Baby Boom v Gen X v Gen Y - Weed Quality & Culture

[motaco]

Pot has not gotten stronger or changed much except for all the hybrids.

It's a pretty arrogant opinion really. To think that a plant that has been around for thousands of years and even cultivated for religious purposes by certain cultures would go through this dramatic change in evolution in the 50 years since westerners found it. Evolution just doesn't happen at that speed in Darwinian terms. You can't pull out a trait that wasn't there to begin with. It takes far more generations.

What HAS happened is good pot is infinitely more common. Particularly within the last 15 years. With the idea of keeping mother plants, and the growing info now easily available there is lots more good pot, and people now understand how to grow good pot. The majority of pot sold previous to that was usually poorly grown, and/or poorly stored. The same type of pot is still out there, its called shwag and even the price hasn't changed much in 30 years when you consider inflation.

But you are kidding yourself to the utmost degree, if you think that if you took lebanese hash plants seeds, or highland thai seeds in the year 1969, and grew them with the proper nutrient regimen, that it would produce inferior weed than today. However on that note, back in those days there were many strains that were "more rope than dope" which means they were not necessarily pure drug cultivars, and also had fiber producing hemp genes. Many strains have been phased out for a variety of reasons.

If anything the laws passed since then and pushed by america to be enforced in countries all over the world have diminished the gene pool, not advanced it. Regardless of whether or not you are impressed by the genes. Yet still there are those untouched drug cultivar strains. Deep Chunk is a perfect example of some of the worlds finest weed removed from an area that is relatively unchanged for thousands of years. There has been GREAT pot out there for hundreds of years. But not much great pot in the US or uk.

The question of culture I find much more interesting, and has certainly changed.

 

[Hammerhead]

I agree with that statement wholeheartedly

Today's product is not inferior I never said that. Please quote where I said that. All I'm saying is I dont like today's cannabis compared to the cannabis I had years ago. For ME IT TASTTED BETTER AND IT SMELLED BETTER POTENCY WAS THE SAME. Everything has a skunk smell and I dont like it. I prefer the sweet fruity mango straberry banana flavors. RKS was the only skunk that I smoked. It was so Stinky u could not cover the smell. Where is this strain today. Its gone why? as many others have disaperaed. you are assuming im a regular smoker Im not. I smoke a very small amount compaired to what I did when I was young. When I smoke now it does not matter what I smoke I get very stoned. for me its all about the taste and smell. I like the 8% THC with the tasye to die for tha me.

 

[motaco]

I'm too young to know what the 60s and 70's were like but especially with the influx of hip hop influence it's definitely a different vibe.

What I will say about the increase of availability of great weed is that its a double edged sword. First off it costs a fortune, and outside of cali or colorado or someplace like that people aren't that keen to share. We "match up" and if there is a big group of people if you didn't pitch in you don't get a hit. It's not meant to be mean its just that rolling up a joint that can get 8 guys high, who don't have their own, would be about 40 dollars.

Also I always think its sad that pot and bongs ended up a status issue. On numerous occasions I've had other tokers who wouldn't want to smoke with me even when I offered to match up, just assuming their pot was better than mine. I think the general friendliness of tokers is being ended by the price of pot, and the use of it as a status symbol.

It always seemed like part of the stereotypical stoner culture that you always tried to get good stuff and when you did you wanted to share it. "Don't bogart that joint". Part of the allure of the joint was that it was freely passed and shared with everyone. Matching bowls with only those you deem cool enough to get high with sorta goes against that premise.

Just being a fellow toker doesn't mean what it once did.

@Hammerhead.

That super stinky weed was probably phased out because it stunk so much. Hard to smuggle 50lbs of skunk pussy across the country. Bland sweet weed is much better suited. Lord only knows how many people got arrested by smell alone.

 

[InvisibleEmpire]

I'm too young to know what the 60s and 70's were like but especially with the influx of hip hop influence it's definitely a different vibe.

What I will say about the increase of availability of great weed is that its a double edged sword. First off it costs a fortune, and outside of cali or colorado or someplace like that people aren't that keen to share. We "match up" and if there is a big group of people if you didn't pitch in you don't get a hit. It's not meant to be mean its just that rolling up a joint that can get 8 guys high, who don't have their own, would be about 40 dollars.

Also I always think its sad that pot and bongs ended up a status issue. On numerous occasions I've had other tokers who wouldn't want to smoke with me even when I offered to match up, just assuming their pot was better than mine. I think the general friendliness of tokers is being ended by the price of pot, and the use of it as a status symbol.

It always seemed like part of the stereotypical stoner culture that you always tried to get good stuff and when you did you wanted to share it. "Don't bogart that joint". Part of the allure of the joint was that it was freely passed and shared with everyone. Matching bowls with only those you deem cool enough to get high with sorta goes against that premise.

Just being a fellow toker doesn't mean what it once did.

