Aims: To quantify changes in (i) potency (concentration of Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol; %THC), (ii) price (euros/g of cannabis) and (iii) value (mg THC/euro) of cannabis resin and herbal cannabis in Europe.
Design: Repeated cross-sectional study.
Setting And Participants: Data collected from 28 European Union (EU) member states, Norway and Turkey by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction.
Measurements: Outcome variables were potency, price and value for cannabis resin and herbal cannabis in Europe, 2006-16. Inflation was estimated using the Harmonised Indices of Consumer Prices. Mixed-effects linear regression models were used to estimate linear and quadratic time trends, with a random intercept and slope fitted to account for variation across countries.
Findings: Resin potency increased from a mean [95% confidence interval (CI)] of 8.14% THC (6.89, 9.49) in 2006 to 17.22 (15.23, 19.25) in 2016. Resin price increased from 8.21 euros/g (7.54, 8.97) to 12.27 (10.62, 14.16). Resin increased in value, from 11.00 mg THC per euro (8.60, 13.62) to 16.39 (13.68, 19.05). Quadratic time trends for resin potency and value indicated minimal change from 2006 to 2011, followed by marked increases from 2011 to 2016. Herbal cannabis potency increased from 5.00% THC (3.91, 6.23) to 10.22 (9.01, 11.47). Herbal price increased from 7.36 euros/g (6.22, 8.53) to 12.22 (10.59, 14.03). The value of herbal cannabis did not change from 12.65 mg of THC per euro (10.18, 15.34) to 12.72 (10.73, 14.73). All price trends persisted after adjusting for inflation.
Conclusions: European cannabis resin and herbal cannabis increased in potency and price from 2006 to 2016. Cannabis resin (but not herbal cannabis) increased in the quantity of Δ -tetrahydrocannabinol per euro spent. Marked increases in resin potency and value from 2011 to 2016 are consistent with the emergence of new resin production techniques in European and neighbouring drug markets.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6590252 | PMC |
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/add.14525 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Unveiling the impact of water-boiled cannabis on warfarin: A case report of atrial fibrillation patients after cannabis legalization in Thailand.
Toxicol Rep
December 2024
Division of Health and Applied Sciences, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, Thailand.
Warfarin, a commonly prescribed anticoagulant, is utilized to prevent thrombotic issues and requires careful dose adjustment due to its narrow therapeutic range. As warfarin is metabolized by essential drug-metabolizing enzymes (DMEs), it is prone to interactions with a wide range of therapeutic agents, including herbal medicines. In June 2022, Thailand became the first country in Asia to remove cannabis plants from its narcotics control list, allowing individuals to cultivate them for personal use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHerbal extracts in orofacial pain: a systematic review and direct and indirect meta-analysis.
Sci Rep
November 2024
Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, India.
The pharmaceutical industry has been primarily focused on developing synthetic drugs to address orofacial pain (OFP)-related conditions. There is limited knowledge regarding the efficacy of the use of herbal extracts in treating OFP. A systematic review and a meta-analysis of 62 randomized controlled trials assessing the analgesic effects of herbal extracts on pain intensity in various orofacial conditions was conducted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUltra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol and Cannabidiol in Commercial Suk-Saiyasna Herbal Remedy: Applying Hansen Solubility Parameters for Sample Extraction to Ensure Regulatory Compliance.
Pharmaceuticals (Basel)
November 2024
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Srinakharinwirot University, Nakhon Nayok 26120, Thailand.
Background: Suk-Saiyasna is a traditional Thai herbal remedy that comprises 12 distinct herbs. Among these, cannabis leaves constitute 12 of the total 78 components in this formulation. This study specifically examines the portion of the cannabis plant, which accounts for approximately 15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDevelopment of an at-line coupling of LC-QTOF-ESI-MS/MS to steroid 5-alpha reductase inhibition assay, a fast bioactive targeting and guided purification of natural complex sample, Impatiens balsamina Linn.
Bioorg Chem
December 2024
Center of Excellence in Cannabis Research, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Center of Excellence for Innovation in Chemistry, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand. Electronic address:
Article Synopsis
- - This study presents a quick and precise technique for screening steroid 5-alpha reductase (S5αR) inhibitors in the plant Impatiens balsamina, which has historical uses in treating hair loss and skin issues.
- - Utilizing a combination of S5αR inhibitory assays and LC-QTOF-ESI-MS/MS, the researchers successfully identified eight bioactive compounds, with the most effective ones being 2-methoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone and impateinol, which showed significantly better S5αR inhibitory effects compared to the drug finasteride.
- - The method developed is not only efficient for rapid screening of herbal compounds but also assists in the safe isolation of bioactive markers
Absolute Quantification of Phenylbutanoids in Zingiber cassumunar Roxb. Rhizome by Quantitative H NMR.
Phytochem Anal
November 2024
Drug Discovery and Development Center, Office of Advanced Science and Technology, Thammasat University (Rangsit Campus), Pathum Thani, Thailand.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on establishing a quantitative NMR method to accurately measure bioactive phenylbutanoids in Zingiber cassumunar rhizome extracts, which is essential for ensuring quality in medicinal plants.
- The researchers utilized qHNMR on a 600 MHz spectrometer, employing an internal standard to measure four specific phenylbutanoids with high specificity and sensitivity.
- The method demonstrated reliability with a linear concentration range of 0.70-14.52 mg/mL, excellent precision, and recovery rates between 99.54%-100.18%, indicating its effectiveness for quality control in herbal medicine.
Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!