In Colorado on Tuesday, the Senate approved the marijuana regulation bill and sent it to the governor’s desk.
HB21-1317 faced little to no resistance in either chamber. It passed in the House with a 56-8 vote, and in the Senate, lawmakers voted 35-0 to advance the bill.
The State Legislature is sending a unified message about how high-potency products might affect young people. This bill will restrict daily purchases of wax and shatter.
Wax and shatter are common nicknames for cannabis extracts. Marijuana shatter, if left undisturbed, can form a glass-like appearance. Other times the oils can turn into a runnier substance, known as sap. On the other hand, marijuana wax refers to softer, opaque oils that lost their transparency after the extraction process. Due to agitation, the molecules of marijuana wax crystallize.
This measure is the most extensive regulatory bill for the cannabis industry since recreational marijuana legalization occurred in Colorado seven years ago.
Lawmakers who oppose the bill have concerns about data privacy related to sales tracking. They also are worried about the potential for restricted access for medical marijuana patients, along with the possibility of going down a path leading toward prohibitionist policies in the future.
However, the activism of concerned parents and some medical professionals continue to support the bill.
With lawmakers’ approval, the bill lays at the desk of Gov. Jared Polis. Polis is a longtime advocate for legalized marijuana, and he is an ally of the cannabis industry. His office declined to comment on if he will sign the bill into law or not.
Features of the Marijuana Regulation Bill
The bill directs the Colorado School of Public Health to analyze existing research “related to the physical and mental health effects of high-potency THC marijuana and concentrates.” This data could inform future reform decisions in the capital.
HB21 1317 will require a real-time database for daily purchases. This will enforce the current state laws because they are currently unenforced. As a result, people can go from dispensary to dispensary and exceed the daily limits.
Dispensaries selling recreational or medical marijuana will need to package their products with guidance on serving size. The bill will require them to limit purchases for concentrates like wax and shatter to eight grams per person per day.
Finally, the bill will place multiple rules designed to ensure medical cannabis patients have a solid relationship with a doctor. The goal is to safeguard the system so that people ages 18-20 have a more difficult time obtaining medical cannabis cards. While young adults are able to have and use the cards, some officials are concerned that young adults will purchase large quantities of cannabis concentrates and divert them into the gray and black markets where youth can obtain access.
“We have to take a look at how we can keep high-potency cannabis away from our youth who aren’t supposed to have access to it,” said Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician. “This bill will make a big difference by strengthening the doctor-patient relationship and better educating consumers about concentrates through visual representations of a recommended serving size and public awareness campaigns.”
The legislative session will end June 12; the governor will have until then to sign the bill into law.
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