New report advises regulators on how to deal with high potency cannabis

A committee of scientists and medical experts have issued a list of recommendations on how California should regulate high potency cannabis. The state-commissioned report was released at the end of October. 

You’ve heard it before - the weed flower of the ‘60s and ‘70s isn’t the same as what we have today.

Cannabis now has a much higher concentration of  THC - that’s the intoxicating component of the plant.

Dr. Lynn Silver is with the Public Health Institute and UCSF. She says manufacturers produce ever-higher THC products to differentiate themselves from the competition.

"The average consumer in California who goes to a dispensary or tries to order online will have a very hard time finding low potency cannabis," Silver said.

Studies show high potency cannabis can be especially dangerous for people under 26, pregnant people, and those with a personal or family history of mental health conditions or substance use disorders.

Silver and 12 other scientists have now published 20 recommendations - including increasing public education, and changing packaging and marketing.

"We need to stop some of the food based marketing of cannabis as if it's a nice ice cream parfait or you know, or fruit cocktail," Silver said. "Because that makes kids think that it's safer than it actually is and leads to early initiation of cannabis use.

The authors of the report are urging the governor and legislators to take action on the recommendations.