Anyone who consumed cannabis in the ‘80s and ‘90s knows that these days, the compound is much stronger. The controversial plant is now allowed in several countries around the world with more than 40 states in America legalizing it in different ways. As the relatively young state-legal cannabis industry grows and matures, some have raised questions about marijuana’s increasing potency and the effects it may have on developing brains.
THC is the main cannabinoid responsible for cannabis’s intoxicating effects, and as cannabis companies develop more potent products, lawmakers across the country have started talking about potency caps. However, these lawmakers have faced plenty of pushback as the industry is now worth billions of dollars, with most projections predicting continuous growth. For instance, the executive director of Colorado’s Marijuana Industry Group Truman Bradley says potency limits are a “nonstarter,” although he does say that businesses in the cannabis space are open to conversation.
The human brain typically continues developing until a person turns 25, and studies have shown that chronic cannabis use can hamper this process. Potency caps are designed to keep highly potent products away from the hands of children and young adults. Colorado House Speaker Alec Garnett says high-potency products are becoming a problem and lawmakers need to tighten cannabis laws to protect young ones. Parents in Colorado are becoming increasingly worried about high THC products as well, with the left-leaning group Bule Rising Together adding THC potency caps on its agenda.
Additionally, chair and co-chair of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control Senators John Cornyn and Dianne Feinstein issued a report that, among other things, argued for THC caps.
Still, cannabis industry advocates say potency caps are no different from the “reefer madness” of the yesteryears. Dodgy science coupled with irrational fears are the primary drivers behind the debate for THC potency caps, they argue, and cannabis should be treated like any other drug, including alcohol and tobacco. If lawmakers are successful in putting potency caps on marijuana products, advocates predict that people will simply turn to the black market to purchase the compound.
Mentioning the 2019 vaping crisis, which was largely caused by illegal and low-quality THC vaping products, National Cannabis Industry Association’s spokesperson Morgan Fox cautions against forcing customers to go underground for the highly potent cannabis products they’ve become accustomed to.
With more states opting to allow recreational cannabis, the debate surrounding the need for THC potency caps will rage on even stronger. Only time will tell which side comes out on top.
As that debate rages on, a number of companies that operate in the cannabis extracts space, including Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF), will continue to abide by any regulations that are set up to regulate the cannabis sector.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Pure Extracts Technologies Corp. (CSE: PULL) (OTC: PRXTF) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/PULL
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