Report And Recommendations of the High Potency Cannabis Think Tank to the State of California
In October 2024, the state of California released a study that reviewed the impact of high-potency marijuana in their state: “Report And Recommendations of the High Potency Cannabis Think Tank to the State of California.” The Committee consisted of a multidisciplinary team of cannabis experts, convened by the California Department of Public Health Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch, to study the potency of legal marijuana in the state. Their primary goal was to research high potency cannabis and its effects, and to make policy recommendations in hopes of reducing negative health issues caused by cannabis.
Among other things, the Committee discovered that cannabis potency is 5-10 times higher today than it was in the 1970s and 1980s, with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of 20-24% on average, though some products (shatter, wax, vaping liquids) tested out as high as 99%. They also realized that the higher the THC concentration, the higher the risk of negative health outcomes, starting at 10% THC concentration, or 10 mg for edible products. Heavy product promotion by the marijuana industry increases these risks, to the point where the number of high-potency cannabis users is seven times higher than the number of daily alcohol drinkers.
The Committee recommended 20 interdisciplinary holistic policies “to mitigate adverse health, educational, and social impacts,” addressing product potency and also focusing on public awareness, safer use, and reducing cannabis’ exposure to high-risk groups.
To read the full report, click here.