Skunk twice as addictive as other strains of cannabis

SUPER-strength ‘skunk’ may be twice as addictive as normal kinds of cannabis, a study has found.

Skunk, which now makes up most of the cannabis sold on Britain’s streets, leads to dependency for 43 per cent of those who smoke it, University College London researchers found.

The rate is just 22 per cent for those who prefer a less potent type.

The 16 to 23-year-olds surveyed are now exposed to skunk far stronger than the types of cannabis available a decade ago. Its greater addictiveness is believed to come from higher levels of a compound called tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is key to giving smokers a high.

Previous research has shown THC ramps up the properties of cannabis which make people dependent. Skunk has little cannabidiol, or CBD, which dampens down its effects.

Dr Tom Freeman, who presented the data at the annual International Early Psychosis Association meeting in Milan, said: ‘The illicit cannabis market is dominated by highpotency cannabis. Our findings suggest that people who prefer this type cannabis are around twice as likely to show problematic use.’