Not long ago, someone selling Dad Weed would face derision from marijuana connoisseurs. That’s because the term once referred to weak cannabis that, in the eyes of the cool crowd, was far inferior to the good stuff.

Times have changed. The average THC potency in marijuana products has soared from about 4 percent in the 1990s to 40 percent today. That’s a 900 percent increase in potency, according to SF Gate. It’s made the ability to find low-potency weed much harder than it was 30 years ago. That’s a situation that has made Dad Weed popular again.

“My dad grew up in Santa Cruz and smoked weed all the time and looks at the current products [available in California] and says, ‘I can’t smoke that,’” Jamie Feaster told SF Gate. “Now he can smoke our joints.”

Feaster is founder of San Francisco’s Country Cannabis, a dispensary that specializes in Dad Weed.

Dad Weed Popular With New Cannabis Users

The rapid spread of cannabis legalization across the country has led to more people than ever trying cannabis products. But unlike someone in the late 20th or early 21st century trying weed for the first time, it’s hard to find cannabis that allows you to ease into the experience. That’s why it’s important to always check the THC level of products you buy – edibles can especially get you much higher than intended if used improperly.

Dad Weed fills a need for less potent cannabis. It’s a solid choice for those who want to enjoy a light buzz from cannabis – say, for example, at the end of a long workday – without getting too high. It’s also a good choice for those who experience feelings of anxiety or paranoia when using cannabis. In this respect, it has a lot in common with so-called diet weed.

With the potency of most marijuana on the rise, the demand for Dad Weed is expected to increase. In California, for example, only 1 percent of cannabis sold at dispensaries has less than 14 percent THC potency, according to SF Gate. And 80 percent of all California cannabis has 21 percent potency.

The Emergence of Dad Grass

It’s important (but not always easy) to keep your cannabis products straight, including those associated with Dads. For example, what Feaster offers is different from Dad Grass, the CBD hemp product that contains only trace amounts of THC. It’s a product that became legal in 2018, when the U.S. Congress legalized hemp products. Dad Grass became available and quickly became popular, offering people the chance to enjoy the potential health benefits of CBD,

But Country Cannabis and other Dad Weed brands, including Garden Society and Pure Beauty, offer cannabis products with THC. However, the companies cap the potency, with most products containing between 5 percent and 10 percent THC.

They are welcome choices for those who want less of a high when they use cannabis. Those new to cannabis can also benefit from trying Dad Grass and other CBD products that offer wellness and health without the psychoactive properties of regular cannabis.