The common assumption about cannabis concentrates is that people smoke them because they get you much higher than smoking flowers. This assumption makes sense because concentrates have much higher THC levels than flower, sometimes up to three times more. However, a new study published by JAMA Psychiatry says that higher blood-THC levels don’t necessarily mean the user is more intoxicated.
The study was lead by Cinnamon Bidwell, an assistant professor at the Institute of Cognitive Science. They studied 121 regular cannabis users in their homes by taking mobile laboratories to each’s location. Half of the users smoked flowers regularly which usually contains an average of 16% to 24% THC. The other half used cannabis concentrates regularly which contains anywhere from 60% to 80% THC on average. “While we saw striking differences in blood levels between the two groups, they were similarly impaired,” Bidwell reported.
“While we saw striking differences in blood levels between the two groups, they were similarly impaired”
The concentrate user group had much higher blood-THC content then flower users but intoxication reports were incredibly similar according to blood tests. After their blood was drawn, both groups took cognitive function and balance tests and which also resulted similarly. Both groups were most intoxicated within the first hour of dabbing or smoking and the impairment faded substantially from there.
The study brings up a lot of interesting questions about how cannabis really affects the body. This information will help law enforcement develop more accurate tools for judging cannabis users intoxication levels when they’re behind the wheel. It could also help consumers make more educated decisions while shopping in dispensaries.
If concentrates don’t get you higher, why use them?
Cannabis concentrates have greatly risen in popularity since legal cannabis markets started popping up all over the country. The most popular way to smoke concentrates is through vaporizer cartridges, but dabbing is also a moderately popular way to smoke for some hardcore stoners out there.
This study confirms what many stoners have been talking about for years — THC levels aren’t always an accurate way to discern how high you will get. Educated cannabis users shop for cannabis products based on brands, strains, genetics, and price. THC percentages are usually one of the last things considered if it’s considered at all.
If you’re a moderate or casual cannabis user, THC percentages might end up being a more accurate scale for the effects, but it rarely works that way for daily cannabis users. Daily cannabis users are rarely interested in blasting off to the moon every time they smoke because many use cannabis to aid their productivity.
Some people prefer concentrates over flower because they retain more mental clarity when they smoke concentrates. Many feel like flower and concentrates provide different types of highs and should be used in different situations. Anyone who is obsessed with taking low-temperature dabs is chasing flavors and aromas as much as they are intoxication.
As more research is conducted, it’s clear that the cannabis plant’s relationship with human biochemistry is far from understood. Cannabis intoxication requires much more nuanced conversations compared to other intoxicants like alcohol or cocaine. Cannabis is plant medicine and it affects everyone completely differently and we have to acknowledge that.
