(Cheddar)
U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams on Thursday issued a stark warning against the use of marijuana by young people and pregnant women, citing concerns over the increased potency of modern cannabis products.
"This is not your mother's marijuana," Adams told Cheddar. "This is a fundamentally different product than the marijuana of the past."
The concentration of THC — the principal component of marijuana — has increased three-fold, the Surgeon General said, and various cannabis products, such as dabs, oils, and waxes, now have a concentration of up to 75 percent.
The advisory comes as marijuana is becoming increasingly popular nationwide. So far, various forms of cannabis are legal in over 30 states and lawmakers across the board are working to reverse tough-on-crime marijuana laws. Marijuana is also being used increasingly for medicinal purposes as more and more healthcare professionals recognize it as a far less harmful alternative to addictive painkillers or other invasive treatments. Read more