Restrictions On Pot Edibles Clear Colorado House
DENVER (AP/CBS4) - Bills setting restrictions on marijuana edibles in Colorado have cleared the state House unanimously.
The bills approved Monday would set possession limits for concentrated forms of marijuana such as hash oil. Currently, Colorado adults can possess up to an ounce of marijuana without regard to whether it's leafy flowers or concentrated oils. In its concentrated form, an ounce of pot has far more servings than the same amount in plant form.
The bill directs the state Department of Revenue to determine how much concentrated pot is equal to an ounce of leafy pot.
Another bill would broaden a ban on certain types of edibles to include products that mimic other foods or candies. Lawmakers are trying to prevent accidental ingestions by children.
Dan England, an edible maker, says the state should focus on better labeling and used unmarked bottles of juice, liquor and cleaning supplies to prove a point.
"This will kill you almost as soon as you drink it ... this is bleach," England said at the hearing. "If you can't tell, how can a 3-year-old?"
The bills now head to the Senate.
Not everyone agrees with the possible regulations. Some people in the pot industry say the bills will hurt the industry, while others say it's just smart business.
"When Coloradoan's voted to legalize pot, they didn't vote to send kids to the emergency room. It's something we have to address and we have to address it now," said Rep. Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.
Matt Taylor, also a marijuana manufacturer, says many in the pot industry don't seem to understand inherent issues with selling a product. He supports the bills and says they help legitimize the industry.
"There's the group that's been operating the way they've been operating all the time where they think that marijuana is a fantasyland with regards to business and how business is supposed to operate," Taylor said. "And then there are the people that are trying to make it a business and they understand inherent issues like product liability.
"They may not be smart enough to protect themselves against product liability, but certainly the state is going to help them."
(TM and © Copyright 2014 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
More Marijuana Edibles Stories
