The War on High THC Products is Far From Over
Legislators & drug scientists are still trying to ban concentrates in Washington state. HB 1463, which would have capped cannabis concentrates potency at 30% (effectively banning dabs, cartridges, and many edibles), didn’t advance when the measure was re-introduced in February 2021. Instead, the powers that be added a $500,000 proviso in the 2021-23 biennium operating budget to enable the University of Washington Addictions, Drug, & Alcohol Institute (ADAI) “to develop policy solutions in response to the public health challenges of high tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] potency cannabis.”
PURP has been asked to participate in the ADAI workgroup to help “tackle risks associated with high-THC products.” This organization wrote the consensus statement on Cannabis Concentration and Health Risks which was the basis of HB 1463, and lead research scientist Dr. Beatriz Carlini testified in support of the bill. Despite our current differences in perspective, we sincerely appreciate the fact that the ADAI reached out to PURP to participate in the conversation.
When we zoom out and look at HB 1463's stated intent, the problem they're trying to address seems to be youth access (ages 14-18) to cannabis concentrates. Unfortunately their proposed "solution" would be at the expense of responsible, taxpaying adults who enjoy concentrates after a long day, just as other adults might enjoy a glass of scotch after theirs.
Our approach to reasonable cannabis policy is an understanding that adults can and will use cannabis and other drugs for therapeutic or recreational use, so the most sensible things we can do as a society are eliminate criminal penalties for use & possession, provide the public with pure & well-regulated products that they would otherwise turn to the black market for, collect a modest tax revenue, increase access to affordable rehabilitation services, and educate people— all people, not just the youth— on the health risks associated with short and long term use of cannabis and other substances. If people have all the information they need and still choose to consume cannabis or other substances, we don't think a law should prevent them from exercising their discretion as informed adults.
We encourage PURP members & supporters to read the ADAI's consensus statement on Cannabis Concentration and Health Risks, as well as their recent High THC concentration cannabis policy initial report and consider ways to prevent people (especially those aged 14-18) from experiencing the health risks associated with daily cannabis use, including Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome. We will begin presenting potential solutions for ADAI's consideration around February 18, 2022.
Upon reading the initial report, however, it seems clear that the ADAI is shying away from last year’s main talking point of “think of the children” and now working on policies that aim to make the cannabis market even more miserable for grown-ass adult consumers (obviously for the businesses too, but we don’t speak for them). Their initial suggestions for policy changes tell you everything you need to know about their current understanding of cannabis use:
Cap THC concentration in products
Require a serving size for all products
Prohibit certain type of cannabis products
Limit total THC in a single purchase
Require a minimum CBD content
Restrict consumption by age
Regulate or prohibit marketing
Regulate packaging and labeling
We gotta start coming up with reasonable solutions to the aforementioned “problem” so ADAI can hopefully stop lobbying to take concentrates away from us or otherwise work to make Washington’s cannabis market even lamer than it already is. PURP was founded on the principle that daily cannabis users are the most important stakeholders in Washington’s cannabis industry, and that we want a regulated system that suits our needs because we voted to not be criminals years ago, but incessant over-regulation from normies just makes us go back to the black market anyway. Everyone loses when that happens— including and especially the youth, who will not get carded by black market dealers. We need to do our part to make sure the normies don’t fuck up the industry anymore than they already have.
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