Pot-infused lemon drops, gummy bears, and other marijuana edibles could be banned from being sold in Colorado. This comes after lawmakers are trying to eradicate retail pot products that could appeal to children.
In a report by CBS, a committee in the state House of Representatives advanced the bill that will also ban infused edibles that are shaped like animals or people or those that resemble fruits. Edible pot makers could be required this fall to have each piece of food carry a symbol with the letters THC, which is marijuana's intoxicating chemical.
However, marijuana manufacturers contest that the possible new legislation will shut down a big part of the edibles industry. Dave Maggio, who works for manufacturer Cheeba Chews, said in a statement that it comes down to the adult or the parent to keep it out of the hands of the children, comparing marijuana edibles to the likes of alcohol and cigarettes.
The supporters of the legislation, including the Colorado governor and chief medical officer, said that marijuana candies send a dangerous message to kids. Many of the 24 states that have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational purposes do not allow the sale of edible pot. The latest bill has passed 10-2 by the committee and now awaits a vote from the House.
The Cannabist also reported that since 2009, 19 children have been admitted to hospitals due to issues related to marijuana ingestion.
This is not the first time that a legislation limiting edible marijuana has been discussed. Lawmakers limited the potency of serving sizes and also required each serving size to be individually wrapped because some of the consumers are eating too many servings. In 2014, a Wyoming college student fell to his death from a Denver hotel balcony after eating six servings of marijuana in a cookie.
According to International Business Times, since marijuana has been legalized in Colorado, it has sent thousands of adults to the hospital for marijuana exposures. It was also found out that marijuana use among users from the age of 18 to 25 has increased significantly.
The latest legislation waiting to be passed comes after a number of raids were made last week in an attempt to arrest people who were selling pot illegally outside the state.
