The bill introduces several regulatory measures concerning marijuana, natural medicine, and related substances in Colorado. Key provisions include:
Public Health Prioritization and Regulatory Measures:
Public Health Priority: The Marijuana Enforcement Division, the Natural Medicine Division, and the Department of Public Health and Environment are mandated to prioritize public health over private interests in their regulatory activities. They must also implement measures to prevent undue influence from licensees or registrants.
Labeling and Packaging Requirements:
Marijuana Products:
THC Potency Indicators: Packaging must display the total THC content per package and include a color-coded strip indicating THC potency:
Blue for less than 5% THC
Yellow for 5% to less than 15% THC
Orange for 15% to less than 50% THC
Red for 50% or more THC
Inhaled Marijuana Labeling: Required to include:
Amount of THC per serving
Amount of THC per package
Number of servings per package
Directions for consumption
Natural Medicine Products:
Labeling Requirements: Must include a universal symbol indicating the package contains natural medicine.
Age and Product Restrictions:
Retail Marijuana Sales:
Prohibited from selling to individuals aged 25 or younger:
Prohibited from manufacturing, distributing, or transferring products that:
Are candy, gummies, chocolates, or other confections
Contain concentrated forms of natural medicine
Are consumed by means other than oral ingestion
Contain added flavors or sweeteners
Social Equity Program Expansion:
The existing social equity program, which provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to disadvantaged individuals seeking to enter the marijuana industry, is expanded to support individuals aiming to start any type of business. Funding for this program comes from the marijuana tax cash fund.
These measures aim to enhance public health protections, ensure clear product information, and support equitable business opportunities within Colorado's regulated markets.
Summary
The bill requires the marijuana enforcement division, the natural
medicine division, and the department of public health and environment (department), when regulating marijuana and marijuana products and hemp and hemp products and psilocybin, psilocin, and possibly dimethyltryptamine, ibogaine, and mescaline (natural medicine), to prioritize the public health over private interests in exercising regulatory authority and develop measures designed to prevent these agencies or an agent or employee of these agencies from becoming unduly influenced by licensees or registrants.
Current law requires the marijuana enforcement division to adopt
rules governing labeling of regulated marijuana and regulated marijuana products. The bill requires the labeling of regulated marijuana and regulated marijuana products to include the amount of total THC per package and a solid color strip on the face of the packaging that indicates THC potency of marijuana or a marijuana product by showing the corresponding color as follows:
•
If the THC potency is less than 5%, the color strip is blue;
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If the THC potency is at least 5% but less than 15%, the color strip is yellow;
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If the THC potency is at least 15% but less than 50%, the color strip is orange; or
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If the THC potency is at least 50%, the color strip is red.
A marijuana store must post, at all times and at every point of sale, a sign that explains the meaning of the color strips.
Inhaled marijuana is required to have the following labeling: •
The amount of THC per serving;
•
The amount of THC per package;
•
The number of servings per package; and
•
Directions for consumption of a serving.
Current law authorizes the marijuana enforcement division to seek the assistance of the department when adopting certain rules. The bill requires the marijuana enforcement division to seek this assistance.
Current law limits the standard serving size of edible marijuana
products to 10 milligrams. The bill adds inhaled marijuana and requires that its serving size is limited to 10 milligrams and the package weight to 500 milligrams.
The bill forbids a retail marijuana store, a retail marijuana
transporter, a marijuana hospitality business, a retail marijuana accelerator store, and a retail marijuana hospitality and sales business from selling, distributing, permitting the sale of, or offering to sell or distribute the following to an individual who is 25 years of age or younger:
•
Retail marijuana that has a THC potency that is higher than 10%; or
•
Inhaled retail marijuana that contains an added flavor ingredient.
The natural medicine division is required to adopt rules that
include:
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Requirements that labeling of natural medicine or a natural medicine product includes a universal symbol indicating the package contains natural medicine; and
•
Requirements and standards for collecting and reporting data about adverse medical or behavioral reactions to natural medicine or natural medicine products.
A natural medicine license holder is prohibited from
manufacturing, distributing, or transferring natural medicine or a natural medicine product that:
•
Is a candy product, gummy, chocolate, or other confection;
•
Contains a concentrated form of a natural medicine or natural medicine product;
•
Is consumed by or administered by a means other than oral ingestion; or
•
Contains an added flavor or sweetener.
Current law creates a social equity program that gives loans,
grants, and technical assistance to disadvantaged persons by helping an approved applicant to obtain a marijuana license and start a marijuana business. The funding comes from the marijuana tax cash fund. The bill expands this program to include a person who wants to start any type of business.
