Email the HEMP Embassy: webhead@hempembassy.net

HEMP Embassy Online SHOP

1972

A study done by L.G.Cartwright and L.E.Mather of the Department of Pharmacy at Sydney University published in The Australian Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1972 found that in seven samples of cannabis grown in Australia THC content varied from 0.4 to 11%.

The lowest concentration was found in a whole plant grown in a suburban garden in Forest Lodge, Sydney. The highest concentration was found in female flowering tops gathered wild in the Hunter Valley. Other samples contained an estimated THC content of 9.2%, 9.4%, 1.6%, 4.3% and 3%. Climate, temperature and soil were all factors cited as influencing THC content.

This study was reported in the Technical Information Bulletin No. 15, November, 1972 published by the Commonwealth Department of Health to inform the Alcohol and drug field of national and international research. It is a good source for past scientific thinking on cannabis.

This study would suggest that not all the cannabis smoked in the 1960s and early 1970s was of low THC content.

2001

4.0. Cannabinoid variations in Australian cannabis.

In 2001, the NSW Government issued a permit to allow a limited amount of high THC cannabis plants to be grown for analytical and other scientific purposes. Assistance and expertise was sought at the Centre for Phytochemistry (and its commercial arm Australian Phytochemicals Ltd) at the Southern Cross University in Lismore NSW.

4.1. Cannabinoid variations of Controlled Samples in Australia.

The cannabis plants represented in Table 1 were grown from cuttings and seeds in a peat/dirt mix using an indoor/outdoor method. Re-potted as they grew during their vegetative stage of indoor growth, all plants were given controlled organic nutrient supplements through timed watering. During the vegetative phase, all plants were subjected to an 18/6 light regime. Some plants were partitioned off and subjected to a 12/12 light regime which triggered flowering. All plants were placed outdoors and the remaining plants then entered their flowering phase. Male plants were removed as sexing occurred, as were other plants that hadn't thrived as the others during particular phases of growth. All plants continued to flower and reasonable maturity and ripeness was achieved at harvest. The material was carefully dried, and cured sufficiently before being supplied to staff at the Southern Cross University where all the following Tabled scientific analysis was conducted. Other samples of the remaining material were tested and analysed, in particular, the principal volatile constituents identified as terpenes, dominated by monoterpene hydrocarbons, with lesser amounts of sesquiterpenes and aliphatic esters. Detailed aroma profiles of six samples were also determined. A comparative mineral analysis study of the control samples against hydroponically grown cannabis was also carried out.

4.1.1. Table 1: High THC strains.

4.1.2. Table 2: Low THC strains (industrial hemp)

Based on delta 9 THC levels the variety "Afghan" (5.05%) is significantly higher than any other samples. Durban (2.94%) displayed the second highest level of delta 9 THC, followed by a group of medium level plants namely Skunk x NL (1.68%), Hash Plant (1.28%) and C.australis 2 (1.16%). The remaining 6 plants displayed poor levels of delta 9 TI IC and would be deemed inferior.

Levels of CBN, the immediate degradation product of delta 9 THC, were generally very low with nine of the eleven samples displaying <0.0 1 %. This suggests that the post harvest treatment of the plant material has been good. Two samples that displayed high CBN levels were Afghan (0.030%) and Hash Plant (0.015%), samples that also displayed high and moderate levels of delta 9 THC, respectively.

Levels of CBD, the precursor to delta 9 THC, display greater variation than CBN ranging from not detected (four samples) to 1.59% in Kompolt 2. Interestingly Kompolt 2 displayed low level delta 9 TI IC and reflects poor CBD conversion in this variety. In general the high delta 9 THC varieties display very low to not detected levels of CBD and this is presumably related to rapid biochemical conversion within the plant. Kompolt l and C.australis 2 display intermediate levels of CBD and delta 9 THC and provide some scope for investigation into purported synergies between these two substances.

4.2. Cannabinoid variations of outsourced cannabis samples (Australia).

The following samples of cannabis in Tables 3, 4 and 5 were stored in a freezer prior to single point analyses and the data for these samples is presented below.

4.2.1. Table 3: Cannabis plants grown indoors, in dirt, added organic nutrients.

4.2.2. Table 4: Cannabis plants grown indoors, hydroponically.

4.2.3. Table 5: Cannabis plants grown outdoors.

4.2.4. Table 6: Solvent extracted cannabis resin (USA).

The results of the cannabis samples in Tables 3, 4 and 5 are remarkably different to the controlled samples in Tables 1 and 2.

With the exception of the White Rhino x Bubblegum sample CBD was not detected. This would imply these varieties have highly efficient conversion rates of the precursor CBD into delta 9 THC and this is supported in general by the high levels of delta 9 THC across these samples.

Within the plant samples delta 9 THC levels range widely from 0.51 % 'in the homegrown hydroponic sample to 22.25% in the White Rhino x Bubblegum cross. This latter figure is remarkably high, however the small sample size provided prevented a duplicate analysis from being performed. If this is discounted as an analytical anomaly, there is little difference from the potency range measured in 1972. If the 22.5% is accepted then cannabis quality may have become twice as strong.

The Bubbleberry x Bubblegum cross also displayed a high delta9 THC level (9.68%) and is at odds with the second sample of the same cross that only displayed 0.77% delta 9 THC. Again whether this is an analytical anomaly or incorrect botanical identification will require further investigation.

Clearly the Bubbleberry parent is a high delta 9 THC plant as is the variety Mango with 4.92% and 5.49%, respectively. The four top plants, based on delta 9 THC level in Tables 3, 4 and 5 are all superior to any of the samples in the Tables 1 and 2.

The oil sample in Table 6 has a high delta 9 THC content (76.64%) as would be expected for this high level displays little degradation with a low level of CBN (0.822%) relative to the high delta 9 THC content.

The White Rhino x Bubblegum cross also shows a high CBN level, however relative to the remarkably high delta 9 THC level this would not be of concern. The remaining samples all show low CBN levels indicative of good post harvest handling practices.

Excerpted from:

Medical Uses of Cannabis by Andrew Kavasilas (ISBN 0-9751806-0-6)

Below is the nutrient analysis data referred to, but not contained in, the above article.