Local cannabis group against capping THC levels in legal weed
Compassion Club Society founder disagrees with setting a cap on potency of marijuana products
Should there be a maximum allowed level of THC when marijuana is legalized?
No, according to the B.C. Compassion Club Society.
In preparation for the federal legalization of marijuana, the Canadian government is collecting information by asking citizens to offer their input and concerns.
Capping the limit of THC in commercially available pot will be one of the topics covered at the Vancouver Cannabis Hemp Conference held at the Westin Bayshore this weekend.
"It's time for us to stop demonizing THC. We need policy that's based on both evidence and expertise," said Hilary Black, Founder of the B.C. Compassion Club Society.
"We have an opportunity in Canada right now to be leaders on the world stage and to do this right."
Marijuana advocates are worried about a possible cap on the level of THC — the main active ingredient in pot — because of a proposal to impose that regulation in Colorado.
A study there explored the effects of varying THC levels on the brain. That led the state to look at a cap on levels of the ingredient in cannabis products.
The proposal was shot down, but B.C. advocates are still worried about it's potential impact on future legislation in Canada.
Black said placing a restriction on legal weed may lead to the creation of an unregulated market to meet consumer demand or black market sales.
"We are taking a look at what is happening around the world and trying to extract best practices. I would say as we're deciding what are the best practices, that capping THC levels is not one of them," she said.
Black said another problem with setting a cap is that users will simply consume more to get their desired high.
"With a potent cannabis strain, somebody may have just one or two little puffs of their vaporizer and that's it," said Black
"In many ways more potent strains of cannabis can be healthier to use."
With files from the CBC's The Early Edition
To hear the full interview, listen to audio labelled Capping THC levels in legal weed considered as legalisation looms