While potency has increase that doesn't directly correlate to everyone is getting higher. That's still a matter of intake and in this case users are likely smoking a lot less.

In the `70s most of what was available was crappy "dirt weed" (called so because it tasted like dirt when you smoked it) and it was full of seeds.

The strains they have now can tastes like all kinds of things, fruity, spicy, etc. I'm not an expert on that, but I've done a few "tastings" and the different flavors are really pretty amazing.

Yes:

> Overall, the potency of illicit cannabis plant material has consistently risen over time since 1995 from approximately 4% in 1995 to approximately 12% in 2014.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4987131/

Concentrates are regularly in the 60%-80% range, with some crystalized versions hitting above 90%.

No. Cannabis is largely the same stuff it was 35 years ago. Potency is mainly a function of light (cd/m^2) and so it comes down to grower ability.

Also, anyone who says pot used to be weaker back in the day is a cop.

> anyone who says pot used to be weaker back in the day is a cop.

In reference to spliffs (but not joints) then I can see them having more tobacco content in the past compared to today - and pre-ground baggies being cut with weed look-a-likes compared to buying a bag of pre-ground from a dispensary today.

And strains like "Alien Ass-hat" are definitely new - and they have really high THC/g.

Weed 25 years ago had a THC content of 5% or less, generally speaking. Now 20% is common, and >30% exists. More importantly, the ratio of THC to CBD is higher, meaning you get different effects even if you smoked an "equivalent" amount before.

If you see over 25% THC on flower is likely a bogus result, or a result of payola.

Or it's simply mixed product, e.g. kief + flower

No. What I'm talking about is bogus tests on flower. Those "caviar" joints test way over 30%.