I was high one night and I thought about the whole culture, you are right, but I think it depends on who you know. Because of the weed laws when you take the risks you do to grow such good pot, it's like gold...but in flowers....and just 'freely' smoking it with whomever wants some is counter-productive, it isn't a charity...i see where you're coming from though and when i used to smoke middies being it was only 120 an ounce i'd smoke with whoever wanted a hit if i knew em or not....but when the kind goes for 4,5, 600 an ounce...that one could equate out to 5 dollars sometimes...you figure in some places a gram goes for 20-30 dollars, no lie, and i roll gram blunts. I've seen people take a pull off a blunt that HAD to be a 5 dollar hit. I've had friends who smoke 2 $25 dollar blunts with me and only give me $5 to 'pitch in'...they clearly just dont know the concept of good weed vs midgrade weed...

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

The best weed comes from mid 80's butt rockers. They had jeans with no back pockets. Def leopard shirts. Anyways, these guys grow better weed than any biker, cambodian, hippy I've ever met

 

[motaco]

I was high one night and I thought about the whole culture, you are right, but I think it depends on who you know. Because of the weed laws when you take the risks you do to grow such good pot, it's like gold...but in flowers....and just 'freely' smoking it with whomever wants some is counter-productive, it isn't a charity...i see where you're coming from though and when i used to smoke middies being it was only 120 an ounce i'd smoke with whoever wanted a hit if i knew em or not....but when the kind goes for 4,5, 600 an ounce...that one could equate out to 5 dollars sometimes...you figure in some places a gram goes for 20-30 dollars, no lie, and i roll gram blunts. I've seen people take a pull off a blunt that HAD to be a 5 dollar hit. I've had friends who smoke 2 $25 dollar blunts with me and only give me $5 to 'pitch in'...they clearly just dont know the concept of good weed vs midgrade weed...

Oh I don't mean to be critical I do the same. I take $5 bong rips. I'm not passing it around to a group of people. Its like asking someone if they want to go get something to eat. I don't mean I'm buying your dinner. Or if I do the next time you better cover me.

And part of that is good because it stops kids from having such easy access to pot. But its a sad change too. It goes from a group of people having a good time, to one dude getting really loaded all alone.

 

[Feyd]

i was born in 1987, i wish i could participate in the debate over then vs now...

this thread makes me wish i could time travel and smoke the best landmark weed from each era

and it is sad... about the price of weed nowadays.
however i have always been eager to share, probably too eager.
but with my friends i have known for years upon years, i don't care when i know they are broke and dry and i have enough nugget to go around.
i take each day like it's my next to last, so i idgaf if my buddy comes over and smokes 1.5-2g of my weed, i know he appreciates it and always says thanks, and next time i'm broke and cant even afford gas or cigs he'll smoke me out and not even think twice about it.

there is too much negativity in this thread. stop being turds.

 

[InvisibleEmpire]

i was born in 1987, i wish i could participate in the debate over then vs now...

this thread makes me wish i could time travel and smoke the best landmark weed from each era

and it is sad... about the price of weed nowadays.
however i have always been eager to share, probably too eager.
but with my friends i have known for years upon years, i don't care when i know they are broke and dry and i have enough nugget to go around.
i take each day like it's my next to last, so i idgaf if my buddy comes over and smokes 1.5-2g of my weed, i know he appreciates it and always says thanks, and next time i'm broke and cant even afford gas or cigs he'll smoke me out and not even think twice about it.

there is too much negativity in this thread. stop being turds.

i wish i could do the same, one of the things i've always thought would be cool to do if somehow a time machine was ever invented, lol, hit up certain places and blaze with certain people...would be cool. there isn't much negativity in this thread and wasn't until people come thru having to tell the world that they grow all the elite strains, know 1,000 growers and hate this thread !


anyway, inflation doesn't discriminate...

 

[Hammerhead]

I am not the only one my circle is just as big as yours if not bigger and we feel just as I stated. This is not a debate or discussion your only pointing out your own opinion just like I'm doing. So now I'm done with my opinion dont start attacking me for it. I dont wish to involve myself with this dont use me as your example.

I dont know where u get these facts from. This will be the last time maybe you will understand. The potency of cannabis has not changed I have Matco that agrees with me here. The other parts are what has changed taste and smell. They do not smell or tatse the same as they did in the 70-80. Just about everything you grow buy smells like skunk. Take it for what it's worth but you asked for opionions then one is givcen that u dont agree with u have a tantrum. Please Please leave me out of it. You guys can continue.

 

[InvisibleEmpire]

I am not the only one my circle is just as big as yours if not bigger and we feel just as I stated. This is not a debate or discussion your only pointing out your own opinion just like I'm doing. So now I'm done with my opinion dont start attacking me for it. I dont wish to involve myself with this dont use me as your example.

I dont know where u get these facts from. This will be the last time maybe you will understand. The potency of cannabis has not changed I have Matco that agrees with me here. The other parts are what has changed taste and smell. They do not smell or tatse the same as they did in the 70-80. Just about everything you grow buy smells like skunk. Take it for what it's worth but you asked for opionions then one is givcen that u dont agree with u have a tantrum. Please Please leave me out of it. You guys can continue.

Actually yes, it's a proven fact that average potency in marijuana has increased through the decades.

