Wax. Honey oil. Budder. Shatter. Dabs. Black glass. These are some of the names given to extremely potent marijuana concentrates that a startling number of teenagers are using, according to a study in Arizona, reports Dennis Thompson for HealthDay News.
About one in four Arizona teens have tried a marijuana concentrate at least once, survey data show. More alarming, more than seven out of 10 kids who use marijuana say they also use marijuana concentrates, said lead researcher Madeline Meier, an assistant professor of psychology at Arizona State University in Tempe.
Meier and her colleagues questioned nearly 50,000 students in grades 8, 10 and 12, who participated in the 2018 Arizona Youth Survey, about their pot use.
Marijuana concentrates are becoming more widely used across the United States, particularly in states that have legalised recreational and medical pot, Meier said.
For example, sales data from Washington state shows that concentrates accounted for 21% of all pot purchases in 2016, a 146% increase from 2014.
Marijuana concentrates contain between 40% and 70% higher levels of THC, the compound in pot that produces a high, researchers said in background notes.
"It is concerning because we think higher doses of THC might increase a person's risk for addiction" Meier said. "If these kids are already at high risk for addiction, that combined with their use of very high THC cannabis could increase that risk."
[link url="https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2019/08/26/Teens-are-using-marijuana-concentrates-raising-concerns-about-addiction/2451566847352/"]Teens are using marijuana 'concentrates,' raising concerns about addiction[/link]