Last month a bill, drafted by Representative Yadira Caraveo, leaked, that would ban the sale of any cannabis product (medicinal or recreational) that tested over 15% THC. She was trying to limit the potency of Colorado’s pot, because, she says, it’s putting Colorado’s children at risk.
And predictably, almost as soon as that proposal went public, the internet exploded in opposition. People were pissed: who was this woman to tell them how strong their weed could be?
“Hey, Yadira Caraveo, are you high, or just incredibly stupid?!!?” wrote reddit user BoblobLawsLawBahg.
“Should cap their salary at 15%.” Said u/Earthling1Native.
“Go drink your socially acceptable alcohol which attributes to almost 100k deaths a year and tell how how you are concerned about thc.” Chimed in u/wispy.
Which, pretty much sums up the public opinion of this measure. There has been no issue with the potency of cannabis products in this state, so far; it’s not hurting anyone, nor is it presenting any clear or present danger to society to have high-potency extract, edibles and smokables at our disposal. No one asked for this legislation — so why is Caraveo trying to push it?
Because somehow she’s convinced it’s harming kids.
"In many instances, they're getting their hands on products they should really not be getting their hands on. I'm not talking about the flower or edibles," she said in an interview (even though, her bill does suggest limiting the potency of edibles as well as concentrates). “I'm talking about products such as dabbing and wax that are produced, a lot of times, with butane or other carcinogens that are very, very concentrated."
Caraveo added that when pot was legalized in 2014 the highest THC content was around 5% — today she says, our marijuana is testing at "upwards of 50 to 60 percent."
Which, isn’t accurate (the highest potency strains are testing at 40% currently). And for that matter, her understanding of extracts and carcinogens is pretty twisted up, too — her bill calls to ban all products with “known human carcinogens,” which seems to be aimed at extracts — however, any kind of smoke contains carcinogens.
Her bill would also ban roadside signage/advertising for marijuana, prohibit businesses from partnering with social media influencers, ban flavored vapes, inhalers and (oddly) ban cannabis suppositories…
(What does Caraveo think kids are doing with this stuff?)
Regardless of how confused Caraveo might be, or how little of a chance her bill stands when it’s finally, formally introduced — this is a dark sign for Colorado’s cannabis industry. Caraveo’s bill signals the start of a battle over product potency that could be a very slippery slope for cannabis businesses across the state. Give authorities an inch, and they’ll take a mile — if the state is allowed to limit the potency of our pot products once, they’ll do it again.
Then, before you know it, we’ll all be out here smoking 3.2% weed like those poor bastards in Utah, with their watered down beer. Which would be a grim fate for an industry that's brought so much vibrancy and prosperity to this state.
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