Based on the potency monitoring program at the University of Mississippi, it's safe to assume that as of 2010 average potency of sinsemilla or 'kind', 'chronic', 'homegrown', whatever term you want to put on it...is probably around the 15% - 20% THC mark, which isn't far off from the breeder's estimates of certain strains when properly grown.

You consider me giving you a counter-opinion a temper tantrum? You are instigating here. Stop posting in this thread if that's all you're going to do. You've stated your "opionion" and all I said was that many people disagree with your "opionion".

I don't know what weed you buy but most of the high end bud that's passed around here surely doesn't smell like skunk. NYCD as a prime example. Good luck on your future 1,000+ man growing adventures, you are hereby ignored.


I'm still sticking with what many in this thread have reiterated...getting older + being impressionable + tolerance + changes in culture I think have added to the illusion that weed was either a.) stronger or b.) tasted better 40 years ago.

It's a change in culture, the whole 'session' concept...you have to watch your back anymore in this police state, I've seen dozens of people popped at festivals and concerts for simply offering a joint to someone who happened to be an undercover, or someone who said no and told the police.

 

[motaco]

That chart doesn't prove shit except that there is more good bud around, not that its gotten better genetically.

That is the average thc% of hundreds of bags of pot siezed all over the country. Not a monitor of the plants themselves.

If your debate is that there is more dank weed around today, then I'd say you are stating the obvious. Nobody who isn't a moron will disagree with that.

If your stating that those numbers came about from breeding and changing the genetic makeup of the plant then you are mistaken.

What happen is pot became hard to get in the quantity needed. In Colombia you could grow fields that you couldn't see the end of. In the 80's when the smuggling connections got cut off then we had to start relying on what domestic growers could produce. We can't grow football sized fields in the states, so the emphasis became on growing small patches of intensely cultivated plants that are worth a lot of money and are very potent.

The pot itself as a plant has not gotten stronger, the average product that is sold on the street on the other hand, has.

One question has to do with genetics of a plant, the other with providing a product to an illicit market. It's not an "if so=fact so" thing like you are trying to imply.

If you take the same seeds, and guerilla grow some, and grow the others indoors and choose a mom. The indoor crop is going to be better. It doesn't mean they are better plants and the thc content has risen.

 

[Hemphrey Bogart]

What a great thread this could have been....

HB.

 

[InvisibleEmpire]

i love it!

motaco - chill out dude, no need to tell people it "DOESNT PROVE SHIT"...relax.

the question soon becomes has hybridization done anything for potency...i think we need someone with more experience to chime in here because it IS a fact that people have crossed and backcrossed various types of cannabis and I would like to see if that type of hybridization, scientifically, shows any trend of increasing (or keeping the same) THC percentage or potency.

 

[motaco]

don't take it personal, we curse where I'm from.

Doesn't prove "anything" if that makes you feel better.

On your other question. Hybrids are just hybrids. They change the stone, sativas and indicas feel different. It doesn't have much to do with raising potency. Indicas are more potent than sativas, and hybridizing them will make it stronger than the sativa was usually. But again, that is a different question than has pot gotten stronger.

The point remains, there has been great pot for hundreds of years, much less 50 years ago. The product available to most people, has definitely gotten better. But that is irrelevant to the matter of if pot has gotten better.

In the last 50 years we've seen a tremendous decrease in the variety of genes out there, and that is bad for the progression of pot. Not good for it. The great pot that is out there, has not come from westerners in the last 50 years, it has come from nameless farmers in thailand, india, the middle east, etc, who have tended these drug cultivars for THOUSANDS of years. Not fifty generations/years. It just doesn't work at that speed.

You can praise westerners for making it so available, but not for creating it.

 

[InvisibleEmpire]

Are you a botanist?

 

[Mezz Mezzrow]

Exotic genetics grown in their native habitat by the people who have grown them for years with traditional methods?

 

[Hammerhead]

That chart is laughable. to many factors for that chart to be of any significant use. How well the pot was grown, what strain it is, are they Hybrid, what part of the plant was tested. im sure there are many I just dont remember.

 

[motaco]

If you're honestly waiting for a botanist to show up and explain it to you then we're going to be here a while.

If you are actually interested go read up in the breeders lab in strains and hybridizations. They have lots of good info. In all seriousness if a botanist did show up and explain it to you you'd have no idea what he was talking about. Botany is pretty complicated, especially if you don't know the terms.

 

[Phedrosbenny]

So this argument is coming up again..We argue about the Original topic here atleast every couple months...lols

 

[RandomUser420]

Hmm Mataco does make some valid points.

It might not be that the plant itself is more potent now or then. It might be more that we are able to allow the plant to reach it's full potential with greater ease now with the wealth of knowledge and resources so readily available.

So, if you happened to know someone back in the day who had a good understanding of growing cannabis you probably smoked some stuff that was just as good as today.

The only difference being there are more people now who have a good understanding of how to grow good cannabis as well as better access to genetics and hydro gear.

But that being said.... I still don't know how it would be MORE potent back in the day than today. Just doesn't seem logical.