Policy

Protecting Colorado Children From Imaginary Pot Products

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Yeterday Colorado's House Judiciary Committee heard testimony on a bill that would regulate edible cannabis products sold to patients who are permitted to use marijuana as a medicine under state law. Supporters of strict regulations, who originally advocated a complete ban, claim cannabis comestibles are a threat to children (who else?). In a letter to the committee, the Colorado Drug Investigators Association warned that marijuana munchies are being marketed to kids. The letter included pictures of "Pot Tarts" and "Cap'n Chronic Cereal." But according to the Cannabis Therapy Institute, "the 'Pot Tarts' photograph in the letter came from a DEA bust in California in 1986, and the 'Cap'n Chronic Cereal' photograph was only a T-shirt design and was never documented to be a real product by anyone….During a full hour and a half of testimony from law enforcement, no one could produce an actual medicated 'Pot Tart' or any medicated 'Cap'n Chronic Cereal.'" The Associated Press nevertheless reported that "lawmakers were shown pictures of edible marijuana packaged as 'Pot Tarts' similar to the breakfast pastries 'Pop Tarts,' and a product 'Captain Chronic' designed in a package to look like Cap'n Crunch cereal."

Compounding the deception, the bill's chief sponsor, Rep. Cindy Acree (R-Aurora), displayed boxes of products similar to the ones that supposedly have been showing up in Colorado schoolyards. But "upon closer inspection," the Cannabis Therapy Institute reports, "it was determined that Rep. Acree had purchased several random food products at Target that morning and was parading them in front of the committee as if they were medical marijuana-infused products."

And what better to pour on your Cap'n Chronic than milk flavored with strawberry meth?

[Thanks to Richard Cowan for the tip.]