It's time for Colorado to have a frank discussion about marijuana potency. In recent years, Colorado's marijuana has become a fundamentally different and harder drug, with unprecedented levels of THC, marijuana's psychoactive ingredient. Nationally, the potency of marijuana has more than tripled since the mid-1990s, with the average at 12.6 percent THC in 2013, according to the National Drug Control Strategy. But Colorado's post-legalization pot has reached even higher levels. Here, the average potency of marijuana flowers/buds is 17.1 percent THC and the average potency of concentrates is 62.1 percent THC, according to the Marijuana Equivalency in Portion and Dosage report, prepared for the Colorado Department of Revenue. [continues 510 words]
Re: "Don't give up on marijuana edibles," April 5 My Turn column. Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce president Tyler Henson's comments on marijuana edibles are confounding. Did Coloradans ever imagine the marijuana industry Henson represents would manufacture or infuse hundreds of regular foods, candies and sodas to make them indistinguishable from the products many mimic? The state law requiring that marijuana edibles be clearly identifiable outside their packaging was passed with the overwhelming support of legislators, parents, school officials and kids. There was broad consensus that all Coloradans have the right to know if they are consuming marijuana. [continues 84 words]
