Cannabis seized from Australian street-level users averaged nearly 15% THC with almost no CBD, mirroring high-potency trends seen in other countries.
Read this if you want to understand how potent modern cannabis really is and why the disappearance of CBD from the supply matters.
14.88% average THC with only 0.14% CBD in seized Australian cannabis
What the researchers found
Researchers analyzed 206 cannabis samples confiscated from recreational users under the New South Wales Cannabis Cautioning scheme, along with 26 samples from known indoor or outdoor cultivation sites. The street-level samples averaged 14.88% THC content but only 0.14% CBD.
The near-absence of CBD is notable because CBD is thought to moderate some of the adverse psychological effects of THC. Very low levels of other cannabinoids were also detected, including minimal cannabichromene, cannabinol, and tetrahydrocannabivarin (all below 0.1%).
Samples from known indoor and outdoor cultivation sites showed no significant differences in THC content from each other.
Why it matters
Australia has one of the highest per capita rates of cannabis use globally, yet this was the first systematic analysis of the cannabinoid profile of cannabis available to Australian users. The findings confirmed that the high-THC, low-CBD trend seen in North American and European markets extends to Australia.
The numbers in context
Mean THC content was 14.88%. Mean CBD content was 0.14%. Cannabigerol averaged 1.18%. Other cannabinoids (CBC, CBN, THC-V) were all below 0.1%. A total of 232 samples were analyzed (206 street-level, 26 from cultivation sites).
How the study worked
Researchers used high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure nine cannabinoids in 232 cannabis samples seized by New South Wales police. Street-level samples came from users holding 15 grams or less. Known provenance samples came from larger cultivation operations.
What this study cannot tell us
Samples were limited to New South Wales and may not represent cannabis across all of Australia. Only samples confiscated by police were included, which may not reflect the full range of products available. The study measured cannabinoid content but did not assess health outcomes.
How to read the evidence
Systematic analytical chemistry study of a large sample set, though limited to one Australian state.
When this study was published
Published in 2013. Cannabis potency trends have continued to shift in many markets since this analysis.
The bigger picture
The disappearance of CBD from the cannabis supply has public health implications. Research has suggested that CBD may buffer some of the anxiety and psychosis risk associated with THC. A cannabis market dominated by high-THC, near-zero-CBD products may carry different risk profiles than the more chemically diverse cannabis of previous decades.
Questions still open
- Are users aware of the very low CBD content in available cannabis? Would access to cannabis with balanced THC-to-CBD ratios lead to different health outcomes? Has the cannabinoid profile of Australian cannabis changed further since 2013?
Common questions
How strong is cannabis in Australia?
Why does the lack of CBD in cannabis matter?
Read the original research
Analysis of cannabis seizures in NSW, Australia: cannabis potency and cannabinoid profile.
PloS one, 8(7), e70052
Citation
Swift, Wendy; Wong, Alex; Li, Kong M; Arnold, Jonathon C; McGregor, Iain S. (2013). Analysis of cannabis seizures in NSW, Australia: cannabis potency and cannabinoid profile.. PloS one, 8(7), e70052. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0070052
Explore the wider topic
- Surviving 4/20 Sober: A Practical Survival Guide
- CBT for Cannabis Recovery: How Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Works
- THC Purity and Potency: What the Label Actually Means
- The Cannabis Relapse Cycle: Quit, Feel Good, Get Complacent, Repeat
- Cold Turkey vs Tapering: Which Way to Quit Weed
- Dab and Concentrate Withdrawal: Why It Hits Harder
- Dating Sober After Years of Being High: What Nobody Tells You
- Delta-8 THC: Addiction, Withdrawal, and What We Don't Know
- Edible Addiction and Withdrawal: What Makes It Different
- Edibles and Psychosis: When a Bad Trip Becomes an Emergency
- Exercise as Medicine: Working Out After Quitting Weed
- Grieving Weed Itself: Mourning the Loss of a Companion
- Vaping vs Smoking vs Edibles: A Harm Reduction Guide
- How to Help Someone Quit Weed (When They're Not Ready)
- How Cannabis Products Are Made: From Plant to Concentrate to Edible
- How to Quit Weed: A No-Judgment Step by Step Guide
- Journaling Through Weed Withdrawal: Why Writing Helps You Heal
- Laced Weed and Contaminated Vapes: Real Risks vs Myths
- Legal vs Street Weed: Quality, Safety, and What You're Actually Smoking
- MA vs SMART Recovery vs Therapy: Comparing Your Options
- Meditation and Mindfulness for Weed Withdrawal
- Your Partner Still Smokes Weed: How to Navigate It
- Quitting Weed While Your Partner Still Smokes
- The Pink Cloud Effect: When Quitting Weed Feels Too Good
- How to Quit Smoking Weed Cold Turkey: What to Expect
- Quit Weed or Cut Back: Which Is Right for You?
- I Quit Weed and Regret It: An Honest Look at Non-Linear Recovery
- Quitting Weed Pens and Dabs: Why Concentrates Hit Different
- Quitting Edibles: Is Withdrawal Different from Smoking?
- Quitting Weed in Your 20s: Career, Social Life, Starting Over
- Quitting Weed in Your 30s: It's Not Too Late
- Quitting Weed After 10+ Years of Daily Use: What to Expect
- Quitting Weed During a Life Crisis: Divorce, Job Loss, and Other Bad Timing
- Quitting Weed and Working Out: How Exercise Helps Recovery
- Quitting Weed After Loss: When Grief Comes Flooding Back
- Quitting Weed When It's Legal Everywhere
- Weed Withdrawal Success Stories: Real People Who Made It Through
- Quitting Weed Long Distance: When You Can't Remove Triggers
- I Relapsed on Weed. Now What? A Practical Reset Guide
- I Relapsed After Quitting Weed: What Now?
- Sativa vs Indica: The Myth and the Science Behind Cannabis Strain Labels
- Should I Quit Weed? A Decision Framework (Not a Lecture)
- Quitting Weed at Music Festivals and Concerts: A Sober Survival Guide
- Supplements That Actually Help with Weed Withdrawal (And Ones That Don't)
- How to Tell Your Friends You're Quitting Weed
- Why Is Weed Withdrawal Worse Now Than 20 Years Ago?
- Relapse Prevention Plan for Cannabis: A CBT-Based Approach
- Why Weed Relapse Happens: The Science Behind Going Back
- Replacing the Ritual: What to Do When You Quit Weed
- How Cannabis Damaged My Relationships: Before and After
- Social Media Detox from Weed Content
- Does Weed Expire? Shelf Life, Potency Loss, and Storage Science
- How to Store Weed So It Stays Fresh: Temperature, Light, and Humidity
- What Is Dabbing and What Does It Do to Your Body
- What Are Moon Rocks and Why Are They So Strong