The marijuana of my youth is long gone. I wish someone had told me
The marijuana of my youth is long gone. I wish someone had told me
Dr. Sanjay Gupta Reports: Weed 8: Women and Weed
It was my 40th birthday, a milestone that felt like a celebration of life’s evolution. I found myself in Colorado, surrounded by its breathtaking scenery, as I soaked in the natural beauty of Glenwood Springs. Ben, my husband, had planned a special evening, starting with an elegant dinner at a riverside restaurant and ending with a concert in the garden of our vintage hotel. As the sun dipped below the Roaring Fork River, I considered trying something I hadn’t attempted in years—a cannabis experience.
Back in my teenage years, marijuana was a secret shared among friends, a risk worth taking to avoid detection. Today, the process feels more structured, like ordering from a menu. At the dispensary, the budtender explained the options, highlighting how modern strains deliver distinct effects. “Would you prefer a relaxing or energizing high?” she asked. I hesitated, recalling my past indifference to the drug’s effects. For me, it had always been a sleepy indulgence, lacking the thrill I now craved.
She recommended a hybrid, a balance of both. I left with pre-rolled joints, grateful for the convenience, as my rolling skills had faded. The first puff brought a familiar sensation, but soon, the experience became more intense. By the time we reached the hotel, I was already feeling the impact. “Everything looks like it’s coming alive in 3D,” I said, laughing as Ben joined me. Yet, the euphoria didn’t last. A quick trip to the bathroom led to a prolonged struggle, my body reacting to the heightened potency.
“You can even buy cannabis in dispensaries that has a THC content of 35%,” said Dr. Deepak Cyril D’Souza, Vikram Sodhi ’92 Professor of Psychiatry and director of the Yale Center for the Science of Cannabis and Cannabinoids in New Haven, Connecticut. Cannabis concentrates, such as wax, rosin, shatter, and hash oil, can have THC levels between 60% and 90%, and “even for products that are labeled, there’s some concern about the accuracy. That’s something consumers should be aware of,” D’Souza added.
Reflecting on that evening, I’m struck by how little I understood about the dramatic rise in marijuana strength. THC, the primary psychoactive compound, has surged from around 4% in the 1970s to over 20% today. The implications extend far beyond personal mishaps. For many, this increased potency poses serious risks. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, about 30% of current marijuana users develop cannabis use disorder, a clinical term for addiction. The risk is even higher for those who begin using before age 18, with one in six children facing addiction potential.
What once seemed harmless now feels like a shift in how cannabis is consumed and perceived. The journey from casual use to potential dependency is more pronounced than I realized. As the main writer on marijuana for CNN, I see the broader picture—how potency has transformed the drug from a social pastime into a powerful influence on health and behavior.
