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http://www.9news.com/story/news/loc...ban-brownies-cookies-candy-colorado/17612351/
DENVER - A Colorado health official wants to ban many edible forms of marijuana, including brownies, cookies and most candies.
Jeff Lawrence of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recommended retail marijuana edibles be limited to lozenges and tinctures (also known as liquid drops.)
It's one of dozens being considered by a 22-member group meeting to develop new marijuana regulations for Colorado. The recommendation comes just days after Denver Police warned parents that trick-or-treaters should be careful about their children eating pot candy given out by strangers.
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) does not support such an edibles ban, his office told 9NEWS.
"We are confident that our working groups and the legislature can find solutions that keep marijuana out of the hands of kids while promoting safe access to edible products among adults," the governor's marijuana coordinator Andrew Freedman said to 9NEWS in a written statement, rejecting the idea that access to edibles needs to be curtailed in a broad sense.
Freedman, speaking for the governor's office, also expressed understanding for the position expressed by public health officials in the administration.
"It should come as no surprise," Freedman write, "that protecting kids from accidental ingestion of marijuana edibles is a top priority for the state's chief medical officer."
Freedman went on to outline what the governor's office considers "valid points" from opponents of a ban on edibles.
"Other experts will no doubt argue that restricting edibles betrays the will of the people in passing Amendment 64," wrote Freedman. "Still others will argue that restrictions have the potential to create a dangerous and unregulated black market for edibles."
State lawmakers earlier in 2014 ordered regulators to develop new rules about edibles after a spike in hospitalizations of children who accidentally ate marijuana-infused foods.
"To allow the production of retail marijuana edibles that are naturally attractive to children is counter to the Amendment 64 requirement to prevent the marketing of marijuana products to children," the recommendation reads. "The intent of the Amendment and subsequent laws and rules was to decriminalize the use of retail marijuana, not to encourage market expansion within the marijuana edibles industry that subsequently create potential consumer confusion or mixed messages to children."
The recommendation was obtained by 9NEWS in advance of a third, and possibly final, workgroup meeting Monday on identifiable markers or colors for edible marijuana products so they won't be confused with regular foods.
"By limiting the scope of allowable retail marijuana edibles to products that are not easily confused with ubiquitous food products, this recommendation creates a more defensible and transparent regulatory framework," the recommendation reads.
The health department's recommendation would effectively take most forms of edible marijuana off store shelves. The ultimate decision will be made by the Colorado Department of Revenue, which oversees retail marijuana sales.
The recommendation acknowledges that the proposed ban would not be met positively by marijuana industry representatives.
"However, their investment in the development of these products does not have to be lost. All edible products being produced could also be produced as a traditional food product [without marijuana] and marketed to the general public and not just in Colorado," the recommendation reads.
That's a laughable suggestion to edibles manufacturers, who have poured millions of dollars into equipment, health department certifications and recipe development.
"This recommendation would exact opposite effect," said Joe Hodas, a spokesman for the large edibles manufacturer Dixie Elixirs. "Just because they want to ignore edibles doesn't mean they'll go away."
The idea was immediately criticized by edibles manufacturers and even some state lawmakers who say a blanket ban on most edibles would violate the state constitution.
"I'm not a strict constitutional constructionist, but this seems pretty clear to me," Rep. Jonathan Singer (D-Longmont) said, who has been active on marijuana legislation.
Singer points to the definition in the text of Amendment 64, the voter-enacted law allowing marijuana sales:
"Marijuana products means concentrated marijuana products and marijuana products that are comprised of marijuana and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not limited to, edible products, ointments and tinctures."
Amendment 64 goes on to outline that manufacture and sale of marijuana products are legal.
Other members of the 22-member group, which includes marijuana retailers, police representatives and legislators, called for better labeling and packaging. The group is set to discuss the recommendations later on Monday. Some Colorado marijuana stores report that edibles make up more than 30 percent of their sales.
The CDPHE released the following statement after their recommendation was released:
"The recommendation from CDPHE is just that, a recommendation to a working group as part of the deliberative process. We fully expect it will be debated and edited through open, frequent, frank and respectful communication between stakeholders of all stripes at all levels.
"Considering only the public health perspective, however, edibles pose a definite risk to children, and that's why we recommended limiting marijuana-infused products to tinctures and lozenges.
"Our recommendation does not represent the view of the governor's office, nor was it reviewed by the governor. It was put together only in consideration of the public health challenges of underage marijuana ingestion. It does not account for the dynamics of the black market or the guidelines set forward by Amendment 64."
