The Trichomes are the chemical factories that make THC, CBD, CBN, and the hundreds of other compounds that are sought for their medical and recreational properties.

Their purpose in the wild varies: They are there to catch the pollen so that the flower/bud can make seeds for the next generation, they deter insects, and their chemical compound protects the plant from animals that would eat it – that psychoactive effect is actually supposed to be a deterrent so that the animal learns to go eat something else.

When you look at this on the flower, they tend to make the flower look frosty white at the time of harvest, and they are often referred to as crystals because when they dry, they can kind of sparkle.

So, when we refer to the potency of marijuana, what this really means is that there is a higher percentage of mass or weight of these little Trichomes on and in the flower surfaces as a percentage of the weight of the . . . and, that’s actually the point.  That percentage depends on what other parts of the plant you trim away.

In general, when Colorado growers are having their products tested, they are trimming away the pointy ends of the leaves, and that leaves a trimmed bud.  So, many of the less dense trichome areas end up in the scraps that are processed usually into edible products.  That leaves a bud with the highest density.  The stems, fan leaves, and other plant mass aren’t part of that equation.

Since the marketing of marijuana often includes trying to achieve higher potency, of course they process the flowers in a way that achieve a higher proportion. But, that’s all it is – a proportion of the active ingredients vs. plant matter.  But, generally, what AG Sessions is referring to is the fact that back in the 1960s and 1970s, the percentage was measured (most often guessed at) 5-7%.

Now, by using selective breeding, there are strains and methods of preparation that can push this number way up into the 20-30% range.  But, go in any dispensary, and you still see strains that are all over the board, but generally not less than 10%.

But, it’s not like THC itself has become more potent.  It’s still just the same molecule it always was.  But, now that we know more about the other compounds, there’s different dimensions to the mix, so you will see higher and lower CBD percentages – including strains that virtually eliminate THC in favor of the medicinal effects of CBD.

What AG Sessions just can’t seem to comprehend is that, believe it or not, people want the CBD and don’t actually want to get high!  They would simply like relief from their conditions, and it’s proving to be effective.  But, they’d still like to be able to function at their jobs, take care of their kids, and even be able to safely drive their cars.

This mischaracterization is simply a throwback to a day when it was demonized to the point where it would be put on a Schedule 1 list of controlled substances that have no medical value.

Now, beyond that, there’s other types of processing that strip away all of the plant matter with solvents or CO2.  These have various efficiencies that can take that percentage up into the high 90s in terms of percentages.  To help you understand, it’s the difference between beer and whiskey – just a higher concentration.

And, when we get into medical patient needs, that efficiency is important when someone is trying to ingest 1 gram per day, for instance, to deal with tumors or epileptic conditions.  It’s just impractical to consume larger amounts of plant matter, so getting rid of it makes it into a pill vs. having to eat a pan of sugary brownies every day.

It’s disheartening to have to refight these tired old battles, but on the other hand, at least now it’s not such a hard thing to believe that our Attorney General is lying to us.  Nor is it impolite or offensive.  It’s just a fact.  Sad!