Both a ballot initiative and an amendment to a House bill in Colorado are aiming to put an upper limit on the potency of cannabis products sold in the state.
The proposed cap on THC content — 15 to 16 percent — is lower than what most products currently contain. The average THC content of cannabis flower in Colorado is 17.1 percent. Cannabis extracts contain on average 62.1 percent THC.
Backers of the proposed amendment, which was introduced by Republican Rep. Kathleen Conti, argue that the legislation is a necessary measure of caution until more research has been done regarding the effects of cannabis on the neural development of adolescents.
Opponents of the proposition claim that it goes too far, and could snuff out some of the industry’s most popular sectors.
According to Conti, “All the studies that have been done on THC levels have been done on THC levels between 2 and 8 percent. Most of the marijuana coming in now, the flowers are being rated at a THC count of about 17 percent on average, so this is dramatically over, and we really don’t know that we’ve gotten the true feel on the health risks associated with that marijuana.”
In contrast, cannabis industry compliance expert Mark Slaugh has stated that the proposed limit is “unconstitutional” and poorly-conceived: “I don’t think a lot of thought was put into the proposals. This bill threatens to wipe out most infused product manufacturers, and its language is unclear as to what to do with edibles.”