‘Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction’
Dutch research showed that THC (the active substance in Cannabis) in the Dutch Cannabis dropped from 17,5% in 2006, to 16% in 2007. The THC contents of the ‘import hash’ dropped in the same time span from 18,7% to 13,3%. The average price however has gone up 20% compared to 2006. These are results of the yearly THC research the Dutch Trimbos-institute does for the ministry of public health.
Since 1999 the Trimbos-institute is assigned by to do research after the strength of Cannabis ‘products’ sold in the Dutch Coffeeshops. Untill 2004 there was an increase of THC contents in Dutch Cannabis. Recent results show that from 2004 till end 2007 the THC contents dropped from more than 20% to only 16%.
Increase
For the First time since starting the research the price of Cannabis has gone up. The average gram of Dutch Cannabis costs €7,50. An increase of almost 20% since the last research in 2006. The price increase most likely has to do with the more intensive investigations into (home)growers with as consequence, a lower supply than demand.
Polluted
A lower supply and high prices could be also the cause of ‘polluted’ Cannabis. There have been reports of Cannabis mixed with substances like sand, baking powder and glass-pearls. This to make poor Cannabis look better, and make more per kilo sold. Because in Dutch neighbor countries, due to the legislations these pollutions have been reported more the research was started. So far, with the last random tests Cannabis from the local Coffeeshops did not show any pollution.
Hashish
An other very interesting result of the Trimbos research is the drop of THC contents in foreign Hashish, which dropped from 18,7% in 2006 to only 13,3% in 2007. Also here a light increase in price was noticed. Going from €7,30 per gram, to €7,70 per gram. It’s possible the climat change has had effect on this change. Bad weather in Morocco for instance, has lead to a bad harvest in general including the Cannabis/ Hashish harvest. An other influence could be the sharpened rules on making hashish and exporting.
