Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett says Colorado laws and regulations have failed to keep up with the evolution of cannabis products.
That is why he introduced House Bill 1317, which became law on Jan. 1, 2022.
House Bill 1317 imposed more requirements on medical marijuana patients and curbed the amount of concentrate that a patient can buy in one day to 8 grams. For 18- to 20-year-olds, the limit became 2 grams.
Medical Marijuana Physician Requirements
Under the new law, medical marijuana physicians will be subject to requirements that include providing a THC dosage amount and adding medical and mental health reviews for patients. The bill also limits medical marijuana concentrate purchases, and all MMJ transactions will be entered into a new state tracking system.
The Colorado School of Public Health will receive $3 million in state funds to create an educational campaign about youth use and extracted THC, with another $1 million available annually through the fiscal year 2023-’24 funding a CSPH review of existing research and further study of the mental-health effects of marijuana.
“The reality is that it’s too easy for Colorado’s youth to access high-potency marijuana when they shouldn’t be able to, and we don’t have the full picture of how these products impact the developing brain,” Garnett said at the bill signing. “This law will help educate consumers about high-potency cannabis, and it will advance critical research that will give us a better understanding of how high-potency products impact developing brains.”
CDPHE Report Reveals THC Levels in Cannabis Products Sold in the State Are Rising
A report released by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) revealed that THC levels in cannabis products sold in the state are on the rise.
Colorado’s marijuana industry has been operating without potency caps since recreational sales began in 2014.
The “THC in Colorado Marijuana Report 2020,” compiled by the CDPHE’s Retail Marijuana Public Health Advisory Committee, also looks at the health implications of the rising potency of marijuana in Colorado, which was one of the first two U.S. states to legalize recreational sales.
The report said the regulated marijuana industry in Colorado produces a large variety of retail products that contain a high concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, the most psychoactive substance found in marijuana.
THC concentration, commonly called “potency”, refers to the content of THC in the marijuana product expressed as either a percentage or milligram (mg) dose per serving for some products, including edible products.
The report says products containing a high THC concentration raise public health concerns because increased doses may lead to a higher potential for adverse health effects in consumers of these products.
Since legalization took effect in 2012, the report notes, “It is apparent that progress has occurred quicker in the marijuana industry than in science.”
“The sheer quantity and variety of marijuana products available on the retail marketplace is proof of this rapid advancement,” it continues, before concluding that, based on various studies, this trend of increasing THC concentration has been “happening worldwide and it appears to be increasing on a yearly basis.”
High-Quality Marijuana Produced in Colorado
The marijuana industry in Colorado produces high-quality marijuana and a wide variety of products produced from marijuana extract. The marijuana flower is the part of the plant that contains the most THC-containing trichomes. The flower is considered the most valuable part of the plant and is primarily sold as a smokable product.
According to the 2018 Colorado Market Size and Demand Update, flowers accounted for most of all marijuana sales in the state.
The report stated that marijuana flowers in Colorado contained an average of 19.6 percent THC per gram in 2017 and have remained relatively stable since 2014. By comparison, flower produced for research purposes by the University of Mississippi for the National Institute of Drug Abuse averages 4.14 percent. Looking at Colorado specifically, a 2020 study by Cash et al. found 92.94 percent of all products sold in retail marijuana stores to have 15 percent THC.
The content of THC in concentrate products is substantially higher than in flower. The 2018 Colorado Market Size and Demand Update report shows the percentage of THC in concentrate products steadily increased over the years; in 2014, concentrate averaged 56.6 percent THC compared to an average of 68.6 percent THC in 2017. Some retail marijuana stores advertise up to 95 percent THC in concentrate products.
Cannabis Testing Has Changed
Shannon Gray, Marijuana Communications Specialist, with the Colorado Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division, said the potency of cannabis levels, and the testing for it has changed over the years.
“We can’t speak to the testing of marijuana prior to the creation of the legal marijuana framework in Colorado in 2010,” Gray said. “However, it is fair to say that the testing methodology and sophistication has evolved significantly. Given this – – it’s probably not an apples-to-apples comparison to compare potency in the ‘60s to today.”
Gray said for example, – the types of products have also evolved significantly, – as now there are edible products and concentrates, not just marijuana flowers. Additionally – was the entire plant tested for THC potency decades ago, which is rarely done today.
“Today’s testing generally separates the buds from the shake/trim of the rest of the plant,” she said.
Although research on the potential health risks associated with higher levels of the psychoactive compound is still scarce, the CDPHE report underlines that there is “substantial evidence that THC intoxication can cause acute psychotic symptoms, which are worse with higher doses.”
Marijuana Usage Impact Studied
According to the State of Colorado Cannabis website; the effects of marijuana use can be different for everyone. Common effects may include:
- A happy, relaxed, or “high” feeling
- Slower reactions and hand/eye coordination
- Distorted perceptions of time and distance
- Trouble thinking, learning and remembering
- Anxiety, panic or paranoia
- Faster heart rate
- Increased blood pressure
- Less interest in normal activities
- Increased appetite
- Dry mouth
- Red eyes
- Psychosis – seeing or hearing things that aren’t real (more common with higher doses of THC)
The website said the effects typically last two to four hours after marijuana is smoked or inhaled. When marijuana is eaten, the effects take longer to start and may last four to 10 hours. Marijuana can vary in its potency, or strength, depending on the plant and extraction process.
NCIA Promotes Growth of Responsible Cannabis Industry
The National Cannabis Industry Association was founded in 2010. Since its inception, NCIA has dedicated itself to promoting the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and working for a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.
Bethany Moore, Director of Communications at NCIA, said potency levels differ between medical and recreational cannabis.
“The main differences are that a medical professional must qualify a patient with a medical marijuana card in order for that patient to access medical cannabis products, which can contain higher potencies and allow higher possession limits, as well as lower taxes,” she said. “’Recreational’” or adult-use cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older to purchase. Both medical and adult-use offer an array of products that can contain THC and/or CBD, depending on the needs of the patient or customer.”
Moore said NCIA believes using marijuana responsibly is safer than drinking alcohol or using opioids.
“Just as some adults prefer to sip scotch, others prefer a pint of beer,” she said. “Cannabis is no different, except being safer than alcohol by every measure. Some consumers choose cannabis as an alternative to alcohol, and in some cases, as an alternative to more dangerous substances such as opioids for those managing chronic conditions.”
