Yo, what’s good? It’s your boy Dan and I’m here to talk about some new legislation that’s been introduced by two Colorado lawmakers to regulate the sale of hemp-derived cannabinoids that can get you high. The bill is called Senate Bill 271 and it was brought to the table earlier this month by Senator Kevin Van Winkle, a Republican, and his Democratic colleague Senator Dylan Roberts.
Last year, these same lawmakers passed a law that authorized the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE) to start regulating hemp products with intoxicating cannabinoids including delta-8 THC. This compound can be produced from CBD and while it’s not as strong as the delta-9 THC that’s associated with the classic marijuana high, it’s still potent enough to get you lifted.
Thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, delta-8 products are being sold at stores like convenience stores and smoke shops without any regulations on potency or age limits for buyers. This is why Senate Bill 271 is so important.
The bill establishes regulations for hemp products with more than 2.5 milligrams of delta-8 THC, which would now only be sold at licensed dispensaries in Colorado. That means you won’t be able to buy these products at corner stores or online retailers anymore.
The CDPHE will be in charge of regulating and registering all hemp products, including those that are intoxicating. The state Department of Revenue’s Marijuana Enforcement Division will oversee the production and testing rules, labeling and advertising requirements, inspection and record-keeping standards.
Senator Van Winkle has some concerns about the bill though. He thinks that the limits on potency are too high and should be lowered to prevent people from getting too high. He also wants there to be a limit on how many servings can be in one package so people aren’t eating too many gummies or other edibles at once.
The Marijuana Industry Group supports Senate Bill 271 because they believe that the hemp market is selling hundreds of millions of dollars in unregulated, untaxed products every year. Kids can buy these products online or at their local gas station or grocery store without any ID checks or purchase limits.
Although the Colorado Department of Health and Environment issued a policy memo last year clarifying that chemical modification or conversion of cannabinoids from industrial hemp is not allowed, it’s not enforceable according to attorney Robert Hoban.
Bret Worley, the CEO of MC Neutraceuticals, a wholesaler of hemp-derived cannabinoids, supports Senate Bill 271. He doesn’t believe that 2.5 milligrams of delta-8 THC is a risk and thinks that parents should be responsible for keeping these products away from their kids.
The bill has been assigned to the Senate Finance Committee and a hearing is scheduled for April 18th. So if you’re in Colorado and you like getting high on delta-8 THC, you might want to pay attention to what happens next.