Colorado Bans Cannabis Infused Gummy Bears

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Starting July 1, cannabis-infused gummy bears and other marijuana edibles shaped like animals, fruits or humans will be banned in Colorado.

After approval by the state House and Senate, Governor Hickenlooper signed House Bill 1436 into law on June 10. Colorado already requires edible pot sold on the recreational market to come in serving sizes of 10 milligrams of THC, with a maximum of 10 total servings.

Supporters of the measure say the new guidelines will make pot candy less appealing to kids, as well as lowering the number of children who accidentally ingest THC-infused edibles. Michael DiStefano, the medical director of the Children’s Hospital Colorado emergency department, says that the hospital saw eight children in its emergency room who accidentally ate marijuana in 2014. Between 2005 and 2013, only eight children were admitted at the hospital for unintentional marijuana ingestion.

Opponents point out it’s the responsibility of parents and guardians to keep cannabis products out of reach of children. They say that banning certain shapes doesn’t necessarily make cannabis-infused candies any less appealing to kids, and the measure doesn’t mention other shapes, like hearts and stars. For instance, between 2012 and 2013, more than 17,000 children under 6 years old nationwide were injured due to ingestion of the candy-colored detergent packets.

High Times reports, “With many millions of edibles being sold each year in the state, the number of calls to Rocky Mountain Poison Control concerning marijuana-infused foods is markedly less when compared to other products, such as dangerous pharmaceuticals, cosmetics and household cleaning products.”

 

At Mountain High Suckers, as a “candy” style edible supplier, it has always been our goal to be clear and up front about what our products contain and to help parents, patients and recreational easily identify our suckers and lozenges/pieces as for-adult or medicinal grade products!