I have heard a lot of illogical marijuana policy proposals since co-founding this blog in 2010, but the one that made headlines yesterday may be one of the dumbest to date. Apparently there is a push in Colorado to limit marijuana flower and marijuana products to a 16 percent THC level. Why anyone would think that is a good idea is beyond me. However, it sounds like not only is it being proposed in Colorado’s Legislature, but there is also a proposal on the table for an initiative that seeks to achieve the same goal. Per The Cannabist:
A proposed ballot initiative and an amendment to a bill in the state House would cap the THC potency of recreational cannabis and marijuana products at a percentage below most of those products’ current averages.
The initiative would limit the potency of “marijuana and marijuana products” to 15 percent or 16 percent THC.
The average potency of Colorado pot products is already higher — 17.1 percent for cannabis flower and 62.1 percent for marijuana extracts, according to a state study.
As many activists were very quick to point out, alcohol such as Everclear has a much, much higher percentage. One activist pointed out that there is no vitamin C limit in oranges in Colorado, so why would there be one with THC? The fact of the matter is patients would be most hurt by these proposals. The most suffering patients need the strongest medicine, and to take away that option would put a lot of the most suffering patients in very unfair (and non-compassionate) situations. And that doesn’t even get into the industry side of things. I hope these proposals go no where, and fast.