Colo. health official recommends marijuana edibles ban
DENVER - A Colorado health official wants to ban many edible forms of marijuana, including brownies, cookies and most candies.
Jeff Lawrence of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has recommended retail marijuana edibles be limited to lozenges and tinctures (also known as liquid drops.)
It's one of dozens being considered by a 22-member group meeting to develop new marijuana regulations for Colorado. The recommendation comes just days after Denver Police warned parents that trick-or-treaters should be careful about their children eating pot candy given out by strangers.
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado) does not support such an edibles ban, his office told 9NEWS.
"We are confident that our working groups and the legislature can find solutions that keep marijuana out of the hands of kids while promoting safe access to edible products among adults," the governor's marijuana coordinator Andrew Freedman said to 9NEWS in a written statement, rejecting the idea that access to edibles needs to be curtailed in a broad sense.
Freedman, speaking for the governor's office, also expressed understanding for the position expressed by public health officials in the administration.
"It should come as no surprise," Freedman write, "that protecting kids from accidental ingestion of marijuana edibles is a top priority for the state's chief medical officer."
Freedman went on to outline what the governor's office considers "valid points" from opponents of a ban on edibles.
"Other experts will no doubt argue that restricting edibles betrays the will of the people in passing Amendment 64," wrote Freedman. "Still others will argue that restrictions have the potential to create a dangerous and unregulated black market for edibles."
State lawmakers earlier in 2014 ordered regulators to develop new rules about edibles after a spike in hospitalizations of children who accidentally ate marijuana-infused foods.
"To allow the production of retail marijuana edibles that are naturally attractive to children is counter to the Amendment 64 requirement to prevent the marketing of marijuana products to children," the recommendation reads. "The intent of the Amendment and subsequent laws and rules was to decriminalize the use of retail marijuana, not to encourage market expansion within the marijuana edibles industry that subsequently create potential consumer confusion or mixed messages to children."
The recommendation was obtained by 9NEWS in advance of a third, and possibly final, workgroup meeting Monday on identifiable markers or colors for edible marijuana products so they won't be confused with regular foods.
"By limiting the scope of allowable retail marijuana edibles to products that are not easily confused with ubiquitous food products, this recommendation creates a more defensible and transparent regulatory framework," the recommendation reads.
The health department's recommendation would effectively take most forms of edible marijuana off store shelves. The ultimate decision will be made by the Colorado Department of Revenue, which oversees retail marijuana sales.
The recommendation acknowledges that the proposed ban would not be met positively by marijuana industry representatives.
"However, their investment in the development of these products does not have to be lost. All edible products being produced could also be produced as a traditional food product [without marijuana] and marketed to the general public and not just in Colorado," the recommendation reads.
That's a laughable suggestion to edibles manufacturers, who have poured millions of dollars into equipment, health department certifications and recipe development.
"This recommendation would exact opposite effect," said Joe Hodas, a spokesman for the large edibles manufacturer Dixie Elixirs. "Just because they want to ignore edibles doesn't mean they'll go away."
The idea was immediately criticized by edibles manufacturers and even some state lawmakers who say a blanket ban on most edibles would violate the state constitution.
"I'm not a strict constitutional constructionist, but this seems pretty clear to me," Rep. Jonathan Singer (D-Longmont) said, who has been active on marijuana legislation.
Singer points to the definition in the text of Amendment 64, the voter-enacted law allowing marijuana sales:
"Marijuana products means concentrated marijuana products and marijuana products that are comprised of marijuana and other ingredients and are intended for use or consumption, such as, but not limited to, edible products, ointments and tinctures."
Amendment 64 goes on to outline that manufacture and sale of marijuana products are legal.
Other members of the 22-member group, which includes marijuana retailers, police representatives and legislators, called for better labeling and packaging. The group is set to discuss the recommendations later on Monday. Some Colorado marijuana stores report that edibles make up more than 30 percent of their sales.
The CDPHE released the following statement after their recommendation was released:
"The recommendation from CDPHE is just that, a recommendation to a working group as part of the deliberative process. We fully expect it will be debated and edited through open, frequent, frank and respectful communication between stakeholders of all stripes at all levels.
"Considering only the public health perspective, however, edibles pose a definite risk to children, and that's why we recommended limiting marijuana-infused products to tinctures and lozenges.
"Our recommendation does not represent the view of the governor's office, nor was it reviewed by the governor. It was put together only in consideration of the public health challenges of underage marijuana ingestion. It does not account for the dynamics of the black market or the guidelines set forward by Amendment 64."