| Photo: THC Finder |
| Colorado patients will still be able to use their cannabis in the form of edibles after one busybody lawmaker backed down on her effort to ban the treats |
A Colorado state lawmaker on Tuesday withdrew her proposal to ban cannabis-infused products for medical marijuana users in favor of optional childproof packaging standards.
The House Judiciary Committee approved the bill 7-3 after it was changed to allow — but not require — state regulators to call for tamper-proof packaging, reports The Denver Post. No edible cannabis products were banned.
Earlier this month, the prospect of a ban on medicinal cannabis edibles galvanized patients and advocates. Dozens of activists testified against the ban.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Cindy Acree (R-Aurora), claimed she intended it to prevent candies and other sweets from being consumed by children. But many patients — along with some doctors — pointed out that marijuana is safer to eat than to smoke.
After the vote. Rep. Acree claimed she didn’t intend to limit patient access to edible marijuana. The new version of her bill, which faces another committee hearing before heading to the full House, simply allows, but doesn’t require, tamper-proof packaging.
“My biggest concern in all this is the safety of children,” Acree claimed.
In addition to removing the edibles ban, lawmakers removed two other things in the bill which had inspired heavy opposition.
Lawmakers removed limits on marijuana advertising after regulators warned that such rules could trigger free-speech challenges. Legislators also removed a reference to “food and drink” from the bill after health regulators said the phrase could inadvertently trigger food-safety requirements.