmark were associated with marijuana use. By 2010, 6 to 8 percent of schizophrenia diagnoses in Denmark were associated with marijuana use, which researchers associated with increases in the use and potency of cannabis.

Sources:

– The New York Times: https://s3.amazonaws.com/appforest_uf/f1656024127832x215987300925151170/Teens%20Are%20Getting%20Sick%20From%20Products%20With%20High%20THC%20Levels%20-%20The%20New%20York%20Times.pdf

– NPR: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2019/05/15/723656629/highly-potent-weed-has-swept-the-market-raising-concerns-about-health-risks