Pubdate: Thu, 02 Jun 2016
Source: Mail Tribune, The (Medford, OR)
Copyright: 2016 The Mail Tribune
Contact:  http://www.mailtribune.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/642
Note: Only prints LTEs from within it's circulation area, 200 word count limit
Author: Nick Morgan

Legal Marijuana

BE CAREFUL WITH POT EDIBLES THAT GO ON SALE THURSDAY

Health Officials Warn to Keep Them Away From Children

Area marijuana dispensaries and public health officials are 
recommending that recreational users use caution with extracts and 
edibles that will be come available Thursday, especially around children.

Edible marijuana products with up to 15 milligrams of THC will be 
available at dispensaries that serve recreational users 21 and older. 
What's available at dispensaries for recreational users has a 
fraction of the potency available to medical marijuana cardholders, 
but Peter Gross, COO of Green Valley Wellness and Epic Edibles, says 
those not familiar with how an edible product affects them should be 
careful in the beginning.

"Start low, and go slow - that is the rule of thumb for edibles," 
Gross said. "Edibles in general affect everyone differently."

Edible marijuana users can take longer to feel effects, typically 30 
minutes to an hour, Gross said. Some may need as long as 90 minutes. 
Gross suggested new users split edibles in half for their first dose, 
and suggests they should be in a safe place where they won't need to 
drive for at least five hours.

Although Oregon's maximum recreational dosage is more than the 10 mg 
of THC Colorado allows, medical marijuana users have access to doses 
much higher, typically around 70 mg. Gross said that he personally 
knows 3 mg can make him feel "loopy," yet knows others who consume 
much more daily.

Talent Health Club manager Andrew Robison said edibles are 
metabolized differently from smoked marijuana, causing a different 
THC compound to form, with more potent effects.

"It's not the same THC," Robison said. "In layman's terms it changes 
the psychoactivity to be about 4 to 5 times greater."

Although THC levels are limited, many extracts and edibles can 
contain higher levels of cannabidiol or CBD, a non-psychoactive 
compound that Robison said can reduce anxiety and chronic pain among 
other ailments.

Other products newly available for recreational users include 
cartridges for vaporizer pens that contain no more than 1,000 mg THC, 
and lotions and topical oils and creams that are not psychoactive and 
have less than 6 percent THC.

By Oregon law, all products are independently tested for potency, as 
well as contaminants such as pesticide residue, mold and mildew. All 
edibles are packaged in childproof containers at the time of sale, 
with a universal marijuana symbol.

The Oregon Health Authority advises all marijuana products be stored 
in a locked area children cannot reach, not to expose children to 
secondhand smoke from smoking or vaping marijuana and not to be high 
when caring for a child.

"Marijuana can make children very sick," the OHA website warns. "If 
symptoms seem bad, call 911 or go to the emergency room right away. 
Symptoms can include your child having trouble walking or sitting up, 
starting to be sleepy or having a hard time breathing."

Oregon Health Authority spokesperson Holly Heiberg said that typical 
THC side effects, including anxiety and paranoia, increased blood 
pressure and vomiting, can be exacerbated in children. If a child 
accidentally consumes a marijuana extract, call poison control at 
1-800-1222 or call 911 if symptoms appear severe.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom