THC levels highest ever.

The federal government says that levels of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana are at the highest-ever recorded amounts, and that the potency may be contributing to increasing numbers of teenagers seeking treatment for dependence. The University of Mississippi's Potency Monitoring project tests marijuana primarily taken during law enforcement seizures. The project is funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A normal THC level is 1%-5%, but the average potency from the latest quarterly report was 9.6% for marijuana and 24% for hashish. The report is based on 1,248 marijuana samples and 33 hash samples. The highest recorded potency was 37% for marijuana and 66% for hashish. "The increases in marijuana potency are of concern since they increase the likelihood of acute toxicity, including mental impairment," said Dr. Nora Volkow, NIDA director, in a statement. The federal Office of National Drug Control Policy said increasing potency might be linked to the increase in treatment admissions for marijuana abuse from 6% in 1992 to 16% in 2006.