A much-awaited bill introduced at the Capitol last week to protect Colorado kids from super-potent pot turned out to be only a pale imitation of what we had hoped for. Most notably, House Bill 1317 places no potency limits on THC, the mind-altering ingredient in pot and pot-laced products. THC would have been capped at 15% in draft legislation touted earlier in the session. The pot lobby is breathing a sigh of relief. It no doubt had twisted a lot of arms to achieve that outcome, and its efforts paid off.
Still, the legislation is a stride. A small stride but a hopeful one. Granted, the fact that it got whittled down is a testament to the clout Big Marijuana wields over ruling legislative Democrats. But the fact that the pending legislation was introduced at all — and would impose a bit more responsibility on marijuana sales — suggests the Democrats are starting to get it.
They just might be coming around to the realization that parents are more worried about their children than they are wowed by the nonstop pot party down at the Capitol (figuratively speaking, of course). While Democratic lawmakers revel in the marijuana tax revenue the state has been raking in, parents are alarmed at a disturbing new wave of revved-up pot products.
In other words, Democrats — who at times seem to confuse the industry’s cynical pot peddlers with justice-seeking civil libertarians — finally admit there’s a problem. And that’s due in no small part to the leadership of a few outspoken members in their caucus. One of those is Democratic House Speaker Alec Garnett of Denver, whose position gives him free rein. Another is state Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Thornton — whose credentials speak volumes. A pediatrician by profession, she’s our citizen legislature’s only practicing physician. She routinely treats at-risk youths in her Adams County medical practice, and she is HB 1317’s prime sponsor.
Garnett has signed onto the measure, too. In the Senate, lead sponsors are Democrat Chris Hansen, of Denver, and Republican Paul Lundeen, of Monument. Republican Rep. Tim Geitner, of Falcon, and Republican Sen. Kevin Priola, of Henderson, are also aboard as sponsors.
“Over the nine years that I've been a pediatrician in private practice, I've noticed more and more that the young people in my clinic have begun using more of these products ... and are using stronger products,” Caraveo said at a news conference earlier this week just before her bill’s debut in committee, where it passed unanimously. “Colorado has to exercise its responsibility to update regulations when markets shift and new products arise.”
Caraveo was more direct in a commentary she penned for The Gazette not long ago. She noted that today’s high-potency products, “have been repeatedly shown to cause or exacerbate psychosis, dependency, and depression in young people.”
“Substantial research has shown how these products can exacerbate mental health issues among our youth,” she wrote.
Especially in that light, the bill is underwhelming. But it’s not without substance. Some of its more forceful provisions would:
Lower the purchase limit on cannabis concentrates for both medical patients and recreational consumers from 40 grams per day to eight grams per day for adults, and to two grams per day for 18-to-20-year-olds;
Create a new tracking system for medical patients to ensure compliance with the new limits;
Mandate both medical and recreational dispensaries use packaging separating each gram of concentrate into at least 10 separate portions;
Require medical patients ages 18 to 20 to consult with two different doctors, both of which would be required to diagnose “a debilitating or disabling medical condition,” and schedule follow-up appointments every six months before receiving their medical cards;
Require doctors who recommend medical marijuana to review patients’ mental health history on top of their physical health.
The bill includes a grant of $1 million a year for three years to the Colorado School of Public Health to conduct an analysis of existing research on the impact of high-potency marijuana and concentrates on physical and mental health. Presumably, it’ll add to what already is a substantial body of research data on the subject.
It amounts to the proverbial half a loaf. In a report by our news affiliate Colorado Politics, Garnett called it a “well-crafted, collaborative bill.” It’s less ambitious than what Caraveo had aimed for, but the most, perhaps, she can expect amid the current alignment of power at the Capitol. Some amendments are still possible to beef up the effort; we’ll hope for the best.
Meanwhile, Caraveo is to be commended for fearlessly blazing this trail — and looking beyond politics to the welfare of Colorado’s kids.