Edible Pot Ban Off Table, Work Continues On Limits
DENVER (AP/CBS4) — A ban on most forms of edible marijuana at Colorado dispensaries is off the table. But work is continuing on efforts to require pot-infused food and drink to have a distinct look when they are out of the packaging.
State health officials at a meeting on Monday said the only forms of edible marijuana should be extracts and hard candies, but hours later they backed off, saying it's not a policy recommendation, just a medical opinion.
"Where we didn't have a constitution where edibles are on the table, probably the best thing for us would be to limit by tinctures and lozenges, but it's really probably not reality," said Karin McGowan, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Deputy Director.
They were praised by the group Smart Colorado, who says the constitutional law allowing edible pot should be restricted.
"I think that's a definite way of protecting citizens. I know in Washington State they have an approval process," Smart Colorado founder Diane Carlson said.
The state's Marijuana Enforcement Division plans one more meeting of a workgroup made up of marijuana industry officials, law enforcement and health authorities. It must suggest to Colorado lawmakers a proposal to require retail pot to have a distinct look so it can't be confused with other foods.
Lawmakers ordered state pot regulators to require a new look for pot-infused food and drink after concerns about the proliferation of pot-infused treats.
The industry disagrees, saying they're already doing enough to warn consumers of the dangers of edible marijuana, calling the cases where edibles have been fatal outliers.
"To force manufactures to spend so much on protecting people of something that's not happening seems illogical to me," said. Julie Dooley, edible marijuana maker.
Manufacturers say harsh rules will send edibles onto the black market. Anti-marijuana groups and the industry are miles apart, while it is certain that a uniform labeling system is coming, some in the industry believe it is a wasted effort.
Denver Police have warned parents to reject Halloween candy they don't recognize.
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