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Doses, Packaging and Labeling of Retain Marijuana Under Discussion

A scientific advisory committee organized by the Oregon Health Authority may take its lead from Colorado.
May 26, 2015

How much of the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis should be in a “single serving” of marijuana edible product and how should that retail product be packaged and labeled? Those questions faced a scientific review committee organized by the Oregon Health Authority last week. After voters approved the sale of retail marijuana last fall, the OHA became responsible for protecting children and other vulnerable populations, minimizing risks and educating the public on proper use. The Oregon Liquor Control Commission is responsible for other matters.

“This is Groundhog Day for me,” said Mike Van Dyke, from the Colorado Department of Public Health. A year ago his state grappled with similar concerns.

Colorado and Washington define a single serving as 10 milligrams in packages containing 10 servings for a total of 100 milligrams. Alaska is debating serving size of five milligrams.

“I wouldn’t say we’re having major public health issues. We’ve had limited tragic episodes that have little to do with 10 milligrams,” said Van Dyke. Four deaths in Colorado were connected to people eating a whole cookie or combining marijuana with opioids.

“One thing we did see with the 10-milligram edible dose was a huge variation of absorption,” he added.

State epidemiologist Katrina Hedberg said peak absorption can come between three and six hours after ingesting the edibles with further variation depending on whether the serving comes in fatty or sugary food.

She questioned whether packaging and labeling should make accommodations for a 95-pound woman versus a 200-pound man or a first-time or novice user and a more experienced user. “We know with other medications habituation and size of the person matters,” she said.

The committee favored a straw proposal limiting serving sizes to five milligrams and possibly selling packages of 20 to 50 milligrams.

“The easier you make it for someone to ingest something enjoyable, the more they will ingest,” said Tim McAfee from the CDC National Center on Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. While a chocolate bar may be measured into little squares or a Big Gulp may include lines on the cup showing portions, he said most people eat the whole chocolate bar or drink the whole cup of soda.

“Maybe you make people do a little more work unwrapping,” McAfee suggested. “There are many reasons to put up a minor barrier.”

“The science is uncertain,” said Richard Farmer from the Oregon Research Institute. “It might be best to start slower and play it safer.”

During public testimony, AJ Jamrose of the Emerald Trade Alliance of Businesses said a 20 milligram limit will drive up costs and may be too small to clearly include warnings and labels. “As a responsible edibles company, we want to make clear portions. I think any edibles company would work with OLCC on this.”

“I appreciate you not wanting to freak out the virgins, but you have to look at how the market has worked for decades,” said Jennifer Valley who described herself as one of the top cannabis researchers in the world. “They will go back to the black market if you make this too difficult” for consumers to get the psychoactive effect, she said.

In subsequent meetings, topics will include labeling for pregnant and breastfeeding women and guidance for driving or workplace impairment. The committee also is accepting public comments at [email protected].

Jan can be reached at [email protected].

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