Regarding NL, the government recently put THC% limits on retail sales - is this real reason THC% is averaging down though?
The limit isn't law just yet. Either per July this year or Jan next year, it's still debated. The reason the THC 'went' down initially instead of higher and higher was partly by choice, i.e. focus on other traits than just high THC. The reason it is
this low now has probably a lot to do with the repressive approach of that same government. 75% of the total police force, and 50% of all the detectives in the Netherlands are working on raiding mj grows. The larger organized growers (i.e. those who ram entire houses full with plants) count on getting caught eventually, but they get enough profit from one grow to create multiple other grows.They grow quantity as fast as possible without really caring much about the quality or strength (THC level for example). Smaller growers (with often more care for the plants and product) however get kicked out of there homes, are bankrupted (tax fines) and are generally scared into stopping. Needless to say as long as the backdoor issue isn't solved, there's no way to legally test for the 15% limit. I think, hope at least, that the law will go the same road as the 'weedpas' ending up being another bad idea from our failing MoJ. There's an increasing amount of resistance from the general public about the money being spend on this for us new war against drugs, having to enforce that unenforceable THC limit isn't going to improve that.
Grabbed the image for another post somewhere, might as well post it here (dotted line is average of the stronger strains only, not sure how they draw a line there. Lighter line is import).
src: trimbos. Note: over 50 shops in the Netherlands, not just Amsterdam, in which case the average would undoubtedly be higher.
I appreciate this point Sativied. I like your idea that mj consumers in the newly commercial market will gain sophistication to be able to look beyond THC% In WA/CO, high THC% test results are major marketing points in the commercial market.
Not to suggest we are ahead of the curve, at least not anymore, but perhaps WA/CO just needs to go through that same stage first? I noticed it in general across the large forums too though, both growers and users are getting more educated and are starting to figure out that high THC doesn't mean everything. Especially amongst the actual medicinal users. I'm guessing after prohibition ended the strongest liquor was very popular initially, eventually many people started caring more about taste as well (wine, beer). Rather than a certificate that says 20% THC a lab test proving no pesticides have been used and the buds are 'clean' has a much greater marketing value nowadays.
Coincidentally I just read a post from homebrew420 above yesterday (other forum, intro post), he's working on some interesting strains in that area that do not focus on high THC. Sure, breeders have been able to create strains with desired effects without testing, but testing makes it both easier and more accurate (since the effect is subjective per person and the test is objective).
