Edible marijuana products must meet safety requirements, Colorado says

The market for edible marijuana products is growing rapidly in Colorado since the state legalized the drug for recreational and medical uses, but safety remains a top priority.

by John Tyburski

Copyright © Daily Digest News, KPR Media, LLC. All rights reserved.

First published at Daily Digest News on August 26, 2014

Mommy always said, “Don’t eat too many cookies.” This directive takes on new meaning in Colorado now that the state is seeing a growing market for marijuana and THC-infused edibles following the legalization of the drug earlier this year. Bakers and other food companies that sell products containing marijuana or its active ingredient, tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, must adhere to state guidelines established to ensure safety and prevent misuse. Colorado’s proactive effort has earned it praise from the Brookings Institution and other public policy analysts while many other states watch with curiosity.

The legalization of marijuana, especially for recreational use, has not been without setbacks. Recent problems with potency, particularly in cases of high potency, have made headlines. Some less well-informed customers have over-consumed THC-containing products. An overdose of THC can manifest as paranoia, sweating, and even death, as was the case for a Wyoming college student who was recently in Denver for purchasing the products.

“There’s been anecdotal evidence that some of the new consumers in the legalized market were not very well informed in terms of how to safely take that product,” said Lewis Koski, director of the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division.

Labeling of the newly allowed products has always contained sufficient safety information as part of major efforts by the state to inform their consumers about the proper usages and risks. Even so, policy makers issued a large set of rules on August 1 calling for warning labels and detailing the parameters for serving size, which is 100mg of THC per product.

Some question, however, whether the labeling additions will better-inform consumers.

“If you continue to put other warnings on there you have to really question whether or not that becomes effective as a means to really educate a consumer,” Koski said.

To date, the marijuana dispensaries have taken the bulk of the responsibility to educate consumers on how to safely consume their products. According to Brendon Greney, an employee or “budtender” of Organic Alternatives in Fort Collins, Colo., most people do not get around to reading the labels. Greney sees himself as not only a vendor but an educator as well.

“This is fun. It should be fun,” said Greney. “And I think it’s safe if consumed and used the right way and this gives us an opportunity to share that information with people. It’s not some scary back alley thing.”